Sr IT Operations Manager

A trusted partner for millions of customers, Ecolab is a global sustainability leader offering water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services that protect people and the resources vital to life. Building on more than a century of innovation, Ecolab has annual sales of $16 billion, employs approximately 48,000 associates and operates in more than 170 countries around the world. The Middle East and Africa Market is one of our highest-potential growth markets, and we are investing to accelerate that growth through Enterprise AI, data, and digital innovation.

As our Enterprise Ai - Business Engagement Leader – Middle East Africa, you will be at the centre of the MEA market leadership team and serve as the senior link between Ecolab’s Enterprise AI organisation and the Divisions, Functions, and country leaders driving growth across the region. You will fuel the MEA growth agenda with technology and AI-enabled business outcomes — accountable for the delivery of solutions, from idea to value capture.

What’s in it For You

• Lead the Enterprise AI agenda for one of Ecolab’s highest-potential international markets

• Own end-to-end delivery of AI, data, and digital solutions that directly accelerate top-line and margin growth across MEA

• Partner with senior Market, Division, and Function leaders as a trusted commercially aware technology advisor

• Shape technology strategy, investment prioritisation, and value capture inside a $16B global sustainability leader

• Influence Enterprise-wide AI and digital strategy while owning local growth outcomes

• Build and develop a high-performing team of business process analysts and digital talent across the region

• Competitive total rewards, comprehensive benefits, and global career mobility within Ecolab

What You Will Do

Strategic Partnership & Growth Alignment — Build strong partnering relationships with MEA business and function leaders to understand their growth ambitions, commercial priorities, and operational challenges. Align Ecolab’s Technology strategy with the MEA market growth strategy, leveraging technology, AI, and analytics to unlock new revenue, expand share, and improve customer outcomes. Act as a trusted advisor and advocate for the business divisions and functions.

Solutions Accountability — Own the delivery of value stream solutions for MEA — from demand intake and business case, through design, build, deployment, adoption, and value realisation. Hold global delivery teams, partners, and local stakeholders to outcomes, schedule, cost, and quality; remove blockers; and ensure committed business value is captured and reported.

IT Project Portfolio Management — Bring visibility and prioritisation to the portfolio of Enterprise AI and digital projects supporting MEA business and function activities. In line with global governance processes, establish project priorities, secure resource availability, and monitor progress to ensure timely and successful delivery. Manage stakeholder expectations and resolve issues and risks proactively.

Digital & AI Investment Management — Work with MEA business leaders to determine Enterprise AI and digital investment levels based on growth opportunity, organisational priorities, and budgetary considerations. Provide recommendations on technology investments, cost optimisation, and resource allocation to maximise commercial value and ROI.

Business Relationship Management — Serve as the primary point of contact for MEA business and function leaders on Enterprise AI, data, and digital topics. Drive effective communication, manage expectations, and address systemic issues, escalations, and enhancement requests related to applications, infrastructure, and digital services.

Service Delivery Assurance — Oversee Enterprise AI and Digital service and support processes for the MEA business. Proactively track service levels, drive process improvement, and act as the escalation point for service topics that impact the growth agenda.

Demand Intake & Prioritisation — Filter and prioritise MEA project requests before the PMO intake process starts. Verify budget exists in the business or Enterprise Ai plan, and confirm business resource readiness. Keep Enterprise AI resources focused on the highest-value, growth-aligned work.

Governance, Security & Architecture — Ensure 100% Security and Enterprise Architecture sign-off on MEA projects. Drive adoption of standard, secure enterprise platforms that unlock data and AI opportunities at scale and protect the business.

Talent & Team Leadership — Lead, coach, and develop market-aligned business process analysts and digital talent. Drive a strong Enterprise AI culture across the MEA team in line with the Ecolab leadership model, managing by influence across the broader Enterprise AI organisation.

Position Details

• Location: Middle East and Africa region (primary hub Dubai)

• Travel: Regional travel across Middle East and Africa; periodic international travel for Enterprise AI and Markets leadership engagements

• Reporting line: Solid-line to the Global Markets Business Engagement Leader, with close alignment to the MEA Market Head as a member of the MEA market leadership team

• Work model: Full-time, hybrid

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical, business, or related field

• 10+ years of relevant experience in IT, Digital, AI/Data, Business Analysis, Programme Management, or a similar leadership role

• Demonstrated accountability and track record for delivery of major technology or digital programmes in a multi-country, matrixed environment

• Proven business and commercial acumen — experience of partnering with senior business and function leaders, building business cases, and translating technology strategy into measurable growth outcomes

• Experience managing third-party technology service providers and global delivery partners against outcome-based commitments

• Strong written and spoken English

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating across the Middle East and/or Africa region, including working with local regulatory, cultural, and commercial environments

• Experience leading AI, data, and analytics initiatives that have delivered measurable commercial growth

• Experience in a global manufacturing, B2B services, or industrial environment

• Familiarity with enterprise platforms such as SAP/ERP, CRM, data and analytics, cloud, and security technologies

• Knowledge of Ecolab’s industries — Institutional, Industrial, Healthcare, Life Sciences, Pest Elimination — is a plus

• Additional regional languages (Arabic, French) a plus

• Master’s degree or equivalent (MBA, MSc) a plus

Key Skills & Leadership Behaviours

• Business and commercial acumen — understands P&L, growth levers, customer economics, and how technology and AI investments translate into commercial outcomes

• Growth mindset — relentless focus on unlocking new revenue, market share, and productivity through Enterprise AI and digital

• Ownership — drives delivery from idea to adoption to value capture, with no hand-off gaps

• Leadership presence to motivate and develop diverse, multi-country teams

• Manage by influence — collaborates across global Enterprise AI groups to develop talent and drive results

• Focus and decisiveness — enables action and progress even when faced with ambiguity

• Executive communication — strong stakeholder management at C-suite and Market leadership level

Ecolab is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with a disability.

About Enterprise AI at Ecolab

Enterprise AI is the technology and intelligence engine behind Ecolab’s global growth — delivering the AI, data, platforms, and digital solutions that help our customers and our 48,000 associates operate cleaner, safer, and more sustainably in more than 170 countries. We combine the agility of an AI-first organisation with the scale and stability of a Fortune 500 enterprise, partnering closely with every Ecolab Division, Market, and Function to turn data and technology into measurable commercial growth.

Join us, and help shape what comes next — for Ecolab, for our customers, and for the planet.