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Director of Operations
Ghobash Group
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
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About this role
Company Description Emirates Electrical & Instrumentation Company LLC. For almost 20 years, we have made vital contributions to the Oil & Gas sector of the UAE, executing both onshore and offshore projects. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is one of our main clients along with Tier 1 and Tier 2 EPC contractors in this sector. We have the expertise to carry out full EPC&M services for electrical and instrumentation works and bring our intrinsic knowledge to measure and automate exploration, production, separation, refining processes, and distribution through our localized services. Job Description JOB SUMMARY: Reporting to the General Manager, the Director of Operations leads the operational and financial performance of EEIC's EPC projects and service divisions (Maintenance Contracts and Secondment Services), owning the Operations P&L, budgets, forecasts, OPEX, gross profit, cash flow and resources, and ensuring delivery to contract, schedule, HSE, quality and profit targets. The role protects and improves margins through robust budgeting, monitoring, corrective action, cost optimisation and variation recovery, ensuring forecasts are backed by validated progress, realistic cost-to-complete and quantified risks. It resolves issues within delegated authority and escalates material matters to the General Manager with impact and recommendations. Leading the Head of Projects, Engineering Manager and Head of Division, and through them Project Managers and teams, the role strengthens leadership, governance and execution standards. It requires a commercially astute EPC professional with contractor-side experience managing multiple projects across planning, engineering, procurement, construction, subcontracting and clients DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Financial, Budget & P&L Management * Own the financial performance and P&L of the Operations Department, including the EPC project portfolio and operational service divisions, ensuring achievement of approved revenue, gross profit and profitability targets, and provide the General Manager with timely visibility of material financial deviations, risks and opportunities. * Lead preparation of the annual Operations Department budget (revenue, gross profit, OPEX, manpower and other cost assumptions), provide reliable operational inputs to the General Manager and Finance for business planning, and control OPEX within approved budgets. * Lead and challenge individual project budgets following award, ensuring they reflect the approved commercial baseline, execution strategy, resources, procurement and subcontracting strategy, risks and expected profitability, and endorse budgets and revisions in accordance with the Delegation of Authority. * Review project P&Ls regularly – revenue, actual and committed costs, accruals, cost-to-complete, EAC, gross profit, margin and cash flow – and hold Head of Projects and Project Managers accountable for budget ownership and financial performance. * Ensure accurate monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts of revenue, cost, GP and cash flow, supported by validated progress, realistic cost-to-complete, contractual entitlements, committed costs and quantified risks and opportunities. * Identify margin erosion and cost overruns early, establish root causes and drive corrective action, and lead initiatives to protect and improve gross profit – through cost optimisation, productivity, procurement savings, variation recovery and improved execution methods – without compromising HSE, quality, contractual or client requirements. * Monitor billing, certification, unbilled revenue, receivables and cash collection in coordination with Commercial and Finance, ensuring alignment with physical progress and revenue recognition. * Ensure operational managers own and validate their financial assumptions, delivery commitments and recovery plans. Finance supports reporting and validation; the Director of Operations remains accountable for operational forecasts and performance commitments. Project Delivery & Operational Management * Lead and oversee the execution of EEIC's EPC project portfolio from award through engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and close-out, in accordance with contractual requirements, approved budgets, baseline schedules, HSE and quality standards. * Oversee the Maintenance Contracts and Secondment Services divisions, ensuring service levels, manpower utilisation, contract renewals and divisional profitability meet approved targets. * Ensure appropriate execution strategies, mobilization plans and project management structures are established for newly awarded projects. * Conduct structured project performance reviews covering progress, schedule, cost, profitability, cash flow, engineering, procurement, construction, subcontracting, resources, commercial matters and key risks, maintaining portfolio-level visibility of status, milestones and priorities. * Identify underperforming projects early and lead the development and implementation of corrective action and recovery plans. * Ensure effective coordination between Projects, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Planning & Project Controls, Commercial, Finance, HSE and Quality functions. * Optimize manpower, equipment and other resources across the project portfolio according to operational priorities. * Provide visible HSE leadership across all projects and service sites, ensuring HSE plans, resources and performance meet company and client (including ADNOC) requirements. * Provide timely, accurate reporting to the General Manager and escalate material operational, financial, contractual and client risks with quantified impact, actions taken and clear recommendations, after review and challenge through the management hierarchy. * Take ownership of resolving operational matters within delegated authority, ensuring that the Head of Projects, Head of Division and Project Managers remain accountable for their respective responsibilities. Escalate matters requiring executive intervention in a timely manner, without unnecessarily transferring routine operational management responsibilities to the General Manager. Planning, Project Controls & EPC Oversight * Oversee, through the Head of Project Controls and Head of Projects, the planning and project controls framework, ensuring baseline programmes, progress measurement and reporting are consistently applied across all projects. * Review portfolio-level schedule performance, critical-path risks and key milestones through regular operational reviews, challenging delays, unrealistic forecasts and deviations from approved plans. * Review, endorse and drive the implementation of recovery and acceleration strategies for projects at risk, ensuring that required resources, cost implications, contractual considerations and management support are adequately assessed, with approvals obtained in accordance with the company's Delegation of Authority. * Ensure effective integration of engineering, procurement and construction across the portfolio, intervening to resolve critical interface issues that threaten construction progress or project completion. * Intervene where key subcontractor or supplier performance threatens project objectives, and make strategic decisions on subcontracting, resource deployment and self-performance. * Hold project leadership accountable for construction productivity and resource utilization, using project controls data to drive operational decisions. Commercial, Client & Stakeholder Management * Hold Head of Projects and Project Managers accountable for timely identification, notification and substantiation of variations, change orders, claims and EOTs, working with the Contracts function, which owns contractual entitlement and formal correspondence. * Support resolution of major subcontractor, supplier and commercial matters affecting project performance. * Maintain strong working relationships with senior client representatives, consultants, main contractors and key stakeholders, and represent EEIC in senior-level project and client meetings. * Act as the senior operational escalation point for critical project matters and support Head of Projects, Project Managers in resolving complex operational, contractual and stakeholder issues. * Maintain a strong understanding of clients e.g. ADNOC and other customers / main contractors’ requirements, procedures, expectations and project delivery standards. * Proactively lead senior-level operational and commercial engagement with clients to resolve material variations, extensions of time, claims, payment certifications and other outstanding matters affecting project profitability, delivery or cash flow, in coordination with the Commercial and Contracts functions. People Leadership, Governance & Continuous Improvement * Lead, coach and develop the Head of Projects, Engineering Manager, Project Managers, Head of Divisions and other senior project personnel, evaluating performance, addressing capability gaps and establishing clear accountability and a performance-driven culture. * Support recruitment of key project personnel, develop succession plans and strengthen EEIC's project management capability to execute progressively larger and more complex EPC projects. * Establish and maintain consistent project management standards, controls and governance across the project portfolio. * Ensure project risks are identified, assessed, mitigated and escalated appropriately. * Ensure compliance with company policies, contractual obligations, HSE requirements, quality standards and applicable client procedures. * Promote lessons learned, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement initiatives across projects. * Support the General Manager in annual operational planning and resource planning. Qualifications * Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical or another relevant engineering discipline. * PMP or equivalent recognised project-management certification is preferred. * Postgraduate qualifications in Project Management, Engineering Management or Business Administration is an advantage. Additional Information Experience Requirements: * Minimum 15 years of experience in EPC project execution within the oil & gas, energy, petrochemical or related industries. * Significant contractor-side EPC experience is essential. * Demonstrated experience as an Operations Director, Project Director, Senior Project Manager or equivalent senior project leadership role. * Proven experience managing complex EPC projects through engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and close-out. * Proven experience concurrently leading multiple EPC projects and Project Managers, with accountability for consolidated operational and financial performance across a project portfolio. * HSE leadership compliance and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams. * Experience preparing and managing annual operational budgets and OPEX is preferred. * Significant GCC and UAE project experience preferred. * Previous ADNOC / ADNOC Group project experience (highly preferred). * Experience of both onshore and offshore oil & gas projects preferred. Skills & Professional Requirements: * Demonstrated responsibility for project P&L, project budgeting, cost control, forecasting and profitability improvement. * Proven ability to manage project financial performance including revenue, GP, EAC, cost-to-complete, cash flow and working capital. * Strong knowledge of project controls, planning, procurement, subcontracting, construction and commissioning. * Sound commercial and contractual experience, including variations, claims, extensions of time and contractual risk management. * Strong track record of client engagement and management of multidisciplinary project teams. Attributes and Behaviours: * Coaches, mentors and empowers others to make decisions within established parameters. * Is a champion and role model for ethical behaviour and compliance with applicable laws and policies. * Excellent personality with strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills. * Strong computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft office products, specifically Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word