Senior Specialist, Transformation

JOB PURPOSE:

Scope, define and lead transformation projects adhering to and managing time- and cost constraints in addition to quality standards in response to the needs of the internal Upstream customer/functions and the business.

Ensure the delivery of the Directorate’s vision whilst providing oversight into key projects, initiatives and workstreams to meet Management’s expectations. This involves understanding what transformations the business aims to achieve, managing project interdependencies, managing resources to deliver projects, assessing risks, monitoring progress, delivering end results and reviewing “best practices” as well as sharing “lessons learned”.

Actively support the Vice President, Transformation and Business Support, in driving the transformation program and ensuring that company Upstream has the organization and attitudes necessary to prosper in, what is becoming, a highly competitive and fast moving commercial, performance-oriented environment.

Manage and promote strategic projects/meetings, stakeholder management processes (business planning, Upstream OPCOs, Upstream Asset Management) as well as regular interaction with the Upstream Executive Directors Office.

Must display a progressive mindset and a high level of proactiveness and agility to ensure, drive and support successful implementation of change management across Upstream.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Transformation Programs

• Design, incubate and lead implementation of key strategic transformation initiatives in line with Upstream Directorate’s vision, Corporate Strategy and current and future business needs.

• Initiate, optimize and oversee Upstream’s business transformation and productivity initiatives in a manner that systematically improves the Directorate’s operational execution. Lead large scale change management initiatives across the Directorate and advise the relevant company groups on best practice methodology, covering systems and processes that require substantial re-engineering. Provide guidance and consultation over all aspects of these identified business transformation projects.
• Recommend and sponsor enhancements to the current practices and work processes aiming at identification of gaps and issues. Develop a framework to document process results and successes.
• Define the strategic fit of all priority projects.  Ensure alignment of activities against objectives and Upstream Directorate’s mandate.
• Plan and manage the delivery of various transformation initiatives ensuring availability of resources and competency enablers to allow for a nimble, agile and efficient project delivery process. Proactively steer initiatives, projects and teams to deliver against agreed objectives.
• Manage and enhance the reputation and brand image of Upstream and company as a whole through effective internal and external strategic relationships (e.g. Upstream consultants, strategy consultants, investment banks).
• Promote a performance driven culture through stakeholder management, new frameworks and a robust corporate management system.
• Provide strategic and commercial support to key investment projects and support the delivery of high impact Upstream Directorate priorities that address critical subject matters of strategic and tactical importance.
• Proactively guide program development for the Upstream initiatives from ideation and incubation to monitoring implementation.
• Be a proud ambassador to drive the change management agenda in Upstream and ensure success and cross-departmental support for the new direction.

Communication & Relationship Building

• Manage the development and delivery of strategic, accurate and effective communication into and out of the Upstream Director’s office.
• Build collaboration networks across functional teams to leverage their expertise and synergize business units and operations to achieve improvement in business processes.
• Collaborate with and work closely with functional peers, as well as consultants, business and government leaders in and outside the Directorate.

Leadership

• Provide effective and visible leadership and integrated strategic direction to the Division in the areas of Corporate Governance, Operations, People, Values and HSE and Integrity in order to deliver the Division’s strategic objectives.

Budgets and Operational Plans

• Actively support the Vice President, Transformation and Business Support, in the development and monitoring of the Division’s business plans and optimal annual budget, in line with company’s objectives and work programs, whilst ensuring quality and reality checks are in place.
• Control expenditure against the approved Division’s budget on a regular basis; investigate and reconcile any significant variances to ensure effective performance and cost control.

Performance Management

• Actively support the Vice President, Transformation and Business Support in properly cascading and implementing the Function’s Performance Objectives into the Division and to introduce monitoring mechanisms to assess progress and promote a performance driven culture.

Data Driven Insights:

• Analyze data sets to extract actionable insights and provide strategic recommendations.
• Develop and present executive level reports and presentations to facilitate the decision-making process within Upstream.

Organization Structure and People Development

• Share knowledge and experience, actively support the Vice President, Transformation & Business Support, in the development of knowledge, competencies and innovative spirit in the Division to continuously develop employees with emphasis on UAE Nationals to meet Emiratization targets and support the establishment of Development Plans, Succession Planning and Talent pipeline.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Translate conceptual ideas into focused projects and initiatives that bring about efficiencies and change in company Group.
• Promote the development of a corporate culture that encourages innovation, enhances employee motivation and supports initiatives for the implementation of Change Management to continuously improve Division’s operations and services.

Policies, Processes and Procedures

• Guide and ensure the development and implementation of appropriate Division policies, processes, systems, standards, procedures and internal controls to support the execution of the Company’s work programmes, in line with company Corporate, UAE Local & Federal laws and international standards.

Health, Safety, Environment (HSE) and Sustainability

• Contribute to the development of Company’s HSE policies and culture while overseeing compliance with all relevant HSE, sustainability and environmental policies, processes, procedures and controls across the Division.

Risk Management

• Participate and proactively contribute to the designing, development and establishment of the Company’s integrated Risk Management Framework while identifying and assessing relevant domain risks and recommend planning, management and control measures to mitigate identified risks within the Division.
• Actively assist in overseeing compliance of Risk Management Guidelines that are relevant to the Division and ensure corporate business ethics and Company’s Code of Conduct are communicated within the Division.

Management Reports

• Ensure that all Division progress reports are prepared to provide accurate and timely corporate reports and necessary information to Company Management, Board of Directors, Board Advisory Committee and other shareholder representatives to effectively manage the business.

COMMUNICATIONS & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Internal

• Constant interaction with Upstream Director to ensure daily, weekly and overall priorities are defined and are on-track.
• Regular interaction with Upstream Management to ensure that roles and responsibilities are defined with a plan for implementation being monitored.
• Frequent interaction with leadership across company Group BLDs to ensure alignment across the company value chain when it comes to management of stakeholders, special project, initiatives as part of the Transformation mandate and/or company Executive Committee actions/submissions.
• Frequent interaction and collaboration as well as support towards Upstream Group Companies’ teams and leadership.

External

• Interact and liaise with Upstream clients, technology providers, contractors and strategic partners to ensure relationship is proactively managed with regular feedback to Upstream Director.
• Ad-hoc interaction with local and government entities to discuss any initiatives that may be of interest to company leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Engineering or equivalent. MBA, CFA or equivalent certification is preferable.

Minimum Experience & Knowledge & Skills

• 10 years of minimum relevant experience of which at least 8 years in positions of progressively increasing managerial responsibilities. Experience in oil & gas industry is strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, cutting through complexity, making complex scenarios simple, and understood by others.
• Demonstrable project management skills that are short, mid and long-term and drive direct impact.
• Strong people management skills, stakeholder management and ability to support in development of team members.

Professional Certifications

• Project Management accreditations or similar are preferred