Life Quality Improvement Office in the Regions Executive Director

Executive Director - Life Quality Improvement Office in the Regions

Direct message the job poster from Department of Community Development

About DCD

The Department of Community Development (DCD) is the custodian of Abu Dhabi's social sector agenda. We are committed to the social welfare of everyone who calls Abu Dhabi home and strive to raise the quality of services in the sector, creating an inclusive and cohesive society in the Emirate. Our mission is to promote a sustainable society and economy that is transparent and responsive to the needs of Abu Dhabi's diverse and growing community. We work to regulate, empower, and monitor the social and community development sector, ensuring quality, effective, and accessible care and services for our people.

Key Responsibilities and Purpose

The core purpose of this role is to lead the process of identifying and implementing initiatives for improving the quality of life in specified regions, ensuring cooperation with relevant entities, and guaranteeing the implementation of approved plans. You will directly manage The Team of the Life Quality Improvement Office in the Regions.

Strategic Leadership & Execution

• Lead the identification of initiatives and supervise the process of improving the quality of life based on geographical monitoring and in coordination with the Social Monitoring and Impact Office.
• Supervise the development of improvement programs and plans for specified regions, aligning them with performance indicators and coordinating with relevant entities.
• Ensure prioritization of high-impact programs and the alignment of efforts to achieve desired quick wins, while developing innovative, region-specific solutions to address root causes of challenges.
• Lead the process of evaluating the impact of programs and incorporating development opportunities into future improvement plans.
• Direct the performance of the Office by setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and continuously recommending required performance improvements.
• Lead the formulation of the Office strategy and follow up on its implementation, ensuring sector needs are included in the Department's strategic plan.

Coordination, Accountability, and Stakeholder Management

• Lead cooperation with partners to face social challenges and enhance accountability for implementing plans and achieving desired results.
• Manage cooperation and engagement with both Internal Stakeholders (e.g., all organizational units in the Department for strategic plans, governance, and risk management) and key External Stakeholders (including the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, relevant Social Sector entities, Abu Dhabi Police, Department of Health, etc.) to ensure effective achievement of programs and objectives.
• Ensure the availability of required competencies, capabilities, and budgets to support implementation of improvement programs.
• Supervise the submission of solutions and recommendations for improving the quality of life in the regions.
• Ensure the availability and accessibility of data for proactive intervention to address challenges.

Operational and People Management

• Manage budget allocation for the Office to ensure full compliance.
• Lead and approve the process of workforce planning reports, talent acquisition strategies, and budgets.
• Set performance management objectives and conduct performance reviews for all subordinates.
• Lead the process of identifying required talents for pivotal roles for succession planning.

Candidate Success Profile

We are looking for a visionary leader with proven experience in the GCC government context.

Education

• Master's degree in Public Policy, Urban Planning, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Executive education or leadership certifications are a plus.

Certifications

• Project coordination or foundational project management certifications (e.g., CAPM, PRINCE2 Foundation) are preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 13 years of relevant experience, with at least 10 years in senior executive roles.
• Demonstrated experience in leading large-scale, cross-sectoral public initiatives.
• Deep knowledge of government structures, delivery models, and strategic reporting processes in the GCC context is essential.

Skills and Competencies

• Executive leadership, strategic planning, and government coordination (Expert level in Strategy Development, Strategic Thinking, and Leadership).
• Performance management and cross-agency collaboration (Expert level in Participation and Partnership Building).
• Strong political awareness and cultural sensitivity.
• Arabic fluency is required; English proficiency essential.
• Expert competencies also include Stimulating Innovation, Encouraging Change, Achievement and Impact, Communication Strategy Development, Risk Management, Program Design and Development, and Total Quality Management.

Seniority level

• Executive

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Government Administration and Civic and Social Organizations

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