International Operations (Domestic) Unit Head JOB

Job Title: International Operations (Domestic) Unit Head

Sector: Tourism

Department: International Operations Department

Section: International Operations (Middle East & Proximity Mkts) Region

Direct Manager: International Operations (Middle East & Proximity Mkts) Regional Head

Job Purpose

Lead on the development & execution of market plans & strategies, operations and activities in the domestic market. Manage the activation of the market strategies by conceptualizing, preparing and organizing marketing and promotional work, and creating the right initiatives in collaboration with DCT relevant sectors and departments to increase the UAE hotel guest numbers in Abu Dhabi. Ensure conducting research and analyze to the relevant markets, build effective partnerships, and activate marketing/promotional programs to take inbound tourism to Abu Dhabi. 

Key Responsibilities

Travel and Market Development

• Manage the development of market strategies, managing cost-effective execution, and reviewing end-to-end action plans for the domestic market in-line with the defined strategies.
• Lead on development and execution of plans of the holistic B2B and B2C strategy for the domestic market in-line with the department’s priorities and defined strategy and goals.  
• Build effective domestic marketing and promotional initiatives and campaigns for the UAE market, incorporating inputs from respective internal departments and stakeholders aiming to promote leisure visitations in Abu Dhabi.
• Direct the team to closely engage and work with the Events Bureau, Visitor Experience Department and others aiming to stay up-to-date with right products and events, and ensure that the right products are promoted and activated within the UAE market plan in-line with the defined strategy.
• Lead on planning resources (human and budget) for execution of activities, including appointing agencies/personnel to work on implementing the strategy and workplans and monitoring operational efficiency in-line with the defined objectives.
• Lead the execution of work plans by appointed agencies, in collaboration with internal teams and overseas offices, aligning with established standards, timelines, and budget.
• Lead the execution of market’s event calendar, including exhibitions, roadshows and press & trade familiarization trips.
• Manage the overall budget specified for the unit, and ensure effective optimization of the budget, aligning with established plans and demands.
• Lead on identifying and benchmarking with top competitors in the market to ensure that assigned part of the region is continuously aligned with best practices within the market.
• Direct the team to continuously conduct researches to provide insights about the local & international market developments, customer preferences and trends, and ensure effective contribution to develop tactical marketing plans.
• Contribute to the preparation of period reports for the Middle East & Africa region highlighting all the projects, illustrating achievements, escalating pain points with challenges, budget utilizations, recommendations, and future plans and present them to the line manager.
• Lead on working closely with the internal sectors and departments to identify market trends, new opportunities, and changes within the travel sector to ensure alignment of the regional’s plans with market dynamics.

Industry Engagement and Partnerships

• Manage building close and effective relationships with partners and relevant internal and external stakeholders regionally and locally from travel trade and tourism industries to facilitate discussions regarding planned events, potential partnerships, coverage, and performance.
• Ensure gathering and managing contacts, including profiling and inputting contacts in the systems to maintain data in a timely manner.
• Identifying opportunities for partnerships and investments and working on searching new opportunities that serve to achieve the desired results and objectives and meet the targets.

Shared Activity

• Ensure effective cascading of the functional strategy into section business plans to ensure vertical alignment and horizontal integration with other interfacing sectional strategies.
• Lead the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.
• Carry out any other duties and responsibilities related to the role at the request of the direct manager.
• Manage and ensure effective implementation of functional policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of assigned section activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service.
• Follow all relevant departmental policies, processes, standard operating procedures, and instructions so that work is carried out in a controlled and consistent manner.
• Demonstrate compliance to organization’s values and ethics at all times to support the establishment of a value drive culture within the organization.
• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.

Communication and Business Relationships

Internal

• Tourism Sector
• DCT Relevant Sectors / Departments

External

• Government Entities
• Hotels and other stakeholders in the travel and hospitality industry
• DMCs
• Banks

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Tourism, Marketing or any other decree within relevant industry.

Experience

• At least 4 to 7 years of experience Strategic Management, Tourism Management or any similar role, preferably in the tourism field.
• Proven experience in an international fast-paced and dynamic environment is preferred.
• Knowledge in the DOMESTIC TOURISM landscape is preferred.

Skills

• Full professional English proficiency both in speaking and writing 
• Arabic in speaking and writing is highly preferred
• Skilled in MS Office (PowerPoint, Word and Excel)
• Administrative skills and attention to detail
• Self-motivated with a proven ability to complete work in a timely manner
• Expert knowledge on rebates schemes, preferably accustomed with UAE best practices
• Experience with business planning
• Extensive experience with program management related to finance and policy