Senior Program Manager

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

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At EDGE bold ideas are engineered into technologies that protect, improve and save lives.

Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, EDGE is a leading advanced technology group working at the forefront of defence and emerging technologies. Spanning more than 35 specialised companies and multiple centres of excellence, we are purpose-built to move fast. Free from heavy legacy processes, we give our people the autonomy, accountability, and agility to bring breakthrough technologies from concept to reality.

Based in Abu Dhabi, a globally connected hub at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, EDGE is home to a truly multicultural community where bold ideas thrive, and the future is shaped.

Together, we are shaping the future.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Lead the end-to-end mobilization and execution of Maestral’s programs, acting as the primary interface with the UAE Navy and other strategic stakeholders. The role is accountable for integrating all program workstreams and partners to deliver contractual commitments, service outcomes, schedule, cost, quality and customer expectations.

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 Fincantieri, ADSB, procurement, contracts, planning, finance and document control 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 to support timely management decisions.
• Oversee program financial and commercial performance in coordination with the CFO, Chief Commercial Officer and functional leads. Monitor delivery against approved budgets and ceiling values, understand the impact of scope changes and ensure that material commercial exposures are escalated and addressed.
• Ensure the program is delivered in accordance with the main contract, applicable UAE defense requirements and company policies. Own the program-level risk and issue framework, approve mitigation priorities within delegated authority and escalate matters with strategic, financial or reputational impact.
• Provide direction for the management of key partners and suppliers, ensuring that their outputs are aligned with the main contract and customer requirements.

BASIC 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

WHY CHOOSE EDGE

Launched in November 2019, the UAE's EDGE is one of the world's leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly skilled talent to thrive.

At EDGE, the real investment goes beyond compensation. Through our dedicated learning academy and digital learning platforms, employees have access to extensive opportunities to develop new skills, deepen their expertise, and advance their careers. Combined with the freedom to innovate, strong career support, and the opportunity to collaborate with world-class talent from across the globe, EDGE is a place where you can continue to grow, keep learning, and turn ambitious ideas into meaningful outcomes.

Working at EDGE also comes with a package that genuinely reflects how much we value our people. Salaries are highly competitive and tax-free and, depending on your role and seniority, benefits can include family visas, annual flight tickets, medical insurance for you and your dependents, and education allowances for your children.

CANDIDATE PRIVACY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

If you feel your skills, experience and potential are a strong match for a role, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement. We are genuinely interested in what you can bring to EDGE.

Any information you share as part of your EDGE candidate profile or job application will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection and privacy regulations.

EDGE is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing workforce. We believe every individual deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity, and our employment decisions reflect that. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, religion, gender, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

As a global organisation, effective collaboration across international teams is central to how we work, so English proficiency is required for all roles unless otherwise stated in the job posting.

Please note that EDGE does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Any resumes in the absence of a formally executed agreement in place will be deemed the property of EDGE, and no placement fees or compensation will be payable in respect of such submissions.