Strategic Integration & Planning Lead JOB

Job Title: Strategic Integration & Planning Lead

Sector: Tourism

Department: Visitors Experience Department

Section: Strategic Integration & Planning Section

Direct Manager: Strategic Integration & Planning Section Head

Role purpose:

Lead the development of strategic planning related to all projects and programs under visitors experience department and ensure the efficient utilization of resources, business plans and budgets in order to serve the achievement of the desired results and returns in-line with the objectives, ambitions, and priorities of tourism.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic Integration & Planning

• Lead on ensuring effective cascading of the visitor experience functional strategy into business and operational plans aiming to provide attractive experiences for all visitors experience projects across Abu Dhabi that meet the expectations of the target audiences.
• Lead the cross-functional alignment, resource mobilization, budgets, and delivery-timelines and other relevant details and make sure they are efficiently coordinated and managed in line with the expectations of the department’s objectives.
• Establish and manage strategies, plans and services for visitor experience within assets, tourist attractions, and hotels across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, aiming to enhance the experience offered in-line with the department’s objectives.
• Conduct benchmarks and lead on the development of research and statistics in line with the latest and adequate trends to effectively identify pain points and efficiently optimize areas, aiding to deliver enhanced visitor experiences.
• Define metrics, touchpoints, and measurement plans, and monitor end-to-end journey from visitors experience perspective and identify areas of improvement.
• Ensure that best practices related to visitor experience services and allocation of staff are implemented within tourist sites, aiding to increase overall efficiency and effectiveness.
• Support on setting targets for visitor experience KPIs in alignment with tourism leadership and defined objectives, ensuring to prioritize visitor experience projects based on strategic alignment with overall strategy and their estimated return on objectives.
• Strengthen and maintain building relationships with relevant stakeholders and partners in the tourism sector and other relevant sectors to explore joint cooperation opportunities and identify potential needs in-line with the department’s goals.

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 the organization’s values and ethics at all times to support the establishment of a value-driven 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.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s (Master’s preferred) in Strategy, Hospitality Management, Marketing, Project Management, Tourism, Business Administration or any other decree within relevant industry.
• 5 to 7 years of experience in Tourism, Hospitality Management or any other experience within similar role or industry.
• Previous experience in strategic planning or equivalent is highly preferred.
• Strong knowledge in the tourism sector is highly preferred.

Skills

• Full professional English proficiency both in speaking and writing 
• Arabic bilingual desirable but not mandatory 
• 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