Operations Manager

Roles and responsibilities

• Providing strategic and operational advice for our clients, with focus on pre-deal work
• Supporting clients across government entities and utilities across the value chain in developing and executing their strategy, including defining decarbonization pathways, supporting energy transition programs, contribution to sustainable economic development, and sustainable living
• Conducting market assessments, feasibility studies, commercial due diligence, business planning, and strategy development for clients in the energy, power and water sector
• Oversee and manage complex projects, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery (may include multiple projects at a time, while leading a team consultants)
• Cultivate and manage relationships with key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and senior executives
• Mentor and develop junior team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment. Share industry knowledge and best practices to enhance team capabilities
• Managing project budget, reporting on project costs, and managing payment collection
  

Requirements

• 8+ years of relevant experience in management consulting with a focus on advising governments and major stakeholders in the energy, utilities, power, mining, and sustainability sectors on issues related to strategy and, corporate finance
• Proven experience working within the Middle East region, with a strong understanding of regional market dynamics is preferred
• Has lead high-impact projects with both public and private sector clients in the energy industry, focusing on developing strategies and initiatives for decarbonization pathways, supporting energy transition programs, and advancing sustainable economic and living practices
• Possess a deep understanding of investment strategies, deal structuring, and the M&A process, bringing valuable insights and solutions to complex transactions and investment opportunities
• Demonstrates a track record of successfully guiding teams and managing projects from inception to completion, ensuring effective delivery and exceptional outcomes
• Excels in fostering collaborative relationships at all organizational levels, earning credibility with both senior management and external clients through effective communication and partnership
• Ability to communicate confidently and persuasively to diverse audiences, delivering clear and impactful messages that resonate with various stakeholders
• Exhibits strong time management and organizational abilities, adept at prioritizing tasks and meeting tight deadlines efficiently
• Your flexibility to travel 40-60% of the time. This means we may require you to work away from your base office location on a regular basis and frequent overnight stays may be required. Where possible, we will take your preferences into account and strike a balance between meeting your career development/personal needs and those of the business and our clients.

Desired candidate profile

1. Strategic Alignment

• Objective Setting: Before entering into any deal, it’s crucial to ensure that the transaction aligns with the company's long-term strategic goals. This includes assessing whether the deal will help the company grow, enter new markets, improve product offerings, or drive cost synergies.
• Value Proposition: Develop a clear value proposition for the deal. Why is the deal happening? What are the expected benefits, and how do they tie into the company’s vision and strategy?

2. Target Identification and Selection

• Market Analysis: Conduct thorough market research and analysis to identify potential targets for acquisition or partnership. This involves evaluating market trends, competitive landscapes, customer needs, and financial performance.
• Fit Assessment: Assess how well the target company aligns with your company's strategic objectives in terms of market fit, technology, culture, and operational capabilities. The goal is to identify deals that create synergies or fill critical gaps in the business.

3. Due Diligence

• Financial Due Diligence: Review the financials of the target company, including revenue streams, cost structures, profitability, balance sheet health, and cash flow. This analysis helps to assess the deal’s financial viability and identify any potential red flags.
• Operational Due Diligence: Examine the operational aspects of the target company, including its supply chain, human resources, technology infrastructure, and scalability.
• Legal and Compliance Due Diligence: Review legal and regulatory issues, including intellectual property rights, contracts, and any pending or potential legal disputes that could affect the deal.

4. Valuation and Deal Structuring

• Valuation Models: Use financial models (such as discounted cash flow, precedent transactions, or comparable company analysis) to determine the value of the target company. The goal is to ensure that the deal price reflects the true worth of the business and is aligned with the potential synergies.
• Deal Structure: Determine the most effective deal structure based on the desired outcomes. This may include decisions about whether to pursue an all-cash transaction, stock-for-stock deal, earn-out, or a combination of payment forms. The structure will also involve decisions about ownership, governance, and any contingencies tied to performance milestones.

5. Negotiation Strategy

• Negotiation Preparation: Prepare for negotiations by understanding the key priorities of both parties, potential concessions, and non-negotiables. Develop a strategy that aligns with the overall objectives of the deal.
• Value Drivers: Focus on the key value drivers during negotiations, such as the financial terms, strategic value, and operational synergies. Ensuring both parties find mutual benefit is crucial to a successful outcome.
• Concessions and Compromises: Be prepared to make certain compromises or concessions while ensuring that the overall deal terms are favorable to your business’s goals.

6. Integration Planning

• Post-Deal Integration: Once the deal is agreed upon, the integration phase is critical. It involves merging or aligning operations, technology systems, employees, and cultures to ensure the deal delivers the expected benefits.
• Synergy Realization: Develop a detailed integration plan to ensure that synergies (cost savings, revenue enhancements, or operational efficiencies) identified in the deal process are realized post-closing.
• Change Management: Deal integration often requires managing cultural differences and aligning the teams, processes, and technologies between the merging entities. A strong change management strategy is necessary for smooth transition.