ZAIN2273 - Portfolio & Performance Management Lead

  • Operation
    Zain Group
  • Division
    Strategy & Business Development
  • Location
    Kuwait - Kuwait City
  • Closing Date
    31-May-2026
About Zain
Zain is the pioneer of mobile telecommunications in the Middle East. We began life in 1983 in Kuwait as the region’s first mobile operator, and since the initiation of our expansion strategy in 2003, we have expanded rapidly. Read more here: https://zain.com/en/about-us/overview
About the Role

The Portfolio & Performance Management Lead owns the end-to-end AI portfolio lifecycle including intake, evaluation, prioritization, business case development, and value realization tracking. This role serves as the bridge between business demand across 8 OpCos and technical delivery capacity, ensuring the AI portfolio delivers maximum strategic value and financial return. The Lead manages portfolio governance forums, develops business cases with clear KPIs and ROI models, tracks realized benefits, and provides executive reporting to Group CEO, CFO, and OpCo leadership. This role requires strong analytical skills, stakeholder management capability, and business acumen to navigate competing priorities and drive data-driven portfolio decisions.

Key Accountablities
  • Design and operate AI portfolio management framework including intake process, evaluation criteria, and prioritization methodology

  • Manage portfolio pipeline across 8 OpCos from ideation through deployment and value realization

  • Develop comprehensive business cases for AI initiatives including value hypothesis, KPIs, ROI models, and implementation roadmaps

  • Facilitate quarterly portfolio review with OpCo AI Office Heads and Group leadership for prioritization decisions

  • Track and report portfolio performance including delivery metrics, financial impact, and strategic value

  • Identify and escalate portfolio risks, dependencies, and blockers requiring executive intervention

  • Partner with OpCo business owners to refine use case requirements and ensure business alignment

  • Contribute market intelligence, competitive benchmarking, and emerging AI trends to strategy refresh

  • Prepare executive materials for GCEO/CFO steering committees and Board reporting

  • Support funding model development and implementation for cross-OpCo AI initiatives

KPIs can include but are not limited to:

  • Portfolio value delivery: realized financial benefits vs. committed business cases

  • Pipeline health: number of qualified use cases in pipeline and conversion rate to execution

  • Decision quality: percentage of approved initiatives successfully deployed and delivering value

  • Stakeholder satisfaction: OpCo and executive satisfaction with portfolio process and transparency

  • Reporting timeliness: on-time delivery of portfolio reports and executive materials

What We Need From You

Educational Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Economics, or related field. MBA or relevant advanced degree preferred.

Experience: 3-4 years in strategy consulting, portfolio management, business analysis, or related field. Experience with business case development, financial modeling, and executive stakeholder management. Exposure to AI/digital transformation initiatives advantageous.

Knowledge: Strong analytical and financial modeling skills. Understanding of AI technologies and use case patterns. Experience with portfolio management frameworks and prioritization methodologies. Excellent business acumen and strategic thinking.

About Application Process

If you meet the criteria and you are enthusiastic about the role, we would welcome your application. To complete the application you would need the following document(s):

  1. Resume/CV
  2. Passport-size photograph
  3. Highest Education Qualification