Director, Strategic Planning and Digitalization

JR0127737Director, Strategic Planning and Digitalization – DubaiAre you passionate about leading digital integration across MEPA and overseeing all aspects of the company’s operations in the region?Would you like to play a key role that combines general management with a deep focus on product and digital innovation, ensuring the company maintains its competitive edge?Are you ready to expand your potential in a dynamic organization that is evolving into the next phase of its 174-year history?Join Western Union as Director, Strategic Planning and Digitalization.Western Union powers your pursuit. Be motivated by our values: Integrity, Respect, Trust & Innovation.Role Responsibilities Leadership and General ManagementLead all regional-level operations, ensuring alignment with the company’s global strategy and regional goals. Develop and execute the strategic growth plan, prioritizing market share, revenue, and profitability. Design and execute innovative strategies to accelerate revenue growth, particularly in digital channels and new customer segments. Oversee the P&L, ensuring financial targets are met or exceeded through effective cost management and revenue generation. Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders and external partners, including regulatory bodies, industry associations, and key customers. Cultivate a high-performance culture by leading, mentoring, and motivating cross-functional teams. Digital and Product InnovationChampion the development and deployment of digital products and services, ensuring they meet market demands and deliver superior customer experiences. Lead initiatives to strengthen the company’s omni-channel presence, integrating online and offline platforms seamlessly. Ensure the seamless integration of online and offline experiences, creating a robust omni-channel presence. Stay ahead of digital trends and competitor activities, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of innovation. Expand digital and product offering to target new customer segments. Entities creation / Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Strategy and ExecutionIdentify potential acquisition targets that align with the company’s strategic goals. In partnership with the Global M&A team, conduct thorough due diligence to assess the viability and potential impact of acquisitions. Lead the integration of acquired companies, ensuring seamless alignment with the company’s operations and culture. Monitor and evaluate the performance of acquisitions to ensure they meet strategic and financial objectives. Strategic Partnerships and Business DevelopmentBuild and maintain strategic partnerships with local stakeholders, including financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and technology providers. Foster strong relationships with key company clients (large agent networks) to deepen engagement and drive long-term loyalty. Identify and negotiate joint ventures, collaborations, and partnerships to enhance the company’s local presence. Performance, operational excellence and complianceSet clear KPIs for the country’s operations and ensure regular monitoring and reporting. Analyze business performance, customer feedback, and market trends to refine strategies and improve outcomes. Adapt quickly to changing market conditions and implement corrective actions as needed. Ensure the highest standards of operational efficiency, risk management, and regulatory compliance. Implement and oversee robust processes and systems to optimize productivity and service delivery. Drive alignment between local operations and regional/global teams to maintain consistency and operational excellence. Lead Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner with marketing, sales, product development, operations, legal and compliance to ensure alignment and impact. Build internal networks and connect with senior leaders across the company and the central functions. Inspire and mentor teams to foster a culture of innovation and excellence. Role Requirements Minimum of 10+ years of experience in General Management including Revenue and Profitability, Digital product launches and growth strategies, with a proven track record in market expansion, digital transformation, and M&A activities. Bachelor’s degree in business, strategy, management, transformation or a related field. Proficiency in digital tools (including analytics), platforms, and e-commerce technologies. An understanding of technologies is a must. Expertise in omni-channel retail, digital product delivery and set up of activities. Strong strategic planning and analytical abilities. Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Visionary, results-driven, adaptable, and collaborative with a passion for innovation and growth. Able to have transparent and productive relationships with peers and collaborate successfully across the organization. Ability to be a company-wide change-agent that influences strategic actions and mindset changes. We make financial services accessible to humans everywhere. Join us for what’s next. Western Union is well positioned to become the world’s most accessible financial services company —transforming lives and communities. More than moving money, we design easy-to-use products and services for our digital and physical financial ecosystem that help our customers move forward. Just as we help our global customers prosper, we support our employees in achieving their professional aspirations. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and build a career, as well as receive a great compensation package. If you’re ready to help drive the future of financial services, it’s time for Western Union. Learn more about our purpose and people at https://careers.westernunion.com/ You will also have access to short-term incentives, multiple health insurance options, accident and life insurance, and access to best-in-class development platforms, to name a few (https://careers.westernunion.com/global-benefits/). Please see the location-specific benefits below and note that your Recruiter may share additional role-specific benefits during your interview process or in an offer of employment. Your UAE specific benefits include:  Group Life policy, fully sponsored by Western Union Comprehensive Group Medical policy – Spouse and children up to age 25 can be covered, subject to the insurer’s review of eligibility. The cost of this benefit is fully sponsored by Western Union. Housing allowance Children Education Reimbursement scheme Club Membership Reimbursement program Western Union values in-person collaboration, learning, and ideation whenever possible. We believe this creates value through common ways of working and supports the execution of enterprise objectives which will ultimately help us achieve our strategic goals. By connecting face-to-face, we are better able to learn from our peers, problem-solve together, and innovate. Our Hybrid Work Model categorizes each role into one of three categories. Western Union has determined the category of this role to be Hybrid. This is defined as a flexible working arrangement that enables employees to divide their time between working from home and working from an office location. The expectation is to work from the office a minimum of three days a week. We are passionate about diversity. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive culture that celebrates the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our global teams while reflecting the communities we serve. We do not discriminate based on race, colour, national origin, religion, political affiliation, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. The company will provide accommodation to applicants, including those with disabilities, during the recruitment process, following applicable laws.  Estimated Job Posting End Date11-21-2025This application window is a good-faith estimate of the time that this posting will remain open. This posting will be promptly updated if the deadline is extended or the role is filled.