Job description

Job Title: Senior Director – Operations

? Location: Kuwait

? Industry: Investment

? Reporting To: Managing Director

Job Summary

The Senior Director – Operations is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing and managing the entire Operations function of the organization. The role ensures that strategic initiatives are effectively translated into efficient day-to-day operational execution while supporting the company’s overall business objectives, governance standards, and growth strategy.

The position plays a critical role in driving operational excellence, strengthening internal controls, managing financial and operational risks, and ensuring smooth coordination across investment operations, treasury operations, settlements, custody, banking relationships, and back-office functions. The role requires strong expertise in financial markets, operational governance, treasury management, and regulatory compliance within the investment or banking sector.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Operational Oversight

• Lead and manage the organization’s Operations function, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy and business objectives.
• Contribute to the company’s long-term strategic planning and operational roadmap in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Drive operational efficiency, scalability, and continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.
• Identify opportunities to enhance profitability, optimize operational performance, and mitigate operational and financial risks.

Operational Management

• Oversee the full end-to-end operations and back-office framework, ensuring strong controls, accuracy, efficiency, and service quality.
• Ensure operational processes, policies, procedures, and controls are properly designed, implemented, and continuously improved.
• Monitor daily operational activities and ensure adherence to KPIs, SLAs, governance frameworks, and compliance standards.
• Ensure seamless coordination and communication across internal teams and external stakeholders.

Treasury, Settlement & Banking Operations

• Oversee treasury operations, funding activities, settlements, remittances, and financing-related transactions.
• Manage relationships with banks, brokers, custodians, and financial institutions.
• Supervise account openings, custody arrangements, cash management activities, and NOSTRO account reconciliations.
• Ensure prompt resolution of reconciliation breaks and maintain tight control over organizational cash positions.
• Oversee operational execution of investment transactions, trade settlements, and customer-related transactions.

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and governance standards.
• Maintain and enhance operational policies, procedures, authority matrices, and internal control frameworks.
• Lead business continuity planning (BCP) and disaster recovery (DR) testing initiatives.
• Ensure readiness for internal audits, external audits, and regulatory inspections.
• Support risk management initiatives by identifying operational risks and implementing corrective measures.

Corporate Actions & Market Operations

• Oversee operational handling of IPOs, rights issues, dividends, and other corporate actions.
• Ensure all market events are executed accurately and in compliance with regulatory and exchange requirements.
• Maintain strong working relationships with regulators, exchanges, custodians, and external stakeholders.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage departmental budgets, workforce planning, and resource allocation.
• Monitor operational costs and identify efficiency improvements.
• Escalate operational or financial concerns with actionable recommendations to senior management.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing operational teams.
• Drive organizational change initiatives and encourage digital transformation and process automation.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field.
• Master’s degree or professional certifications (MBA, CFA, CPA, FRM, CISI, etc.) preferred.
• Minimum 15+ years of experience in Investment Operations, Treasury Operations, Banking Operations, or Capital Markets.
• Proven leadership experience within investment companies, banks, or financial institutions.
• Strong understanding of treasury operations, settlements, custody, reconciliations, and financial instruments.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory frameworks, governance, operational controls, and risk management.
• Experience managing relationships with regulators, banks, custodians, and financial institutions.