Kearney

Job Description

Position Title: 

Operations Manager Middle East 

Reports to Administratively: 

MEA Staffing & Operations Director

Reports to Functionally:

MEA Staffing & Operations Director

Purpose of Position:

Manage the full Operations scope including processes and tools from job opening to revenue tracking and reporting across the Kearney ME unit. This role will collaborate with key interfaces:

− Practice leaders, Partners and Principals

− Finance function

− Global staffing community

− HR function

Primary functions and responsibilities:

Overall Function leadership

• Lead Operations department with day-to-day
• Act as the secondary point of contact for the MEA regional leadership, Partners and Principals, and key business partners as well as other global stakeholders in all Operations matters. Support the director in function.
• Identify and suggest continuous improvements e.g. process improvements, automation, new projects, etc
• Coach, train and support developing the team of Operations team members across different levels of seniority
• Ensure training programs are developed and completed
• Support regular communication across all Operations topics and stakeholders

Business planning:

• Ensure maintenance of project pipeline and revenue forecasts in collaboration with the Finance function
• Lead monthly preparation of the unit revenue forecast
• Monitor our top line revenues and report to leadership on deviation vs forecasts
• Provide visibility on month-end landing results and subsequent variances vs forecast
• Support cost to completion forecast and monitor project budget management
• Proactively flag any business risks identified to leadership and suggest correctives actions to rectify

Capacity management:

• In collaboration with HR, develop and implement capacity management tools and processes to optimally steer the number and mix of consultants to best serve the business needs in the long and short run
• Lead analysis of expected demand and supply and define expected gaps

Realization management:

• Develop and implement appropriate transparency, analytics and reporting tools to measure unit realization and profitability levels across billable resources and practices
• Develop instruments to maximize realization & avoid revenue slippages
• Ensure timesheet compliance for all billable staff

Paperwork control

• Lead the management of control and paperwork of engagements
• Ensure project officers comply with Finance policies for job codes opening, insuring revenue and bookings recognition
• Collaborate with Finance and Legal department on job opening / closing processes
• Implement new policies when needed

Compliance

• Lead implementation of Operations policies, processes and guidelines, and ensure their consistency
• Ensure proper usage of existing tools like SAP in the unit
• Support Practices in Invoicing and cash collection implementing tracking, reporting
• Client Master: maintain the most up-to-date client records including Practice allocation, Client officer, etc

Staffing & Operations Initiatives

• Senior time process
• Timesheets automation
• New Forecasting tool implementation
• Internal S&O Tools Automation
• Investment tracker

Knowledge and skills requirements:

• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate and present at senior levels
• Understand specifics and dynamics of Staffing & Operations activities
• Team management skills
• Must have an analytical background, a mix of business sense, HR and Finance understanding
• Pragmatic and well-organized with attention to details
• Pro-active and self-managing with ability to react and adapt to change quickly
• Must have an analytical background and be able to accurately run analysis, reporting, use analytical tools such as MS Excel
• Strong business sense

Education:

• Undergraduate degree or MBA

Previous Experience:

• Relevant work experience in a professional, corporate environment. Preferably an international firm

Language Requirements

Arabic/ English