Job Description

About the Role

We are seeking a highly organized and strategic Program Manager – Freezone Council to lead cross-functional initiatives, coordinate with government entities and Free Zones, and ensure the successful execution of strategic projects. This role serves as the central point of coordination between the Freezone Council, internal stakeholders, regulatory authorities, and external partners to drive operational excellence, policy implementation, and organizational transformation.

The ideal candidate has strong experience in project/program management, stakeholder engagement, government relations, policy implementation, and strategic operations within the UAE public or semi-government sector.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Program & Project Management

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  Lead and manage strategic initiatives from planning through execution while ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational objectives.
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  Develop project roadmaps, implementation plans, milestones, and performance indicators.
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  Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies.
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  Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure seamless project execution.

Stakeholder & Government Relations

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  Act as the primary liaison between the Freezone Council, government authorities, regulatory bodies, and Free Zones across the UAE.
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  Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders.
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  Facilitate communication, collaboration, and alignment among internal and external partners.
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  Coordinate meetings, workshops, committees, and executive forums.

Operations & Governance

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  Oversee the daily coordination of council operations and strategic initiatives.
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  Develop, review, and implement policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
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  Ensure compliance with government regulations and organizational standards.
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  Maintain documentation, records, databases, and governance reports.

Policy Development & Process Improvement

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  Review government resolutions, regulations, and strategic directives.
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  Lead policy implementation across participating Free Zones.
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  Recommend process improvements and operational efficiencies.
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  Benchmark against international best practices to improve organizational effectiveness.

Customer Experience & Service Excellence

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  Support initiatives focused on customer journey mapping and service excellence.
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  Analyze customer feedback, complaints, and service performance.
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  Recommend improvements to enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Quality Assurance & Assessment

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  Coordinate organizational assessments, audits, and quality reviews.
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  Develop assessment methodologies and evaluation criteria.
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  Conduct site visits and monitor implementation of improvement initiatives.

Reporting & Executive Support

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  Prepare executive dashboards, presentations, and Board reports.
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  Present project updates, risks, recommendations, and strategic insights to senior leadership.
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  Ensure timely submission of operational and performance reports.

Continuous Improvement

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  Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, and governance.
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  Promote innovation, operational excellence, and best practices across the organization.

Qualifications

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  Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Project Management, Management, or a related discipline.
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  Master's degree is an advantage.
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  PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent project management certification is preferred.

Experience

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  7–10 years of experience in Program Management, Project Management, Government Relations, Strategy, or Operations.
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  Experience working within a UAE Government, Semi-Government, Regulatory Authority, or Free Zone organization is highly preferred.
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  Proven experience managing complex cross-functional projects.
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  Experience developing policies, governance frameworks, and strategic initiatives.
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  Strong exposure to stakeholder management and executive reporting.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

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  Program & Project Management
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  Strategic Planning
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  Stakeholder Management
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  Government Relations
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  Policy Development
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  Risk Management
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  Process Improvement
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  Governance & Compliance
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  Performance Reporting
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  Microsoft Office Suite (Advanced PowerPoint & Excel)

Core Competencies

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  Strategic Thinking
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  Leadership & Influencing Skills
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  Excellent Communication & Presentation Skills
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  Relationship Building
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  Negotiation & Conflict Resolution
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  Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
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  Organizational & Time Management
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  Attention to Detail
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  Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment