Senior Manager Governance & Compliance

Wasl Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Wasl Group in Dubai seeks a Senior Manager – Governance & Compliance to lead the organization’s compliance program, ensuring adherence to laws, policies, SOPs and ethics while driving digital adoption across operations.

Reporting to the Head of Business Excellence, the role sits in the Business Transformation & Business Excellence division, overseeing governance, risk and controls to strengthen organizational compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or related field is required.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in business excellence, process excellence, compliance, legal, audit, or risk management.
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing compliance functions.
• Experience in regulated industries (e.g., real estate, financial services, healthcare).
• Proven track record of regulatory engagement and policy development.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive compliance strategy aligned with regulatory requirements and organizational objectives.
• Define and govern enterprise policy framework across functions.
• Support internal audits and regulatory compliance efforts across units.
• Design and monitor compliance systems, reporting, and escalation for breaches.
• Drive process improvement, digitisation, and automation within governance.

Skills

Policy development

Risk governance

Compliance programs

Regulatory engagement

Leadership

Team management

AML & data protection

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration / Engineering or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

GRC tools

Job description

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Born from the vision to elevate Dubai's global prominence, Wasl was founded on May 25, 2008, with the mission to transform the city into an even more captivating destination for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. Created from the union of the Dubai Development Board and Real Estate Department, Wasl embarked on a journey of seamless integration. This strategic merger not only streamlined operations but also empowered our team with enhanced expertise, enabling us to adopt dynamic, market-driven investment strategies.

Today, Wasl stands tall as a cornerstone of Dubai's real estate landscape. As one of the city's largest and most diversified real estate management companies, we proudly oversee an expansive portfolio of landmark assets, entrusted to us by DREC and other esteemed partners.

1. JOB DETAILS:

Position Title:

Senior Manager – Governance & Compliance

Reports to:

Head of Business Excellence

Division:

Business Transformation & Business Excellence

Department:

Support Services

Grade:

4

2. POSITION SUMMARY:

The Governance & Compliance – Senior Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing the organization’s compliance program to ensure adherence to all applicable laws, regulations, internal policies, Standard Operating Procedures and ethical standards. This leadership role provides strategic direction for compliance management and drives digital adoption across the operations.

3. JOB DIMENSIONS:

Number of Staff Supervised

Direct Reports:

3

Total Reports:

3

4. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:

Position-Specific Accountabilities

1. Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive compliance strategy aligned with regulatory requirements and organizational objectives.
• Advise respective Committee’s and Executive Management on compliance risks, controls, and governance matters.
• Lead regulatory engagement, audits and inspections, ensuring transparent and professional relationships with regulators.

2. Policy Definition & Governance

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive enterprise policy framework across all functions.
• Ensure alignment of policies with strategic goals, regulatory requirements, and best practices.
• Establish governance structures and mechanisms to enforce policy adherence, including audits, reviews, and reporting.
• Collaborate with department heads to institutionalize policies and procedures effectively.

3. Audit

• Support internal audits and regulatory compliance efforts across business units to rectify gaps within existing policies, SOPs and other governance documentation.

4. Monitoring, Auditing & Reporting

• Design and implement compliance monitoring and internal control systems to ensure ongoing regulatory adherence.
• Prepare regular compliance reports for senior management and the board.
• Drive effective monitoring, reporting and escalation mechanisms for compliance breaches.
• Investigate and oversee resolution of compliance issues, ensuring appropriate corrective actions.

5. Process Improvement & Optimization

• Identify opportunities to improve business processes, enhance quality, reduce costs, and increase productivity.
• Design and implement process frameworks, KPIs, and performance dashboards.
• Drive digitisation and automation across the organization to improve operational efficiency and organisational compliance.
• Build and manage a high-performing compliance team with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
• Collaborate with Legal, Risk Management, Internal Audit, HR, and business units to ensure coordinated governance.
• Act as the compliance champion, promoting ethical behaviour in all business decisions.
• Foster a culture of compliance, ethics, and accountability throughout the organization.

Performance Metrics

• Number of policies and procedures reviewed and updated
• Number of audit findings and % of non-conformities closed within SLA
• % of core processes executed without deviation from approved SOP/policy.
• Implement Governance & Compliance framework with controls embedded across SOPs/policies.

5. COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal

• CXOs
• Departmental Heads
• Information Technology department
• Other departments as required

External

• Government and Regulatory Entities
• Industry Partners and Associations
• Technology Vendors
• Consultants and Advisors
• Suppliers and Service Providers
• Other external organizations as required

6. CONTEXT, WORK ENVIRONMENT AND DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY (DELEGATIONS):

• .

7. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• .

8. SELECTION CRITERIA:

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience (Essential and Desirable):

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Proven track record in policy development, risk governance and compliance.
• Strong knowledge of international quality frameworks and enterprise governance models.
• 12+ years of progressive business excellence, process excellence, compliance, legal, audit, or risk management experience.
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing compliance functions.
• Experience working in highly regulated industries (e.g., financial services, real estate, healthcare, energy, or government entities).
• Proven track record of regulatory engagement, policy development and compliance program implementation.

Position-Specific Skills (Generic/Technical):

• Technical Knowledge :
  • Strong understanding of global and regional regulatory frameworks.
  • Expertise in AML, data protection, anti-bribery, sanctions, corporate governance and industry-specific compliance.
  • Familiarity with compliance technologies, GRC tools, and monitoring systems.
• Leadership & Management :
  • Ability to influence, guide, and build consensus with executive leadership and regulators.
  • Strong people management skills, with experience building and mentoring compliance teams.
• Analytical & Risk Management Skills :
  • Strong problem-solving and investigative skills.
  • Ability to identify risks proactively and design practical mitigation strategies.
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills :
  • Exceptional verbal, written and presentation skills.
  • Ability to communicate complex regulatory requirements in a clear and actionable manner.
  • Skilled in engaging with regulators, auditors and stakeholders at all levels.
• Personal Attributes :
  • High ethical standards, integrity and sound judgment.
  • Resilient under pressure with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
  • Strategic thinker with attention to detail.

8. APPROVALS:

Line Manager:

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Date

Human Resources:

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Date

Position Holder:

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Date

Our Values

At Wasl, we are more than just a real estate company. We are active contributors to Dubai's thriving economy, fostering enduring relationships with our valued stakeholders. Our customer-centric approach is rooted in trust, respect, and a relentless pursuit of innovation in every aspect of asset management.