Head of Support Services Central📣 Job Ad

About BAE Systems Saudi Arabia

BAE Systems is the UK Government’s nominated Prime Contractor, providing equipment, support, and training to Saudi Arabia. This includes the maintenance of Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) aircraft and the training of RSAF and Royal Saudi Naval Force personnel. BAE Systems Saudi Arabia is committed to supporting the Saudi Arabian National Agenda, including Saudisation and the development of Saudi National capability.

The Role: Head of Support Services – Central

BAE Systems Saudi Arabia is seeking a Head of Support Services – Central to join its team in Riyadh. This full-time role serves as the senior Support Services representative for the Central region and is a key member of the Business Services team. The Head of Support Services is responsible for the direct and indirect delivery of multiple service stream outputs at the respective location, reporting through the Head of Employee Support Services to the Director Business Shared Services.

The role involves interpreting business strategy and significantly contributing to the development and implementation of Support Services and wider Business Shared Services strategy, policy, and procedures to meet operational needs. This position requires excellent and broad services knowledge, experience, and a detailed understanding of the business, market, and key competitors. Delivery is typically achieved through direct and indirect management of teams or as an individual contributor with significant subject matter expertise.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the quality and timeliness of business services offerings delivered through service teams at each location, in accordance with the function's vision, mission, strategy, and agreed service level parameters.
• Oversee services covering medical, accommodation, workplace, and employee services, primarily supporting the expatriate workforce and their sponsored dependants.
• Collaborate closely with functional stream leads to ensure effective performance and governance of assets, budgets, and services delivered to customers, enabling project directors to focus on project delivery.
• Hold appropriate levels of Delegation of Authority (DOA) and be fully accountable for all delegated budgets.
• Lead numerous service assurance activities internally and with outsourced external providers.
• Support necessary performance reporting through to QFR and other business reviews, and report local Business Services monthly performance to the Head of Employee Support Services.
• Significantly contribute to establishing and maintaining effective talent management processes and developing functional talent through established FRR processes.
• Provide expert advice to senior management on any aspect of service provision at the location.
• Set SMART objectives for self and team members in the management of business services at the respective location.
• Support the Head of Employee Support Services with the design, development, and implementation of Business Services strategies and undertake continuous improvement.
• Manage local suppliers for local services and support the procurement team for centrally managed suppliers.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• A degree or master's degree in business administration or a related discipline.
• Extensive business services experience, with 5-10 years of overall experience, some of which is in a leadership/management role in a mid-size organisation, preferably within the aviation/defence industry.
• An in-depth understanding of business services concepts and procedures within own technical/subject area(s).
• Comprehensive knowledge of several services areas and how their processes and resources interact to achieve functional objectives.
• A good understanding of industry and commercial awareness to understand the relative positioning of the Company’s products/services versus the competition.

Required Skills and Attributes

• Proficiency to apply and consolidate specialist skills and knowledge, ensure essential procedures are followed, and help identify the standards and specifications around which others will operate.
• Full management of a team, including defining roles and responsibilities, planning for departmental future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance, and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes.
• Ability to evaluate complex situations using multiple sources of information, referring to a diverse range of internal and external sources such as procedures and practices.
• Ability to provide value-added perspectives or advisory services important to decision-making, impacting the work and performance of all teams within the business location.
• Very high level of communication skills, including interactive listening, to negotiate (mainly internally) with others often at senior levels.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, and management skills, including engagement at local senior leadership level.

Work Environment and Travel

The Head of Support Services will interface with all business and KPC management, acting as the primary interface with local Base Management for all Business Services and serving as a key and active member of the Base level management board. The role holds Line Management responsibility for all service teams in the location and overall management of all Business Services employees at the location, while maintaining relationships with all business service customers and stakeholders. National travel within KSA is necessitated to attend various functional review meetings.