Group Director-Portfolio Management

The primary responsibility of the Group Director – Portfolio Management is to lead and/or work with multi-disciplinary teams and engage with other department heads to develop and implement strategic initiatives.

The Job:

• Grow visitor numbers – international and domestic – and revenues through successful marketing using market research and analytics, pricing, product marketing, marketing communications, advertising and public relations.

• Formulate and execute creative marketing and branding strategies especially effective marketing penetration strategies across all shows within the cluster; including, but not limited to geographies, segments and corporate seniority profiles to achieve aggressive international and local attendance targets, and build loyal communities to retain attendees and win new ones.

• Achieve global positioning for top events in portfolio.

• Plan, direct and coordinate marketing budgets in accordance to organizational goals, especially achieving ambitious visitor growth targets.

• Build required capabilities to deliver the mandate within the stipulated budget, manage work planning and resourcing, ensure timely escalation and management of any operational and/or personnel matters, etc within the cluster of shows.

• Actively monitor and report on departmental objectives and deliverables; including, maintenance

  of a periodic KPI dashboard and formal monthly reporting mechanism.

• Custodian of business’ data governance practices for the cluster assigned

• Comply with exhibitions department’s governance ensuring statutory compliance with Delegation of Authority (DOA), policies and procedures; as well as closure on any open/outstanding audit issues (internal and government related).

• Monitor the development of KPIs and reporting tools for monthly departmental 0 reviews (MDR) to align with expectations on overall Performance objectives;

• Represent the voice of the visitor to senior leadership to inform growth 0 strategies; including, product development.

• Manage team of Directors and Managers; including, team performance, expectations and professional development/ growth requirements and opportunities.

Qualifications & Experience: Technical / Functional

• Preferably Master in Business Administration (MBA) or equivalent (e.g., Masters in Finance) in relevant business topic

• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience, of which 3 years in C-level advisory roles or divisional leadership within Exhibitions.

• Entrepreneurial drive; results-driven

• Flexible and able to multitask especially under demanding timeline

pressure; can work within a capricious, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in projects, people and systems

• Demonstrated ability to recruit, inspire and retain a high-performance team; outstanding communication and interpersonal skills

• Equip with a strong and balanced multi-disciplinary technical skills set in traditional and experiential marketing, online to offline communications (especially digital), media planning, creative conceptulisation and execution, CRM and marketing analytics, market penetration strategies, loyalty programmes, B2G/B2B/B2C marketing approaches

• Ability to apply strong acumen in user experience knowledge across all marketing assets and activations

• Strong ability to drive a creative ideation and conceptualisation process

• Display strong design acumen and sensibilities, and awareness and appreciation of contemporary creative expressions

• Astute competence in developing creative concepts and converting them into realities with tangible outcomes

• Exceptional analytical, critical thinking and organizational abilities especially in time-pressed situations

• Deep understanding of changing market dynamics and future expectations

• Passionate customer advocacy

• Thorough knowledge of marketing and branding principles, practices and technologies; and product and service management

• Possess extensive knowledge in design, production and information technology. Adept in technology use.

• High level of meticulousness and if necessary, micro management and DIY approach to get work done.

• Fluency in English is a must – Arabic optional.

*** ONLY shortlisted candidates will be contacted ***