Head of Partnerships | Blue | Dubai

Overview of the role

With the objective of scaling the Blue business through relevant external partnerships, head of partnerships -Blue role is a strategic role that will be responsible for owning and optimizing the partnership strategy for Blue and end to end enable the partnership development process. Within this role, the individual will have the opportunity to establish and maintain strong partner partnerships and identify means to optimize performance and enable new growth areas.

A seasoned business leader with a broad skill set which demonstrates analysis, excellent business judgment, and strong partnership management and negotiation skills, you will work with partners of all sizes (established firms as well as startups) and must have the leadership presence and communication skills to represent AFG / Blue at all levels of the organisation. Experience in strategic thinking, negotiations and commercial acumen are required. Experience of having worked with both established firms and startups will be preferred.

Primary responsibilities include ensuring alignment of partnership strategy to Blue\xe2\x80\x99s vision and growth ambitions, continually identifying relevant strategic partnership opportunities, owning the relationships, monitoring partners to ensure compliance with company policies and commitments, and monitoring whether partnership objectives are being met.

This role involves working closely with various members of the Blue leadership team including Product heads, Marketing, Technology & data leadership, and commercial among others.

What you will do

Partnership Strategy

• Ensure ongoing alignment of partnership strategy with overall Blue vision and Blue\xe2\x80\x99s strategy.
• Works both independently and along with Blue leaders to explore new ways to optimize partnerships to achieve more value and identifying new & innovative partnership options
• Evaluate potential suppliers considering criteria such as Value addition to Blue & its customers, partner reputation, financial stability

Partner Relationship Management

• Develop and sustain relationships with current and potential Blue partners; meeting with suitable partners to assess potential for partnership, value addition potential for Blue and its customers, involvement in commercial constructs / discussions
• Communicating with internal departments such as lines of business leadership, internal audit, senior management on any partnership matters and/or to oversee related tasks

Partner Onboarding

• Working closely with Central Procurement, Legal and other teams as needed on contract negotiation processes
• Ensuring partner onboarding is completed in timely fashion

Partnership Risk Management

• Maintaining a view of pertinent risk information pertaining to third parties, and communicating this data via InfoSec and internal teams to senior leadership and pertinent stakeholders
• Continuously monitoring risk even after the contract is executed (e.g., monitoring performance levels and periodically requesting and analyzing current due diligence).

Partner Governance and Reporting

• Assist Blue leadership team with planning and developing the partner management policy, program and procedures; establishing standards / KPIs by which to assess the performance of partnerships
• Own the governance and KPI monitoring for strategic partners including regular partnership executive cadence
• Evaluating current partnership programs and identifying ways to improve them

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