SABIC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Reporting to the VP for the Local Content and Business Development Unit at the centre of SABIC’s drive to initiate, develop and embed the company’s Local Content strategy, both upstream and downstream, in full alignment with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

Spanning both internal and external stakeholders, providing challenge to feasibility assessments conducted internally and by third parties, while liaising with all government agencies to ensure the smooth and co-ordinated realisation of the operational plan

A further facet comprises identifying and assessing both internal and international intellectual properties for deployment in service of Local Content development, and matching these with appropriate forms of funding from internal, national and international sources

Vic performs this by deploying experience gained when driving Local Content programs across the Caspian, all corners of Africa and parts of South America, primarily for each of the oil and gas majors, in concert with the respective governments involved

Assignments with both the United Kingdom’s Department for International Trade and Scottish Development International, as an International Trade Advisor, have further deepened his insights into what matters in these arenas. Similarly, his deployments as an International Manager for a number of SMEs, co-funded by the UK Government, have provided further valuable insights gained “at the sharp end” in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Mozambique, giving rise to a granular approach to things commercial, when “batting for” results crucial to an SMEs way forward

Vic has enabled the implementation of many of the key pillars of Local Content including social innovation, prosperity zones, micro-finance, developing local leaders, supporting top teams and setting up supplier finance facilities in challenging commercial environments

JOB PURPOSE

To provide overall guidance and direction across all elements of LCBDU to implement the strategy effectively. This includes providing advice on the KSA market dynamics, external stakeholders including all government agencies (e.g. SIDF), help implement the operating model and provide challenge to the feasibility/pre-feasibility assessments conducted by external third party consultants.

KEY ACOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Contribution:

• Advise on targets and enable updating of strategy, operating model, policies and guidelines -Engage external and internal stakeholders to enable the program
• Provide advice on any new initiatives needed to better implement LCBDU mandate and targets
• Provide advice on any changes needed on the operating model for the smooth functioning of the overall program
• Provide advice on any changes needed on the pre-feasibility/feasibility criteria used for assessing opportunities
• Pro-actively review and compare the overall scope of SABIC LCBU’s remit, alignment and direct links to enabling and empowering the attainment of KSA’s 2030 Vision

Localization of materials and service:

• Help re-baseline run and maintain procurement and projects procurement in line with CEDA LCPSD and other regulatory agency requirements
• -Help develop policies and guidelines to enable SABIC local procurement of goods and services to be developed and increased sustainably in line with key national KPIs locally and internationally
• -Help generate internal alignment across LC council, business/functions/affiliates on the need to optimise local procurement of both goods and services
• -Help generate localization opportunities from both local and international companies commensurate with their full potential

Downstream and technology opportunity development:

• -Help identify attractive downstream petchem areas for growth in KSA and ensure these are registered, monitored and reported upon
• -Help identify attractive applications/technologies/patents for commercialization in KSA and see that appropriate champions are identified and empowered to optimise the potential for appropriate returns
• -Help create the downstream and technology localization roadmap for LCBDU, supporting its articulation, delineation and promulgation, through which to ensure optimal realization
• -Liaise with external agencies involved in enabling downstream petchem growth in KSA (e.g. NIS, NICDP etc.)

Workforce training and capability development program for identified opportunities :

• -Help identify the training programs required to enable the identified opportunities to be fully leveraged, evaluated and ongoing adjustments made, to optimise return on investment
• -Enable signing of MOUs to conduct the required workforce development programs through a full understanding of the obligations involved, along with the benefits of compliance

Communications and Networking:

• Leverage extensive network of internal and external contacts to ensure successful implementation of the LCBDU agenda through the full engagement of strategic parties and partners
• Help identify opportunities for collaboration and sign required MOUs with external stakeholders, including government agencies, key members of the supply chain and putative strategic partners

Supported the successful engagement of 1,057 investors over 30 months

Conducted project review with Divisional Director on behalf of the VP

First quartile results achieved

• 3rd party delivery process
• Acquisition due diligence research
• Algorithms
• Business & Operational Analysis
• Consultancy

• Digital Enablement

• Oil and Gas
• Chemicals