Senior Manager - Strategic Initiative Implementation

Role : Senior Manager- Strategic Initiative Implementation
Location : Abu Dhabi

Role Purpose:

• Senior Manager of Strategic Initiative Implementation bridges the gap between high-level strategy and day-to-day action, leading cross-functional teams to execute major projects (like new market entry, digital transformation) by setting goals (OKRs/KPIs), solving problems, and ensuring alignment with company vision requiring strong leadership, analytical, and project management skills to drive results.

• Translate complex data into clear decisions and actions that drive measurable outcomes, influencing cross-functional teams across product, marketing, compliance, and technology.

• Drive results through strong leadership, analytical and project management skills

• Play a pivotal role within ADIB’s strategy team, closely working with the stakeholders to drive and deliver strategic initiative that strengthens the bank’s competitive edge and future readiness

• Represent ADIB in external forums and regulatory engagements, including with the Central Bank, to co-create market-first initiatives.

Key Accountabilities of the role

Drive Strategic Initiative:

• To lead the effective adoption and execution of critical strategic initiatives, driving transformative change by aligning cross-functional teams leveraging data for informed decisions, and managing complect project lifecycles.

• Translate strategic goals into actionable roadmaps, defining roles and responsibilities for teams. Establish clear and measurable goals and constant review that defines the successful delivery of strategic initiatives

• Accountable for development, implementation and monitoring of all models and strategic deliverables. Setup regular reviews to track the KPIs and adjust the plan based on real-time data.

• Deliver business & strategy performance update presentation and conduct Monthly Retail Strategy Update sessions with senior management session to update on the progress, results and risk involved

• Perform market and competition research and update business with latest market updates and competition performance, launches and product / offers.

• Address obstacles, resolve conflicts, and adapt strategies to changing market conditions or internal challenges.

Project & Stakeholder management:

• Lead and support strategic initiatives on behalf of Retail banking on process enhancements, enhance client experience, improve productivity and cost efficiency.

• Spearhead strategic projects from concept to completion, managing budgets, timelines, and deliverables

• Ensuring Agility and Adaptability by maintaining the flexibility to pivot plans when conditions change.

• Ability to anticipate future trends and prepare for emerging risks.

• Collaborate with leadership and diverse teams (Sales, Marketing, Operations) to ensure buy-in and effective execution.

Leadership Expectations:

• Strategic Influence: Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, shaping the bank’s strategy through data-driven insights and foresight.

• Visionary Thinking: Anticipate future trends in retail banking and proactively position ADIB to lead in innovation and customer experience.

• Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team, fostering a culture of ownership, agility, and continuous learning.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Lead cross-departmental initiatives, aligning analytics with product, marketing, compliance, and technology teams.

• Change Agent: Drive organizational change by embedding analytics into decision-making processes and championing a data-first mindset across the bank.

Specialist Skills / Technical Knowledge Required for this role:

• Deep understanding of the UAE Banking Sector, with expertise in Retail Banking products, process, portfolio, customer behaviors, and regulatory frameworks.

• Proven expertise in Project management, including advanced Agile and Iterative Techniques to drive strategic initiatives & goals.

• Strong ability to define the strategy roadmap and driving organizational alignment.

• Proficiency in performance management, optimization and efficiency improvement journeys.

• Experience in market study including research, market size, competitors, products, offerings and macroeconomic indicators.

• Ability to translate data and business insights into strategic business recommendations, influencing senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

• Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and data-first thinking, enabling impactful analytics within an integrated operating model.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education: Qualified Project Management Professional (PMP) with Management accounting (ACMA / CMA / CPA)

• Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategy development & tracking, business planning and program management in banking industry

• Strong track record of applying advanced analytics, financial modeling and process improvement to drive strategic goals in retail banking.

• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams and translate data into commercial impact through actionable insights and optimization.

• Familiarity with UAE banking regulations, risk frameworks, and data governance principles.

• Strategic Thinking ability to connect daily tasks to the bigger organizational picture.

• Essential Project Management skills like Organizing, planning, and executing complex initiatives

• Ability in Influencing teams, presenting to executives, and disseminating information.