WSP in the Middle East -
Company: WSP in the Middle East –
WebSite: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job Description:## Business Operations Manager, Global Advisory
**Position Summary:**
The Business Operations Manager, Global Advisory, will be instrumental in supporting the Global Director team to strengthen and expand WSP’s global advisory capabilities. This role is responsible for driving the establishment of a unified global operating model, ensuring effective coordination, knowledge dissemination, and alignment across all regions.
As a strategic enabler, the incumbent will foster collaboration with regional advisory leadership, develop robust operational platforms, and support the creation of new service lines and toolkits. Furthermore, this position will contribute to shaping the future vision of Global Advisory, including defining organizational structures, performance measurement frameworks, and value propositions for global teams.
The Business Operations Manager will collaborate closely with Global Finance, Marketing and Communications, and leadership teams to oversee commercial performance tracking, communications strategies, and strategic initiatives, such as digital enablement, benchmarking, and the development of Centres of Excellence. The ultimate objective is to ensure the Global Advisory function operates efficiently, consistently, and with a high degree of visibility across all markets.
**Responsibilities:**
* Support the Global Director, Advisory, in driving global growth and building upon the existing 10,500 FTE baseline, with teams delivering services across all end markets and sectors.
* Cultivate strong relationships with all Advisory Regional Leads, ensuring active support for the development and delivery of new services.
* Design and implement a new operating platform for Global Advisory, encompassing a comprehensive curriculum vitae and credential database, as well as facilitating general knowledge sharing.
* Support strategic focus areas by assessing baselines, visions, key account management strategies, and the distinction between commoditized and premium services.
* Develop toolkits for regional adoption to facilitate the launch of new services, including methodologies, templates, and example deliverables.
* Collaborate with the Global Director to develop a vision for Global Advisory, defining the optimal model for centralized versus decentralized teams, including global resource pooling strategies.
* Conduct benchmarking assessments of Big Four firms and other leading management consultancies.
* Design a new employee value proposition for Global Advisory team members, incorporating recognition and reward mechanisms.
* Work in conjunction with Global Finance, Planning & Accounting teams to track Global Advisory performance against budgeted commercial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established by the Global Leadership Team.
* Drive the creation of Centres of Excellence for Global Advisory (e.g., Economics Advisory, Digital Advisory) and establish the requisite operating platforms.
* Proactively identify opportunities to digitally enable teams (e.g., proposal production, service provision).
* Collaborate with Global Marketing and Communications to develop marketing materials and communications that highlight the Global Advisory value proposition, showcase projects and teams, and elevate the team’s internal and external profile.
* Prepare communication materials for the Global Director for Town Halls, Global Leadership Team Meetings, and other external business briefings.
**Qualifications:**
* Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Finance, or a related discipline; a Master’s degree is preferred.
* Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years in a consulting or professional services environment.
* Prior experience within a Big Four firm or leading management consultancy is highly desirable.
* Proven track record in business operations, project management, or PMO functions, with demonstrated ability to oversee cross-regional initiatives.
* Strong understanding of financial management, governance frameworks, and cross-functional coordination.
* Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence at executive levels.
* Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and collaboration platforms such as SharePoint and Power BI.
* Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a global, fast-paced environment, balancing strategic priorities with operational execution.
* Exceptional communication skills with the ability to create strong, concise messages and compelling narratives.
* Strategic thinker with the ability to develop a vision for optimal operating models and effectively implement them.
* Ability to influence and encourage global teams to adopt innovative approaches and leverage global benchmarks and best practices.
* Strong project management and coordination skills to efficiently extract and synthesize required information and data.
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