The Role
High quality candidates are being sought for the position of Business Operations Manager, based in Dubai, a highly collaborative position for someone who can provide direction, experience and inspiration.
The business was created in 2014 and has evolved rapidly to become a thriving team of 8 people providing both incubator and trade advisory support.
This individual will work with the CEO to manage the capacity & services of the BCB as it continues into its next phase of evolution, providing quality support to UK companies.
The ideal individual embodies strong analytical capabilities as well as the ability to build trusting relationships across a diverse spectrum of clients, partners, sponsors, suppliers and stakeholders. This person must demonstrate great communication skills, and an ability to thrive in a fluid business setting.
This person will be responsible for all administrative, back-office and operational aspects of the BCB in Dubai and will have a key role in supporting outward business development activities and ensuring that UK SMEs optimise the BCB’s capacity. A core part of the role involves building strong working relationships with incubator clients, and being their first port of call. You will help them through their Dubai set up, gaining their trade licence and visa, and subsequently manage the ongoing relationship, until they graduate from the program after 2 years.
Key Responsibilities
– Client management: Responsible for overseeing BCB incubator clients through the licencing and formation process. Providing support & advice throughout their 2 years with the BCB to enable them to subsequently flourish.
– Relationship Management: Working closely with the Department of Economic Development to ensure that the incubator client licencing and visa process runs smoothly.
– Administration: Line manager for Marketing and Administration Assistant, working together to ensure seamless day-to-day operations of the business.
– Invoicing: With the support of the Marketing and Administration Assistant manage the process to ensure all clients are billed accurately on time and any outstanding payments are collected in a timely fashion, or escalated as necessary.
– Reporting & budgeting: Collate & format data for monthly reports to the Board of Directors, DIT, OBN etc. Provide input to the CEO on the annual budget as necessary.
– Process improvement: As the BCB continues to evolve, constantly look at ways to improve operational processes, reduce inefficiency & cost and optimise client satisfaction.
– Trade Services support: Work alongside Trade Managers on Trade Advisory projects where you can make a valuable contribution to the success of the project.
– Stakeholder Management: Working with BBG and DIT teams to ensure that initiatives, activities and offers across all three entities are complimentary & aligned.
– Outsourcing: Ongoing management of preferred supplier list & partner programme.
– Partner Development: Investigation & development of events and programmes with external parties to add value to BCB clients.
– Product Development: With CEO, explore and develop new services & revenue channels for BCB to market and deploy in line with existing market offering.
Desired Skills and Experience
– 5-10+ years progressive experience in a business operations or project management capacity, preferably 3+ years within a professional services company.
– Minimum of 5 years working in the UAE.
– Experience working in the fields of export development, company formation, business centres, business councils & networks or trade support offices.
– Experience working in a project planning and execution capacity.
– Financial literacy. Previous work with budgets, reporting & accountancy functions.
– Staff management, leadership & mentoring experience.
– Understanding of UAE regulatory environment and business formation process.
– Strong & extensive personal professional network in the UAE.
– Ability to build and nurture relationships across multiple networks.
– Comfortable working in a new and fast growing business where business environment is likely to be very dynamic and subject to rapid evolution.
– Capacity to multi-task and take on additional responsibilities as they emerge.
– Passion for business and operations and client satisfaction.
– Strong analytical skills and exemplary time management/organisational skills.
– Discretion, demonstrating sound judgment in dealing with confidential dialogues and information.
– Great communication and negotiation skills, bringing together different views, personalities, goals, and needs, and helping different stakeholders find business alignment and growth.
– Keen interest in international trade.
Guidance for applications
– Applications should be sent to Joe Hepworth (joe.hepworth@bcbuae.com) and should include a full CV and cover letter.
– Deadline for applications is Tuesday 6th September.
– Target start date is early October.
– Salary is competitive but commensurate with an SME organisation.