Head of Business Operations – MENA Eurasia

Viatris; Dubai; On-site; AED 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Benefits

Inclusive work environment

Job summary

Viatris in Dubai is looking for a Head of Business Operations to drive operational excellence and strategic initiatives in the MENA Eurasia region. This role involves leadership in governance, project management, and organizational effectiveness within a global healthcare company.

The ideal candidate will have over a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, leadership development capabilities, and a strong focus on performance management.

Qualifications

• 10–15+ years of experience within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, or life sciences industry.
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role focused on strategy, business operations, and/or organizational effectiveness.
• Proven experience leading cross‑functional transformation programs and governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational excellence and governance across MENA Eurasia.
• Lead cross‑functional strategic projects and ensure timely delivery of initiatives.
• Design and implement leadership development programs aimed at strengthening capabilities.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive presence

Influencing without authority

People leadership and talent development

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, or related field

MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred

Tools

Business analytics and reporting

Risk management

Change management frameworks

Process improvement and operational excellence

Job description

VIATRIS MIDDLE EAST FZ-LLC

Viatris is a global healthcare company uniquely positioned to bridge the traditional divide between generics and brands, combining the best of both to more holistically address healthcare needs globally. With a mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, we provide access at scale, currently supplying high-quality medicines to approximately 1 billion patients around the world annually and touching all of life's moments, from birth to the end of life, acute conditions to chronic diseases.

We have been included on a number of award lists that demonstrate the impact we are making.

Position Summary

The Head of Business Operations is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving operational excellence, governance, organizational effectiveness, leadership capability development, and execution of critical business initiatives across MENA Eurasia. The role serves as a key partner to the leadership team, ensuring alignment between corporate strategy and execution while establishing robust governance frameworks, managing cross‑functional transformation programs, and fostering a high‑performance culture.

The incumbent will lead strategic projects, drive leadership development programs, and ensure effective coordination across commercial, medical, regulatory, supply chain, finance, and HR functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Governance & Business Excellence
• Design, implement, and continuously improve governance frameworks to support business objectives.
• Establish operational rhythms, business reviews, leadership forums, and decision‑making processes.
• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, pharmaceutical industry regulations, and local market requirements.
• Monitor execution of key business priorities and provide visibility to leadership on progress, risks, and mitigation plans.
• Drive accountability across functions through structured performance management and governance mechanisms.
• Planning & Business Operations
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable business initiatives and measurable outcomes.
• Plan/build annual calendar for performance reviews, KPI tracking, and operational reporting.
• Identify operational improvement opportunities and implement best practices to enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Project & Program Management
• Lead cross‑functional strategic projects.
• Establish project governance structures, milestones, risk management frameworks, and success metrics.
• Ensure timely delivery of strategic initiatives within scope, budget, and quality expectations.
• Coordinate stakeholders across regional, global, and local teams to drive alignment and execution.
• Manage project portfolios and prioritize initiatives based on business impact and strategic value.
• Leadership Development & Capability Building
• Design and implement leadership development programs aimed at strengthening organizational capabilities.
• Partner with HR and senior leaders to identify talent development needs and succession planning priorities.
• Facilitate leadership forums, workshops, and management effectiveness initiatives.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Support change management activities to enable successful adoption of business transformations.
• Stakeholder Management
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Head of MENA Eurasia and LT.
• Build strong partnerships with regional, global, and local stakeholders.
• Facilitate alignment between departments.
• Represent business operations in leadership meetings and strategic planning discussions.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, Business Administration, Healthcare Management, or related field.
• MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred.

Experience

• 10–15+ years of experience within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, or life sciences industry.
• Minimum 5 years in a leadership role focused on strategy, business operations, and/or organizational effectiveness.
• Proven experience leading cross‑functional transformation programs and governance frameworks.
• Demonstrated success delivering large‑scale strategic initiatives in a matrix organization.
• Experience working across Middle East, Eurasia, or international markets is highly desirable.

Key Competencies

Leadership

• Strategic thinking
• Executive presence
• Influencing without authority
• People leadership and talent development
• Change leadership

Business Operations

• Governance design and implementation
• Business planning and execution
• Portfolio and project management
• Performance management and KPI governance
• Organizational effectiveness

Technical Skills

• Business analytics and reporting
• Risk management
• Change management frameworks
• Process improvement and operational excellence

Personal Attributes

• Highly collaborative and stakeholder-oriented
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Results‑driven with strong execution capability
• Exceptional problem‑solving and decision‑making skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced and complex environment

Success Measures

• Establish and strengthen governance and decision‑making frameworks.
• Deliver strategic projects on time and within agreed objectives.
• Improve visibility and accountability through effective business performance management.
• Launch and successfully execute leadership development initiatives.
• Enhance cross‑functional collaboration and organizational effectiveness.
• Drive measurable improvements in operational excellence and strategic execution.

This position is ideal for a leader who can combine strategic thinking, operational rigor, leadership development, and project management expertise to accelerate business performance and organizational growth within a leading pharmaceutical organization.

At Viatris, we offer competitive salaries, benefits and an inclusive environment where you can use your experiences, perspectives and skills to help make an impact on the lives of others.

Viatris is an Equal Opportunity Employer.