Senior Manager, Business Management

Job description / Role

Job Purpose:

The role holder is responsible for supporting the implementation of the COO's strategy, the delivery of key initiatives, the planning process, governance and audit activities, all in close cooperation with stakeholders within CBD. The role holder is expected to demonstrate implementation and adherence to controls by following relevant procedures, ensuring the upkeep of appropriate records, and where appropriate, ensure the timely implementation of internal and external audit points. The role has a strong influence and impact across the COO's function and related businesses; it requires significant credibility and capacity to engage various stakeholders to ensure proper decision making and implementation / delivery. The role holder is also responsible for providing analytical support to senior management including the preparation of annual budgeting, capacity plans, strategic initiatives, etc.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Leads the development, assessment, and implementation of strategic and planning initiatives across the business.
• Provides inputs and prepares for monthly implementation plans, strategic action trackers, and monitors progress against stated initiatives / targets.
• Keeps the focus on medium and long-term goals even when under pressure or in times of uncertainty.
• Plays a key leadership role in the planning process to ensure an accurate view of the COO's functions ability to meet targets by sub-function.
• Produces and tracks business plans that deliver the COO's targets and provides subject-matter expertise in the design of / implementation of robust reporting processes.
• Establishes personal credibility by managing expectations, results, and the impact of agreed outcomes and thinks ahead to identify potential risks to delivery and deals with them proactively.
• Looks for ways to improve processes / system efficiency and resource allocation and / or minimize conflict, waste, and duplication.
• Conducts regular reviews of the annual operating plan to ensure that current performance is tracking as "green" and if not to escalate and communicate the appropriate changes.
• Ensures effective communication and understanding of the COO's agenda across key stakeholder groups.
• Delivers business reviews / updates and other strategic papers to the COO.
• Ensures deployment of IT, operations, and other resources in line with budget allocation and key milestone achievements.
• Ensures close and effective working relationships with key stakeholders to drive business collaboration to ensure strategy alignment and enhance efficiency.
• Establishes effective mechanisms for sharing best practices to enable a consistent approach and appropriate escalation of information to the COO.
• Acts as a key COO point of contact for all management teams and ensures all necessary support is provided for implementation of key initiatives, including ensuring delivery to high standards, world-class governance, and effective management of key stakeholders.
• Acts as a center of expertise for all COO related matters related to planning, audit, controls, capacity, etc., and promotes collaboration / cooperation across the function.
• Ultimately responsible for the performance management of the team utilizing relevant performance management tools, ensuring timely action is taken to improve underperformance.
• Implements key governance mechanisms to ensure strategic initiatives are robust, aligned, and effectively delivered.
• Participates in operational effectiveness improvement through consideration of the cost base, benchmarking, and reviews the impacts of all projects on the business to ensure compliance across all functions / processes.
• Supports the COO with robust strategic plans in a timely manner through effective interaction with multiple, diverse, and senior stakeholders against a backdrop of diverse businesses and challenging internal / external environments.
• Quickly analyzes complex situations, is dynamic and positive to embrace differences across functions and diverse stakeholder environments, and must act as a trusted partner / representative of the COO's office.
• Keeps up-to-date with external best practices and communicates / applies this internally to drive improved performance.

Requirements

Education and Experience

• 10 years of work experience with at least 5 years in a bank and 3 years in a business planning / strategy manager support role.
• Detailed knowledge of the planning process, ability to provide strategic updates with minimal supervision, demonstrated experience in driving governance across a function, and proven problem-solving skills with an ability to consider alternative / innovative solutions.
• Strong interpersonal skills with highly developed capacity to influence senior teams.
• Ability to lead and motivate other senior stakeholders / managers across a wide range of initiatives / agendas.

About the Company

In 1969, when we at Commercial Bank of Dubai started out little did we know that sheer grit and determination would get us where we are today. An Emiri Decree issued by His Highness the Late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the founder of modern Dubai, laid the cornerstone of Commercial Bank of Dubai. We started out as a joint venture of Commerzbank, Chase Manhattan Bank and Commercial Bank of Kuwait. A minority stake was held by a few UAE businessmen.

By 1982, little more than a decade later, we evolved into a National Public Shareholding company. A feat complimented by an exponential increase in the capital base and mammoth restructuring of our operations. The feather in the cap came when the Government of Dubai became a key shareholder.

Over the decades, we have transformed ourselves into a progressive and modern banking institution. We are supported by a sturdy financial base and reigned by a strong and stable management. The proof of which lies with our customers who have stood by us over the years.