Program Senior Director📣 Job Ad

About the Role

SAB is seeking a Program Senior Director to join its Strategy Management department in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time position is integral to driving strategic initiatives and ensuring the successful execution of major programs and projects across the organization. The Program Senior Director will play a key role in defining the division's strategic direction, managing complex projects, and fostering a high-performance culture.

This role requires a professional with a strong background in strategic planning, program management, and stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate will be responsible for aligning departmental objectives with SAB's overall business goals, ensuring efficient resource allocation, and mitigating risks to achieve successful outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic plans aligned with divisional objectives.
• Provide input for the division's workforce plan by forecasting departmental needs.
• Support the establishment and review of the department's operating framework, ensuring high performance standards and continuous improvement of work processes.
• Assist in the development and approval of the department's annual budget, track expenditures, and ensure adherence to budgetary limits.
• Offer strategic advisory input and potentially serve in formal roles for SAB's entities and subsidiaries to achieve overall business objectives.
• Cultivate a continuous talent pipeline for key departmental roles and mentor high-potential individuals.
• Monitor and facilitate the achievement of goals and key performance indicators for direct reports, ensuring effective implementation of the performance management process.
• Develop talent within the department by providing guidance, ongoing feedback, coaching, and development opportunities.
• Coordinate team activities to ensure efficient operations in line with annual business plans, policies, and procedures.
• Govern the implementation of risk-related policies and processes (operational, regulatory, financial, informational, reputational, and audit risks) within the department, ensuring compliance with regulatory and internal control requirements.
• Review the implementation of internal control systems, ensuring alignment with operating procedures and regulatory requirements, and take corrective actions based on audit findings.
• Demonstrate expected behaviors in line with SAB values and the Risk Culture Framework to drive robust risk-based decision-making.
• Lead the delivery and implementation of specific high-visibility strategic programs and major projects as designated by management.
• Ensure designated programs have clear plans, scope, budgets, resources, and robust governance structures.
• Manage and oversee all governance committees (STCs / WGs) for specific programs/projects.
• Escalate key issues and decisions required to the Project Sponsor and Head of E-PMO.
• Prepare and review all reporting and updates for specific programs/projects.
• Proactively drive program and project delivery to achieve approved plans and timelines.
• Undertake specific program/project tasks to support overall delivery and implementation.
• Oversee main IT execution phases for projects, including testing, pilot, and launch.
• Manage and oversee all non-IT activities for projects, including change management, communications, and training.
• Obtain buy-in and influence bank-wide stakeholders on key program plans, including requirements, quality assurance, budget, schedule, scope, risk mitigation, and contingency plans.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and communication to ensure transparency and coordinated execution across SAB for specific programs/projects.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and resolve conflicts to maintain program momentum and satisfaction.
• Track approved budgets against actual expenditures and forecasts, flagging scope creep and unapproved budget pressures.
• Maintain a benefits register and track realization milestones.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Statistics, or a related field is required.
• Approximately 13 years of professional experience.
• A minimum of 6 years of experience in a relevant senior role is preferred.

Required Skills

• Strategic Planning
• Workforce Planning
• Budget Management
• Talent Development
• Performance Management
• Risk Management
• Project Management
• Change Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Communication
• Leadership

Work Context

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with SAB.