Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE, relocation provided
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About the Client
We are sourcing on behalf of an innovative organization in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Imagine working in a beautiful location where you can focus on building state-of-the-art software solutions, all while enjoying a tax-free compensation package, comprehensive healthcare, and full relocation support.
Join a dynamic environment that values collaborative problem-solving, encourages continuous learning, and celebrates innovation.
Step into a role where your expertise as drives real impact, and be part of an organization that invests in your growth from day one.
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About the Role
The Senior Program Manager position is an opportunity focused on the comprehensive management of R&D; programs within a structured Project Management Office (PMO) environment.
This role is responsible for driving the planning, execution, monitoring, and successful delivery of both internal and customer-driven R&D; projects, ensuring alignment with organizational standards, governance frameworks, and strategic objectives.
The position requires a blend of technical acumen, advanced project management expertise, and strong cross-functional leadership to facilitate collaboration among R&D; teams, senior project managers, and diverse stakeholders.
The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing the efficiency, quality, and innovation outcomes of the organization's R&D; initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and delivery of complex R&D; projects and programs, ensuring adherence to defined timelines, budgets, and scope.
Develop, maintain, and regularly update detailed project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and resource allocations using advanced project management tools.
Coordinate and facilitate project meetings, including preparation of agendas, documentation of minutes, and tracking of action items to ensure accountability and progress.
Identify, assess, and proactively manage project risks, issues, dependencies, and change requests in accordance with PMO guidelines and best practices.
Ensure strict compliance with PMO standards, methodologies (such as PMI, PRINCE2, SCRUM), and organizational templates throughout the project lifecycle.
Prepare, maintain, and support comprehensive project documentation, including charters, project plans, RAID logs (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies), and status reports.
Assist in the development and maintenance of portfolio dashboards and management reporting, providing clear visibility into project and program performance for senior leadership.
Act as a key liaison between project teams, PMO, and cross-functional stakeholders, ensuring alignment, effective communication, and timely escalation of critical issues.
Oversee resource planning and competency management, ensuring the right skills and capacity are allocated to each project or program.
Support the execution of stage-gate reviews and compliance with internal R&D; processes, ensuring quality and governance at each project phase.
Facilitate lessons learned sessions, project retrospectives, and contribute to the continuous improvement of PMO processes and best practices.
Assist in the implementation, customization, and optimization of project management tools and systems to enhance project tracking and reporting capabilities.
Foster a culture of proactive problem-solving, collaboration, and continuous learning within the project and PMO teams.
Required Experience & Skills
Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in project coordination, program management, PMO operations, or R&D;/engineering project environments,
preferably within defense organizations.
Advanced understanding of project management methodologies, including Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid, and familiarity with industry standards such as PMI, PRINCE2, or SCRUM.
Demonstrated expertise in developing and managing complex project schedules, resource plans, and budgets using tools like MS Project, Jira, or Azure DevOps.
Strong organizational, analytical, and time-management skills, with proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level reports, presentations, and project documentation.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and experience with data visualization tools such as Power BI for project reporting and analytics.
Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues, with a structured approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
Experience facilitating cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and conflict resolution within diverse project teams.
High attention to detail, structured thinking, and a commitment to process discipline and continuous improvement.
Familiarity with R&D; processes, stage-gate methodologies, and compliance requirements in technology or engineering environments.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Business, Information Systems, or a related field is required; advanced degrees or certifications (PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/SCRUM Master) are highly desirable.
Formal training or certification in project management methodologies is considered a strong asset.
Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development in project and program management.
Tools & Technologies
Project Management: MS Project, Jira, Azure DevOps, or equivalent platforms
Productivity: Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
Reporting & Analytics: Power BI, Tableau (or similar business intelligence tools)
Collaboration: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Confluence, SharePoint
Documentation: RAID logs, project charters, status reporting templates
Methodologies: PMI, PRINCE2, SCRUM, Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid approaches
This position offers the opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering innovative R&D; programs that drive organizational growth and technological advancement.
The Project Manager / Program Manager will gain exposure to cutting-edge project management practices, cross-functional leadership, and continuous improvement initiatives, making a measurable impact on both project outcomes and the broader R&D; portfolio.
Career growth opportunities include advancement to senior project management, PMO leadership, or specialized program management roles within dynamic and evolving environments.
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