Manager Operational Excellence

Overview of the Role

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Manager, Operational Excellence to join its expanding Organization Excellence team. This full-time position is based in Al Madinah, specifically covering projects in Al Ula and Medina. The role focuses on supporting business within multiple sectors across the MEA region, with a particular emphasis on capital projects advisory, real estate, and consulting firms. The Manager will lead day-to-day engagement activities, contribute to business development, and support team growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify business development opportunities with current and potential clients to contribute to profitability.
• Propose new and integrated services by leveraging global business capabilities and technical domains.
• Develop innovative value propositions using capital projects knowledge and sector-specific expertise.
• Manage project execution to ensure service delivery aligns with client expectations.
• Oversee all aspects of time, cost, and quality for consulting projects.
• Manage stakeholders to drive alignment and buy-in across projects.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior colleagues and clients.
• Foster internal relationships across the SNC-Lavalin business.
• Utilize data and technology to provide innovative solutions to client challenges.
• Contribute to positioning Organization Excellence services in the Middle East through thought leadership and social media.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and training to junior staff, and lead initiatives for recruiting and retaining consulting professionals.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Degree-qualified level or equivalent experience; a degree in Business Management or a related field is preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of overall experience, with 12+ years for a Senior Manager role.
• Experience in the built environment, specifically in key capabilities such as Strategy, Organization Excellence through Operating Model Design, Business Process Management, People Advisory, and Capital Project Excellence. This experience should be gained in Management Consulting and Capital Projects Advisory environments or a relevant position with transferable skills.
• Experience in one or several key sectors.

• Demonstrated track record in several of the following areas, particularly within a Capital Projects environment:

  • Target Operating Model development.
  • Current state assessment, benchmarking, and gap assessment against best practice.
  • Strategy development (departmental or organizational level), operational planning, and performance management.
  • Mapping customer journeys, services, organizational/departmental scope, and process frameworks.
  • Organizational design and sizing.
  • Development of departmental roles, responsibilities, and job descriptions.
  • Development of competency frameworks and conducting competency assessments.
  • Development of governance frameworks, including committee structure, terms of reference, delegation of authority, and three lines of defense.
  • Development of detailed processes using tools like Visio or ARIS, standard operating procedures, and work instructions to improve organizational efficiency.

Technical and Behavioral Skills

• Good understanding of one or several key sectors within the capital projects environment.
• Proficiency in planning and organizational agility, including accurately scoping project length and difficulty, setting realistic objectives, and managing roadblocks.
• Ability to prioritize workload, demonstrate resilience under pressure, and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data and deliver practical solutions.
• Competence in utilizing both qualitative and quantitative analysis for business problem-solving.
• Skills and experience in engagement management.
• Demonstrated drive, enthusiasm, and commitment to projects, maintaining a professional image.
• Ability to innovate and apply experiences to create new value propositions for clients and drive business development.
• Capacity for independent decision-making, proactive initiative, and a positive attitude.
• Ability to function confidently and competently within client environments, positively impacting perceptions of the Organization Excellence Service Line.
• Flexibility regarding tasks and location, with the ability to manage ambiguity effectively.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Al Madinah, with potential travel required for engagements across the MEA region. The role involves working within both traditional and agile project environments, often with a high degree of ambiguity.