SVP – Portfolio Stakeholder Engagement

About The Role

The SVP - Portfolio Stakeholder Engagement is responsible for the oversight of stakeholder engagement and communication for the Portfolio, accountable for all stakeholder engagement and consultation throughout the portfolio timeline.

Core Responsibilities

Strategic Stakeholder Oversight:

• Define and drive the long-term stakeholder engagement strategy for the Portfolio, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, government priorities, and investor expectations.
• Act as a senior advisor to the Board, CEO, and CDO on stakeholder dynamics, reputational risks, and engagement strategies.
• Establish and maintain high-level relationships with government authorities, regulatory bodies, and strategic partners to influence policies and drive portfolio success.

Corporate & Public Affairs:

• Oversee external communication and public relations strategies to shape portfolio perception among stakeholders, media, and the broader business ecosystem.
• Develop crisis communication and issue management protocols to safeguard The Group’s reputation and manage stakeholder conflicts.
• Advocate on behalf of the portfolio in public forums, industry events, and regulatory meetings.

Governance & Compliance in Stakeholder Engagement:

• Ensure stakeholder engagement is compliant with UAE regulatory requirements, transparency laws, and corporate governance frameworks.
• Establish KPIs and performance metrics to track stakeholder sentiment, engagement success, and communication impact.

People Management Responsibilities

Lean Leadership & Team Management:

• Provide clear strategic direction to a small, high-performing team, ensuring all members are aligned with portfolio objectives.
• Set focused priorities and delegate effectively, optimising resources given the lean team structure.

Agile Capability Development & Knowledge Transfer:

• Identify critical capability gaps and upskill the team where necessary to meet evolving portfolio demands.
• Develop short-term training strategies to ensure team members can operate efficiently within the portfolio's timeline.
• Facilitate knowledge transfer to internal teams for handover of portfolio components and assets.

Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Work cross-functionally with other departments rather than building an extensive internal team, ensuring alignment with corporate and government stakeholder engagement teams.
• Foster a collaborative culture between the portfolio unit and external partners, ensuring seamless coordination.

Performance Management & Adaptability:

• Ensure the team remains agile, adjusting roles and responsibilities as required throughout the portfolio lifecycle.
• Monitor team performance against short- and medium-term objectives, ensuring effective delivery within the portfolio timeframe.

Strategic Responsibilities

Strategic Oversight & Portfolio Alignment:

• Set and drive the strategic direction for stakeholder engagement within the Portfolio, ensuring full alignment with government policies, corporate objectives, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and execute a stakeholder engagement roadmap, ensuring effective communication and strategic partnerships across the portfolio lifecycle.
• Shape and influence government relations and external partnerships, securing long-term alignment between the Group and key regulatory bodies.

Risk Management & Governance in Stakeholder Engagement:

• Identify potential stakeholder risks and reputational challenges, developing proactive strategies to mitigate issues before they impact the portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with stakeholder engagement frameworks, working closely with legal, compliance, and governance teams.

Driving Excellence & Innovation in Stakeholder Engagement:

• Implement data-driven stakeholder engagement strategies, using analytics and feedback mechanisms to measure effectiveness.
• Drive continuous improvement in engagement strategies, leveraging new technologies and best practices from global infrastructure projects.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Bachelor's degree in an appropriate field. Master's degree is a plus
• Excellent English and Arabic.
• A minimum of 20 years of experience in a similar role
• Leadership experience in stakeholder engagement, corporate communications, or government relations within large-scale infrastructure, real estate, or public sector projects.
• Extensive experience in Abu Dhabi, with established relationships in government, regulatory bodies, and key corporate stakeholders.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic communication plans across multi-billion-dollar portfolios, ensuring stakeholder alignment and regulatory approvals.
• Expertise in managing complex, multi-stakeholder environments, including government authorities, corporate executives, and investors.
• Direct engagement with C-suite executives, Board members, and senior government officials, influencing strategy and decision-making.
• Experience overseeing stakeholder risk management, conflict resolution, and crisis communication in high-profile projects.
• Strong problem-solving, adaptability, and decision-making skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and high-complexity situations.
• Experience in translating business and policy objectives into actionable stakeholder engagement strategies.