Job Description

Job Title Operations Manager MENA

Description

Country
United Arab Emirates
Job Family
Operations
For over 80 years, GfK has been a reliable and trusted insight partner for the world's biggest companies and leading brands who make a difference in every consumer's life - and we will continue to build on this. We connect data, science and innovative digital research solutions to provide answers for key business questions around consumers, markets, brands and media. With our headquarters in Germany and a presence in around 60 countries worldwide, you benefit from our global company with a diverse community of ~9,000 employees.

Harnessing the power of our workforce, the greatest asset we have is our people. As part of GfK, you can take your future into your own hands. We value talent, skills and responsibility and support your development within our international teams. We are proud of our heritage and our future: Currently we are in the latter stages of a transformational journey from a traditional market research company to a trusted provider of prescriptive data analytics powered by innovative technology. This is only possible with extraordinary people and this is why we are looking for YOU to help create our future. For our employees as well as for our clients we pursue one goal: Growth from Knowledge!



Purpose of the Role

- Directly oversees all local operations units for the countries covered by the subregions Northern Africa & Middle East

- Responsible to implement the Global Operations Strategy, Processes and Projects and adapt them according to the local needs.

- Manages budget for local Operations unit and constantly improves cost management.

- Ensures global quality guidelines, especially documentation of working processes. Drives constant improvement

- Actively manages cross functional cooperation between, Ops, Retail, MI CSG, CSM and Sales to implement GfK Processes and drive speed and quality KPIs

- Member of the MENA Leadership Team with a dotted line to the Commercial Director MENA

- Evaluates team performance, identifies areas for improvement and implements either training or processes to support improvement.

- Coordinates new commercial initiatives with business to clarify product vision and objectives.

- Operations consulting and link of product communication for business entities.

- Supervises and supports global operations product programs.

Key Activities

- Ensures the team meets the needs of the Commercial Teams.

- Develops and promotes a service-oriented culture within the team and Operations as a whole.

- Implements and follows global standard procedures and processes.

- Ensures implementation and improvement of global quality guidelines, supported by Regional Quality Director and ROD, but also Global colleagues

- Ensures professional workload management and monitors workload as well as optimizing staff utilization.

- Overall responsibility for people development/career progression within the local Ops unit.

- Evaluates team performance, identifies areas for improvement and implements either training or processes to support improvement.

- Develops skills in the local Ops unit across methodologies, industries and specialisms so that the team can offer consultation to the Commercial Teams.

- Uses the expertise developed within the country to support the development of colleagues in other Ops teams, through coaching and mentoring.

- Clearly communicates global and local strategy to the teams; sets goals, provides direction and guidance to direct reports.

- Responsibility for the Operation unit budget, monitors key metrics for the team i.e. project management budgeted versus actual hours, team utilization.

- Identifies efficiencies in the workflow, in management the studies/program and implements these.

- Ensures cost saving opportunities by using the Global Service Centers.

- Establishes and maintains excellent working relationships with the Global Service Centers.

- Budget responsibility including annual merit process

Key Interfaces

- Regional Operations Director

- Regional Quality Director

- Commercial Teams

- Global Service Teams

- Local Operations Teams

- Local Retail Teams

- Local Field Teams

Technical Skills

- Expert managerial skills and managerial experience

- Expert communication and interpersonal skills

- Strong client excellence focus

- Advanced decision making, priority setting and negotiation skills

- Strong business acumen

- Excellent language skills in English, in addition ideally Arabic or French

- Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office

- High degree of stress resistance, patience and endurance

We are an ethical and honest company that is wholly committed to its clients and employees. We are proud to be an inclusive workplace for all and are committed to equal opportunity in employment which focuses on all of our employees reaching their full potential. At GfK we work collaboratively with our colleagues but offer a flexible working approach, including dividing our time between office & remote working as well as the opportunity to flex our working hours around team core hours.
We offer an exciting work environment that brings people together. We encourage an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit. We make use of the latest digital technologies. We are looking for self-starters, who accept challenges and create solutions.

Can there be a better place to take center stage in the digital revolution? We are excited to get to know you!

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