About SYP
SYPartners is a consulting firm that focuses on transformation.
Using the tools of strategy and design, we work alongside CEOs, leaders, and their executive teams to design a better future for their organizations—particularly in times of great change. The animating idea that drives us is our belief that
organizations designed for both humanity and performance create unprecedented impact. We partner with leaders in organizations that have the courage and rigor to pursue both as equally essential and mutually reinforcing. And we seek to design our own organization in alignment with this idea, as well.
SYPartners was founded in 1994. The company is headquartered in New York City, with locations in San Francisco and Abu Dhabi. It is a founding member of kyu, a collective of best-in-class creative firms.
The Opportunity
As General Manager reporting directly to our U.S. based CFO, you are responsible for establishing, managing, and scaling the day-to-day and future business operations of SYPartners Middle East (ME). The GM will play a hands-on role in strategy planning, budgeting and office management, governance, communications, and championing client work and our people on the ground in Abu Dhabi. Partnering closely with the Executive Director of SYP ME and SYP Global Leaders based in the US, this role will drive productivity, efficiency, and growth—while maintaining continuity with SYP HQ. You will directly manage the UAE based Operations Manager, SYP ME. Additionally you will manage and develop local UAE consulting staff acting as a mentor.
If this is you, come thrive at SYPartners and take us to the next level.
Candidate Profile
- Highly entrepreneurial—you show up as a leader seamlessly integrating within our client interactions; discretely operating strategic initiatives in ways that sustain the business and drive revenue and profitability for SYP.
- You serve as a trusted manager and mentor, not only within your immediate team but also extending your guidance to colleagues across the organization.
- As a dependable communicator, you skillfully navigate and hold multiple, sometimes conflicting perspectives, along with highly confidential information. Your adeptness in handling diverse viewpoints allows you to effectively steer groups toward informed decision-making.
- You are an expert organizer and planner, demonstrating your ability to prioritize and scope projects for yourself and on behalf of individuals and the broader team, and build/refine operational procedures to enhance efficiency.
- You are a passionate leader who offers empathy, inclusion, and creativity, fostering connections, motivating, and providing guidance to employees.
- You actively build SYP's reputation in the UAE—strengthening our clients' confidence in the value of our work.
How You'll Drive Impact
Leadership and Management
- In partnership with the UAE Executive Director and SYP leadership, provide forward-thinking leadership and inspiration to guide culture, drive change and build value in the organization
- Provide strategic input and process leadership to achieve business goals
- Ensure the conditions for success are in place for collaboration and synergy with SYP Global leadership
Business Operations + Performance
- Develop strategic plan for organizational effectiveness and establish, implement and enforce policies and operating procedures specific to the region
- Collaborate with the SYP Talent and People team to engage in the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of both local staff and freelance talent, while adeptly addressing employee relations matters
- Contribute to the annual budgeting and long-term financial planning activities and process for the region
- Oversee and manage income, expenses and cash flow
- Review and provide input to and/or negotiate vendor contracts (partnering with SYP Accounting and outside counsel as necessary)
- Act as local liaison for SYP and kyu as it relates to compliance and governance issues
- Oversee building operations and facilities
Business Development Support
- Serve as central point of contact for new and existing relationships in advocacy of new projects, extensions, and business development
- Manage client contracts (MSAs, SOWs), procurement processes, commercial negotiations, and proposals (partnering with SYP Accounting and outside counsel as necessary)
- Facilitate and support consulting operations with local oversight of the pipeline
Program Management
- Identify and initiate opportunities to create increased operational efficiencies and leverage assets/resources to increase capacity for impact
- Strengthen operational systems and processes to improve cross-functional communication and decision making for current and future projects
- Coordinate activities to ensure transparency and collaboration between departments, appropriate communication, and efficient program delivery; anticipate future opportunities and market conditions
Key Relationships & Communities
You Will Be Part Of The Following Communities
- The UAE leadership team comprising of the UAE Executive Director, Partners and Principals (who also serve as Local Liaisons for our core consulting disciplines)
- The Internal Partners Leadership Group (ILG), which includes the U.S. Finance, People Operations, and Talent leaders
You Will Collaborate Closely With People Across The Firm, But Essential Strategic And Operational Relationships In Addition To Your Direct Report Will Include
- CFO
- VP, Controller
- Discipline Heads of Teams (DHoT) and Local Liaisons
- Director, Office & Community Operations
- VP, Business Performance
- VP, Business Development Operations and Analytics
- Chief People & Flourishing Officer
- VP, Talent
- SVP, People Operations & Flourishing
- SVP, Chief of Staff
Qualifications
- 10+ years of relevant experience building and leading multidisciplinary teams in highly collaborative environments
- Regional experience operating in MENA and surrounding areas
- Proven ability to shape and set team-wide strategy, vision, growth, and operational procedures
- Proven ability to develop, implement, and maintain budgetary and resource allocation plans
- Experience working with complex, multi-stakeholder teams, projects, and organizations
- Arabic speaking preferred
Compensation
Our offer takes into consideration the skills and experience you bring, pay equity across similar roles within SYPartners, and the market rate for similar roles outside of SYPartners. You can be confident that your offer will be in line with the compensation as other colleagues who are in the same role with comparable skills and experiences. Our offers are guided by and a result of our compensation philosophy, anchored in four guiding principles: Informed, Equitable, Consistent, and Transparent.
Taking Care of Our People
Taking care of people isn't just something we strive for through our business, it is who we are, and part of what we do each and every single day. We want to ensure talent at SYPartners feels this is a place where, no matter who you are, you feel safe, included, and that you have the opportunity to bring your unique self into the space to do the best work of your life.
Benefits
Additionally, benefits are an essential part of taking care of our people. Whether you're single, in a growing family, or nearing retirement, we offer a variety of comprehensive and competitive benefit programs to meet your needs including:
- Competitive base compensation (as guided by our compensation philosophy)
- Company performance-based cash bonuses
- Open vacation policy
- Coverage of 95-100% of health, dental, and vision insurance costs for you + dependents
- Paid parental leave (12-weeks)
- Firm-wide Pause Days (a collective day off for all employees)
- Planned Work From Anywhere program
SYPartners Commitment to Diversity
At SYPartners, we are committed to the work of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our own organization and for the leaders and clients we partner with. Our vision of the future—one in which organizations are designed to create conditions for human flourishing—demands that we continually work to become a more diverse and inclusive organization ourselves.
We are committed to working with and designing for people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, physical ability or attribute, religion, national origin, or political belief. We recognize this commitment requires continual learning, reflection, and imagination.
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