Program Manager – Manufacturing Facility Development

A leading US multinational is establishing a new manufacturing facility in the UAE and is looking for an experienced Program Manager to lead the development, launch and operational readiness of the site.

This is a career changing role for someone who has done this before: taking a manufacturing operation from plan to production, aligning multiple workstreams, and building the systems, processes and performance culture needed for scale.

The business manufactures complex electro-mechanical solutions, so experience within advanced manufacturing, industrial automation, robotics, electronics, machinery or similarly technical production environments will be highly valued.

What you’ll do

• Lead the end-to-end programme for a new UAE manufacturing facility, from design and fit-out through commissioning, launch and stabilisation.
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams including operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, EHS, facilities, finance and external vendors.
• Develop and manage programme plans, milestones, budgets, risk registers, governance and executive reporting.
• Drive manufacturing readiness: equipment installation, factory layout, process flow, production planning, staffing and supplier alignment.
• Implement operational-excellence initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, value-stream mapping and continuous-improvement principles.
• Identify opportunities to improve throughput, quality, cost, safety and delivery performance from day one.
• Support the selection, integration and optimisation of automation, robotics, manufacturing systems and digital production tools.
• Establish practical KPIs, visual management and operating rhythms that create accountability and sustainable performance.
• Manage stakeholders across the UAE site, global headquarters and third-party partners.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience leading the set-up, expansion or transformation of a manufacturing facility.
• Strong background in advanced manufacturing, electro-mechanical production, automation, robotics, industrial engineering or comparable technical environments.
• Demonstrable success delivering complex, multi-disciplinary capital or operational programmes.
• Hands-on knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma and continuous-improvement methodologies; Green Belt or Black Belt is highly desirable.
• Experience with factory automation, robotics, production equipment commissioning, MES/ERP or smart-manufacturing initiatives is advantageous.
• Strong programme-management discipline: planning, budget control, risk management, governance and stakeholder communication.
• Commercially aware, operationally credible and comfortable moving between strategic planning and practical execution.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders across cultures and functions.
• UAE/GCC experience is beneficial, but international manufacturing project experience is essential.

You will play a defining role in building a flagship manufacturing operation in the UAE for a respected global business. This is not a maintenance role it is an opportunity to shape how a new facility is designed, launched and continuously improved.

If you have led manufacturing start-ups, site launches, automation programmes or operational-excellence transformations and want to make a visible impact, we would like to hear from you.

To apply confidentially, please submit your CV via eMagine Solutions.