Manager Quality and Innovation

Job Description

• The Manager, Quality & Innovation is responsible for developing and implementing quality management practices aligned with global standards and Dubai government regulations, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence, to support foresight capabilities and long-term strategic planning and preparedness.
• Managing and developing the coordination of program engagements, and enhancing internal processes .
• Develop, refine, manage and monitor performance indicators to measure quality in policies, processes, and procedures, incorporating DGEP-specific metrics for strategic alignment and operational efficiency.
• Manage cross-functional task forces to review and enhance policies, procedures, and processes, ensuring compliance with quality standards.
• Execute and operationalize the Dubai Government Innovation Framework by translating strategic innovation directions into action plans, initiatives, timelines, and deliverables, and aligning departmental innovation activities with the National Innovation Strategy, Dubai Plan and approved operational plans.
• Apply future foresight tools (e.g., trend analysis, horizon scanning, scenario exercises) in practical planning workshops and internal initiatives to support operational readiness and improvement planning.
• C ollect, analyze, and utilize performance data and insights to identify operational gaps, improvement opportunities, and areas requiring innovative or non-traditional solutions to provide radical solutions and unprecedented services that create a significant shift in stakeholder happiness.
• Implement and operate innovation management systems (such as ISO 56002 or equivalent), managing idea intake, screening, prioritization, documentation, implementation tracking, and closure of initiatives.
• Execute the departmental roadmap for GIMI Innovation Maturity, managing the end-to-end assessment cycle and coordinating with the Global Council for Innovative Organizations (GCIO) to benchmark capabilities, rectify gaps, and sustain a 'Leading' rank in innovation readiness.
• Coordinate applied research, pilots, proof-of-concepts, and experimental environments (including sand-boxes), in collaboration with universities, research centers, startups, and relevant stakeholders, ensuring proper documentation, monitoring, and scalability of outcomes.
• Facilitate co-creation sessions and execute innovation engagement programs, incl workshops, challenges, and knowledge-sharing initiatives, to embed a culture of creativity, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Support the identification and development of innovative talent and promote a safe work environment that encourages experimentation and learning from unintended failures within approved governance frameworks.
• Coordinate the documentation, tracking, and submission of innovation outputs for intellectual property protection, including patents, copyrights, and innovation assets, in collaboration with legal and relevant internal stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Busine s s A d ministration, Qual i ty Management, or a related field. Masters/MBA is highly preferred.
• Prof e ssional C e rtifications in Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) or Certified Innovation Manager (Level 3) from the Global Innovation Management Institute (GIMI)." , or Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE), are advantageous.
• Minimum of 8 y e ar s ’ e xpe r i e nce in managing e xcellence or a war d s programs, particularly within a governmental or highly regula t ed environment.
• Exp e rience in planning a nd e x ecution, particularly i n ali g ning programs wi t h organizatio n al goals t o ach i eve high standards of excellence.
• Exp e rience in c oo r dinating with s t ake h olders involved in excelle n ce programs, including understanding a nd advising on program requirements.
• Abil i ty to g u ide and support business owners across the organization in preparing for p articipation in excellence programs.
• Experience in organizing and participating in assessments a nd field visits b y program eva l uators.
• Knowle d ge a n d ex p erience w ith t h e D u bai Government Excellence P r ogram (DGEP) or similar fra m eworks, including participation in awards pr o grams and management of sel f - a s s essm e nt processes in line with excellence criteria.

Job Category

Schedule-Time