Senior Defense Programs Lead | UAE Navy & Stakeholders

Edge Group; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family visas

Annual flight tickets

Medical insurance for dependents

Education allowances

Job summary

Edge Group is seeking a senior programme leader to guide end-to-end mobilization and execution of Maestral’s programs in Abu Dhabi, interfacing with the UAE Navy and other stakeholders. The role integrates all workstreams to deliver schedule, cost, quality and customer expectations.

You will coordinate governance, manage budgets and dependencies across Fincantieri, ADSB, procurement, and planning, while upholding governance and risk frameworks. Experience with defence contracts is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management or a relevant discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
• PMP, MSP or equivalent program / project management certification preferred.
• 15–20 years in defence, government services, maritime support, MRO or other complex service-contract environments.
• Demonstrated accountability for a large multidisciplinary program or portfolio.
• Experience managing senior customer and government relationships, preferably involving the UAE Navy and/or Tawazun.
• Evidence of delivering against significant contractual, financial and operational commitments.

Responsibilities

• Translate the contract and the CEO's strategic intent into an executable program plan.
• Establish clear workstreams, milestones, responsibilities, governance forums and resource priorities required to launch and sustain delivery.
• Own the integrated delivery of all program scopes, ensuring dependencies between partners and functions are actively managed.
• Serve as the first and principal interface with the UAE Navy and relevant government stakeholders.
• Establish and lead program governance, including performance reviews, steering meetings, decision logs and executive reporting.
• Maintain a consolidated view of milestones, cost, risks, issues, procurement status, deliverables and customer actions.
• Oversee program financial and commercial performance in coordination with senior leaders; monitor budgets and changes.
• Ensure delivery in accordance with the main contract, UAE defense requirements and company policies; manage risk/mitigation.
• Provide direction for management of key partners and suppliers; align outputs with contract and customer requirements.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Program leadership

Risk management

Contract management

Customer/govt liaison

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management or relevant discipline

Postgraduate qualification advantageous

Tools

MSP

Job description

Edge Group is seeking a senior programme leader to guide end-to-end mobilization and execution of Maestral’s programs in Abu Dhabi, interfacing with the UAE Navy and other stakeholders. The role integrates all workstreams to deliver schedule, cost, quality and customer expectations.

You will coordinate governance, manage budgets and dependencies across Fincantieri, ADSB, procurement, and planning, while upholding governance and risk frameworks. Experience with defence contracts is essential.