Program Manager Arabic Speaking

Overview The Program Managers are accountable for leading one of our key client-facing business lines (1 x Retail and 1x Corporate). Acting as a single point of contact with the client’s equivalent business division, this role combines strategic leadership, P&L responsibility, stakeholder management, and delivery oversight and technical depth in digital banking solutions, ensuring seamless execution of complex front-end and integration programs.

This is a senior role requiring both commercial acumen and operational execution, effectively running the segment as a “business within the business.” Success will be measured by revenue growth, client satisfaction, and segment-level profitability

Responsibilities

Client & Stakeholder Leadership

Act as the primary executive counterpart to the client’s Retail / Corporate Digital Banking leader, serving as the first point of escalation, alignment, and decision-making interface. Build and sustain trusted relationships with client executives, with a focus on improving client satisfaction (CSAT) and ensuring alignment to their strategy and priorities.

Lead strategic account planning and co-develop a shared strategic vision and roadmap in alignment with client priorities.

Anticipate client needs, identify “white space” opportunities, and translate them into actionable growth initiatives.

Establish and maintain a structured reporting and communication framework, providing transparent evidence of delivery progress, dependencies, and root causes for delays.

Delivery & Operational Excellence

Oversee execution of the segment delivery roadmap, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to quality standards.

Coordinate with Project Managers, Technology Leads, and cross-functional delivery teams (onshore and offshore) ensuring capacity planning aligns with both demand and commercial agreements.

Manage team utilization and billability to optimize productivity and profitability, ensuring resources are deployed effectively.

Escalate and resolve delivery risks / issues while maintaining strong client confidence.

Establish and oversee robust change management and contingency planning processes, including proactive tracking of dependencies, assumptions, and client-driven changes, to safeguard delivery commitments.

Ensure compliance with local regulations, cybersecurity, and internal governance standards.

Team Leadership

Lead and mentor the segment multi-disciplinary team (including Project Managers, BAs, and development functions).

Foster a high-performance culture with a focus on collaboration, accountability, result / data driven and client-first mindset.

Drive effective capacity planning and white space management, ensuring the right mix of skills and resources are available to meet client and business needs without compromising profitability.

Actively build team engagement, well-being, and culture, creating an environment where people feel motivated, supported, and connected to the overall vision.

Support recruitment, retention, and professional development of team members in alignment with growth plans.

Strategic Growth & Innovation

Stay ahead of market and regulatory trends within Retail / Corporate banking in KSA and the wider GCC.

Conduct regular competitor analysis to benchmark offerings and identify differentiation opportunities.

Translate insights into product and service innovation opportunities.

Drive and sponsor R&D initiatives, innovation pilots, and controlled experimentation in collaboration with internal teams and the client, ensuring concepts are tested, validated, and scaled effectively.

Identify and convert upsell and cross-sell opportunities in collaboration with sales, positioning the company as a strategic partner for the client’s long-term digital banking roadmap.

Key Requirements Essential Experience

12+ years in banking, fintech, or enterprise technology, with at least 5 years in senior client-facing leadership.

Proven experience in segment or business unit P&L management.

Strong track record of stakeholder management at C-level within large financial institutions (preferably in the Middle East).

Familiarity with retail or corporate banking models, digital transformation, and regulatory environments.

Skills

Strategic thinker with strong commercial and financial acumen.

Excellent stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and influencing skills.

Solid understanding of technology delivery models (hybrid, offshore, agile).

Strong problem-solving and risk management capability.

Ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams in a multicultural, geographically distributed environment.

Key Attributes

Entrepreneurial, “mini-CEO” mindset.

Resilient under pressure; thrives in complex client environments.

Culturally sensitive and adaptable to Saudi / GCC market dynamics.

Strong communicator in both English & Arabic

Jeddah based however will considered 50% hybrid

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