General Manager

About the job

Our client, a global leader in smart city technologies, is seeking a highly experienced Country Director to lead their operations and growth strategy in the UAE. The role oversees business activities through offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and is pivotal in driving expansion, stakeholder engagement, and program execution across the region.

The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, financial acumen, and proven expertise in delivering complex smart infrastructure projects. Experience working with UAE government authorities in sectors such as transportation or utilities is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities:

• Represent the client’s business in the UAE, leading all local operations and acting as the principal point of contact
• Develop and implement strategic plans to grow the smart city business in alignment with regional goals
• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities to drive market share and build a robust project pipeline
• Build and maintain relationships with key government, commercial, and industry stakeholders
• Lead business development initiatives, sales strategy, and go-to-market execution
• Manage local P&L, including budgeting, revenue forecasting, and financial reporting
• Oversee successful delivery of smart city programs and infrastructure projects from planning to completion
• Ensure regulatory compliance and manage all operational areas including HR, logistics, finance, and customer service
• Build and mentor high-performing teams, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability
• Represent the client at major industry events and lead in-country CSR efforts

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Science, or a related field
• 10+ years of leadership experience, ideally within smart cities, transportation, or public infrastructure
• In-depth knowledge of the UAE regulatory and business landscape, particularly in public sector engagement
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale infrastructure projects
• Strong commercial and financial capabilities, including full P&L ownership
• Proven ability to drive business growth through strategic planning and effective team leadership
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in English; Arabic language proficiency is advantageous
• High integrity, with a track record of leading by example

Salt is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.