Director - Digital Smart Cities Solutions

Role Overview

Director - Digital Smart Cities Solutions at AD Ports Group, Abu Dhabi. This role serves as Co-head for the team in IT-related topics, responsible for assisting in managing the overall team's business goals and managing and allocating IT resources.

Role Purpose

Act as Co-head for the team in IT-related topics, responsible for assisting in managing the overall team's business goals and managing and allocating IT resources. Support in technical delivery topics and co-responsible for the squads' key performance metrics, including NPS and market share.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Lead the formulation of squads' strategies, vision, mission, and goals to deliver technical results and achieve cluster objectives.
• Design and maintain the squads' technical roadmap.
• Define Digital Cluster business priorities and technical issues and provide guidance to product owners to design the appropriate solutions and features.

Technical Leadership

• Oversee customer needs and direct designing and updating of technical solutions that address these needs.
• Lead interaction with architects to understand the key properties and changes to technology infrastructure and determine the best way to work with restrictions.
• Take decisions regarding product lifecycle, including piloting, scaling, and decommissioning.
• Enforce quality standards and oversee tribe technical blocks and enforce resolving issues with key stakeholders.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships and manage expectations of external stakeholders, including clients and cluster CEOs.
• Lead the Quarterly Business Review for the tribe.

Performance & Operations

• Track and measure the squads' performance health through key performance indicators.
• Provide regular reports to senior management on the squads' performance, including financial, operational, and market-related data.
• Lead cross-functional team to streamline processes and implement best practices to drive operational excellence.

Risk & Financial Management

• Assess risks in squads and develop risk mitigation strategies to minimize potential liabilities.
• Control the budget of the squads' and solution expenses and recommend alternatives to meet expectations.
• Monitor the squads' adherence to all financial targets and extend economic limits for business initiatives when project potential justifies it.

People Management

• Conduct regular 1:1s with product owners and squad members.
• Empower the squad by setting clear expectations and coaching.
• Manage the overall staffing of shared resources among different squads.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field; Master's degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in a similar role.
• Experience as an IT leader or business manager in relevant product, customer, or enabler segment.
• Deep understanding of industry trends and client needs in creating value proposition for the client and vision for the tribe.
• Strong communication skills in different areas, including commercial and finance.

Skills & Competencies

• Servant leadership qualities.
• Ability to persuade and lead diverse people.
• Strong analytical skills and fact-based decision-making.
• Strong sense of urgency and ability to prioritize.
• Skilled and comfortable in giving and receiving feedback.
• Critical thinking and ability to find new solutions.
• Belief in a non-hierarchical culture, transparency, and trust in squads.
• Excellent English; Arabic is an added advantage.