Business Services Manager - NTI Operations

Business Services Manager – NTI Operations

Join our dynamic team as the **Business Services Manager – NTI Operations**, where you will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, financial governance, and strategic procurement across NTI. Reporting directly to the Director of NTI Operations, this leadership position ensures seamless execution of procurement, contracting, financial operations, and revenue management—all while upholding KAUST’s policies and institutional governance standards. As the operational backbone of NTI, you will empower units with structured processes, robust financial controls, and high-performance service delivery, directly supporting the institution’s strategic initiatives and commercial engagements.

In this influential role, you will lead with strategic vision, fostering collaboration across NTI, Finance, Legal, and Procurement teams to optimize workflows, mitigate risks, and enhance financial transparency. Your expertise will be instrumental in aligning operational efficiency with institutional objectives, ensuring NTI’s continued success in delivering impactful programs and projects.

Key Responsibilities

Your impact will be felt across multiple critical domains:

• Procure-to-Pay Leadership – NTI-Wide
  Drive the end-to-end procurement lifecycle, ensuring full compliance with KAUST policies while optimizing cycle times and vendor engagements. Lead requisitions, purchase orders, contract negotiations, and payment processing, coordinating closely with central Finance and Legal teams. Provide expert guidance to NTI units on procurement best practices, contract structuring, and vendor relationship management. Leverage data analytics to identify process inefficiencies and implement scalable improvements.
• Revenue Management & Financial Governance
  Oversee NTI’s revenue recognition processes, ensuring accurate tracking, SAP alignment, and financial coding. Develop performance dashboards and reporting tools to monitor revenue streams, project milestones, and commercial engagements. Collaborate with Finance Business Partners to refine budget planning, expenditure monitoring, and cost allocation strategies. Ensure seamless integration between operational delivery and revenue recognition principles.
• Financial Operations & Compliance
  Lead NTI’s operational financial processes, including expense management, accruals, and cost allocation, with strict adherence to KAUST policies. Maintain audit-ready documentation and internal controls, supporting both internal and external audits. Strengthen segregation of duties and risk mitigation frameworks to safeguard NTI’s financial integrity.
• Contract & Vendor Management
  Oversee vendor onboarding, due diligence, and compliance documentation, ensuring contracts reflect fair payment terms and risk allocation. Partner with Legal and Procurement to resolve operational challenges and monitor vendor performance. Implement robust vendor performance metrics to drive accountability and service excellence.
• Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement
  Identify and implement workflow enhancements across NTI’s business services functions. Collaborate with IT and Finance to elevate SAP capabilities, standardize processes, and develop performance metrics. Champion a culture of operational efficiency, ensuring consistency, control, and scalability across all NTI units.

Why This Role Matters

As the Business Services Manager, you will be a strategic enabler, bridging operational execution with institutional goals. Your leadership will ensure NTI operates with financial rigor, compliance, and innovation—positioning the unit for sustained success in a dynamic academic and research environment. This is an opportunity to shape NTI’s operational excellence while contributing to KAUST’s broader mission of advancing knowledge and impact.

Competencies & Qualifications

To excel in this role, you will bring:

• A deep understanding of the **Procure-to-Pay lifecycle**, including requisitions, contracts, and payment processing.
• Expertise in **SAP financial modules**, with a focus on P2P and revenue recognition.
• Strong **financial governance and compliance** acumen, with experience in audit readiness and risk management.
• Proven **stakeholder management** skills, balancing operational urgency with policy adherence.
• Leadership in **process optimization**, workflow redesign, and technology integration (e.g., SAP enhancements).
• Analytical rigor and **problem-solving** capabilities to drive data-driven decision-making.
• Exceptional **communication and collaboration** skills to align cross-functional teams toward shared goals.

If you are a results-driven professional with a passion for operational excellence and financial stewardship, we invite you to take the next step in your career with NTI.