AVP, Project Governance & Commercialization

About the role

Lead the governance and commercialization agenda for the transformation portfolio at First Abu Dhabi Bank, ensuring initiatives are prioritized, governed and translated into measurable business value. The role establishes transparent portfolio controls, strengthens executive decision‑making and drives benefits realization through disciplined planning and stakeholder alignment.

Key responsibilities

• Own the governance framework for the transformation portfolio, including initiative intake, prioritisation, stage‑gates, decision rights, escalation routes and closure criteria.
• Maintain an integrated portfolio view covering scope, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, budgets, benefits and resource requirements across initiatives.
• Establish and run governance forums with clear agendas, decision papers, action logs and follow‑through, ensuring timely escalation and closure of critical matters.
• Develop robust business cases and commercialization plans that articulate customer impact, strategic alignment, financial value and measurable outcomes.
• Partner with Finance and business owners to validate initiative economics, track value realisation and address gaps against approved commitments.
• Coordinate across Business, Digital, Technology, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Finance and other functions to resolve dependencies and accelerate delivery.
• Provide concise, decision‑oriented reporting to senior governance forums, highlighting progress, value delivered, material variances and required interventions.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Technology or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in transformation, strategy, portfolio governance, program management, business planning, consulting or commercialization, preferably within banking or financial services.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex cross‑functional portfolios, executive governance, business cases, financial tracking and benefits realisation.
• Strong command of portfolio governance, program management disciplines, risk and issue management, financial analysis and benefits realisation.
• Ability to convert complex information into clear executive insights, decision papers and concise management reporting.
• Post‑graduate qualification and/or recognised project, programme or portfolio management certification is desirable.
• Arabic language proficiency is an advantage.