Business Critical Applications Director

Miral Experiences is a region’s leader in the management and operation of world-class, award-winning immersive attractions and experiences across Abu Dhabi. Our diverse portfolio includes some of the most iconic entertainment and leisure destinations, including Ferrari World Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island Abu Dhabi, SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, CLYMB™ Yas Island Abu Dhabi, and TeamLab. Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and CLYMB™ Abu Dhabi, as well as cultural treasures like Qasr Al Watan. We specialize in crafting unique experiences that cater to all tastes and ages, delivering a seamless blend of thrills, joy, and discovery. Our attractions are designed to ignite the imagination and create unforgettable memories for visitors from around the world. Whether youre seeking excitement, relaxation, or cultural enrichment, we offer something for everyone.

Job Summary

As the Business Critical Applications Director, you will oversee all business-critical applications and digital platforms to ensure they align with core business strategy. Leading a high-performing team, you will drive innovation by managing application landscapes and solution delivery while fostering collaboration across departments. Your role includes mitigating risks and optimizing budgets, as well as establishing strong vendor relationships to enhance operational efficiency. With a commitment to continuous improvement, you will leverage emerging technologies and industry best practices to deliver measurable value. Strategic agility, proactive problem-solving, and a diagnostic mindset are essential to addressing complex challenges in technology and business operations, ensuring seamless integration of solutions that drive guest experience and organizational growth.

Responsibilities

Financial Accountability

• Prepare and present the Digital and Technology financial budget, including proposals for capital technology projects, while ensuring adherence to financial policies and procurement procedures. Proactively implement cost-saving programs and leverage systems to boost revenue, addressing critical business requirements promptly to support organizational goals.
  
  

Strategic Leadership in Business-Critical Applications

• Lead the design and implementation of tailored business-critical applications for the tourism and entertainment sectors, focusing on guest-facing systems such as ticketing, point-of-sale solutions, locker systems, asset management, time attendance, and booking platforms. Ensure alignment with industry best practices while driving innovations like facial recognition and footfall counting technologies.
  
  

Business Requirements Management and Innovation

• Collaborate with key stakeholders to gather, analyze, and prioritize business requirements by translating operational needs into scalable digital solutions. Drive innovation in guest services and operational efficiency by identifying high-impact functionalities that deliver competitive advantages.
  
  

Reporting and Strategic Planning Support

• Deliver actionable ad-hoc reports to inform executive decision-making, with analytics spanning operational performance and strategic initiatives. Develop and oversee rollout plans for new business functionalities, ensuring successful execution within timelines while fostering data-driven improvements.
  
  

Risk Assessment and Prioritization

• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for proposed technology solutions, balancing risks against business demands, and prioritizing initiatives to maximize strategic value while minimizing exposure.
  
  

Application Performance Optimization

• Monitor, troubleshoot, and enhance application architectures and security protocols to optimize performance and scalability. Work with the Digital and Technology team to ensure seamless integration of critical systems with broader enterprise-wide IT infrastructure.
  
  

Team Leadership and Development

• Provide mentorship and leadership to the application management team, cultivating a culture of collaboration and continuous learning. Design and implement training programs to upskill team members in managing and supporting business-critical applications.
  
  

Software Upgrades and Implementation

• Direct the evaluation, selection, and deployment of software upgrades for all business-critical applications, ensuring compliance with industry standards and optimal operational functionality.
  
  

Scope of Responsibilities

• End-to-end oversight of high-impact digital ecosystems, including guest ticketing (Vivaticket), food and beverage/retail systems (InfoGenesis and Eatec), asset management (Maximo/TeamDynamic), time attendance (Kronos), locker systems (Gantner), booking and manifest systems (Tunn3l), driving experiences (Viva), go-karting operations (BMI), cafeteria couponing (CMS), footfall analytics (VemCo), and facial recognition (SenseTime/FacePass). Ensure seamless integration and continuous optimization of these platforms to elevate guest experiences and operational excellence.
  
  

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related digital/technology field.
• 8+ years of progressive applications management experience.
• 3+ years of direct applications development experience.
• Strong analytical skills with a data-driven approach to problem-solving.
• Comprehensive understanding of business concepts, functions, and IT implementations.
• Proven experience in business process improvement and IT transformation projects.
• Ability to diagnose complex business and technology challenges and implement innovative solutions.
• Knowledge of modern UX best practices and mobile application design principles.
• Data analysis experience—identifying trends, exceptions, and actionable insights to improve results.
• Proven capability to diagnose operational inefficiencies, recommend technical solutions, and drive implementations.
• Strong adaptability and willingness to continuously learn emerging technologies and industry trends.
• Proven leadership experience in managing and developing application teams.
  
  

Desirable

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) or related postgraduate qualification.
• Project Management certifications such as PMP or Prince 2 in a DBMS context.
• 3+ years of dedicated project management experience in technology initiatives.
• Experience managing ticketing or retail point-of-sale applications.
• Familiarity with supply chain, procurement, and financial management systems.
• Hands-on experience with B2B and B2C application ecosystems.
• Experience in application integration and API/microservices architecture.
• Proficiency in programming languages or coding foundations (desirable for architectural discussions).
• In-depth knowledge of design patterns (e.g., GOF principles).
• Practical experience with data modeling tools and major relational/NoSQL database systems.
• Experience designing and developing integration and reporting services (e.g., ETL, BI tools).
  
  

Shape The Future With Us

At Miral Experiences, we don’t just create world-class destinations - we create unforgettable memories for our guests and remarkable careers for our people.

From theme parks and attractions to guest services and behind-the-scenes roles, every member of our team plays a part in delivering exceptional experiences. We’re driven by passion, powered by innovation, and committed to excellence in everything we do.

We’re looking for passionate, driven, and talented individuals who are ready to grow, lead, and make a difference. No matter your background or expertise, theres a place for you at Miral Experiences.

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