Regional Operations Director

Buro Happold; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy is seeking a Regional Operations Director to oversee operations in the Middle East, based in Dubai. The role involves working closely with the Regional Managing Director to improve operational effectiveness, manage complex issues, and ensure compliance with statutory requirements. Ideal candidates will have strong organisational skills, effective communication abilities, and a proactive approach to leadership challenges. Regular travel within the region will be necessary.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Effective at communicating with people at all levels.
• Able to multitask and handle changing priorities.
• Confident and proactive in challenging situations.
• Ability to absorb new information quickly.

Responsibilities

• Assist with initiatives to improve regional operations.
• Monitor implementation and manage projects.
• Maintain overview of Partners' work and priorities.
• Co-ordinate action lists for the monthly board meeting.
• Report on progress of actions to RMD.

Skills

Highly organised

Effective communication

Problem solver

Attention to detail

Flexibility

Job description

Position Description

We are currently recruiting for a Regional Operations Director for the Middle East Region, to be based in Dubai. The Middle East business has 5 Partners and 180 staff in 6 territories – KSA, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Azerbaijan – with a regional annual turnover of £25m. This is a new role created to maximise the technical earning potential of the Partners and technical teams.

The Regional Operations Director (ROD) would report directly to the Regional Managing Director and be responsible for all non‑technical aspects of operations and procedures in order to ensure organisational effectiveness and efficiency of the Middle East Regional Business and compliance with statutory and group requirements.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Regional Managing Director and the Regional Board with their initiatives to improve the successful and effective operation of the region and engagement with changes made to the global business.
• Work with the regional board to monitor the implementation and project manage their initiatives and assist in providing and implementing solutions.
• Maintain a detailed overview of the nature of the work and priorities of the Partners and how these fit in with the running of the business and the work of other partners and directors within the practice.
• Attend the Middle East Monthly Board Meeting to co‑ordinate action lists where necessary. Monitor actions for the monthly board meeting and reporting to RMD on progress of actions.

Qualifications

• Highly organised with the proven ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Professional with attention to detail.
• Effective at communicating with people both orally and in writing at all levels to ensure business priorities are met.
• Extremely flexible – able to multitask and deal simultaneously with numerous complex issues and navigate changes of priority and deadlines in a fast‑paced, constantly changing environment.
• A problem solver – able to ‘think on your feet’.
• Able to discern sensitive material and maintain confidentiality accordingly.
• Confident, proactive character, with the ability to take the lead in challenging situations with the circumstances dictate.
• Have the desire and ability to absorb new information quickly.
• Comfortable working alone, on a one‑to‑one basis and in team working situations.
• Comfortable with regular travel within the region and to the UK.

Essential Experience

• Previ

About The Company

Buro Happold aims to produce high quality engineering design in concept, in detail and in execution, on time, to programme and delivering excellent value for money. Our distinctive culture and ethos is still based on the same principles of care, value and elegance that were established when the practice was founded. Our engineering approach is holistic, combining different disciplines in one integrated team. Our reputation for excellence has grown from the basis that engineering is always viewed as one important component of a project’s overall design solution. We constantly strive for innovation. Our appreciation of a client’s social, political and economic issues and of architectural and aesthetic qualities makes Buro Happold an ideal partner, helping our range of clients to shape great solutions.