Markets, Operational Client Relationship Manager (UAE National)

The Operational Client Relationship Manager will be a critical member of the Markets Client and Sales Solutions team, taking full accountability for the service delivery relationship with Markets clients across the MENA region, with a primary focus on Tier 1 clients. This role places significant emphasis on managing and enhancing the post-trade operational services associated with Markets products, encompassing the entire trade lifecycle from execution through to settlement and reconciliations. The ideal candidate must possess comprehensive knowledge of trading operations coupled with a robust understanding of financial market instruments and their associated operational processes.

Alongside the day-to-day management of inbound operational queries and escalation handling, the role demands proactive engagement with clients to continuously gather feedback for service improvements and operational efficiency initiatives. The post-holder will work closely with the Front Office teams to identify new business opportunities and support broader market growth objectives. This position offers an excellent opportunity to be at the interface between client servicing, operational excellence, and strategic sales support within a dynamic and evolving financial markets environment.

Strategy:

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Markets Sales and Operations strategies, aligning activities to the bank’s broader strategic objectives and clearly communicating these to both internal teams and external clients.
• Engage with industry forums and maintain up-to-date knowledge of market developments, proactively sharing insights to influence market positioning and prioritisation of post-trade initiatives.
• Develop and utilise client interaction metrics to analyse trends and identify key client needs and opportunities at segment and regional levels.

Business:

• Deliver exceptional operational relationship management across a diverse portfolio of Markets clients, understanding their operational challenges and tailoring solutions appropriately.
• Maintain comprehensive client profiles in partnership with Global Banking colleagues to support strategic account planning and identify growth avenues.
• Provide real-time support to Global Banking and Sales teams during pitches, facilitating product and service cross-selling through operational insights.
• Represent the bank actively at industry groups and forums, ensuring the delivery of tangible value to internal stakeholders from such engagements.

Processes:

• Collaborate across functional teams to identify recurring client operational issues, design solutions, and enhance service standards to achieve market-leading client satisfaction.
• Lead periodic service reviews with clients, establishing continuous improvement frameworks and tracking follow-up actions diligently.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for all Markets client matters, including market access barriers, post-trade queries, complaints, ensuring prompt and accurate resolution without transferring issues to Sales or other departments unnecessarily.
• Ensure seamless communication between client junior team members and relevant operational teams at the bank, maintaining up-to-date contact lists and fostering strong connectivity.

At the core of this role lies comprehensive client service delivery and operational excellence within Markets. The successful candidate will manage complex operational workflows, ensuring all stakeholder requirements are met and exceeded. As the pivotal liaison between clients, Sales, and internal operations teams, the role demands a problem-solving mindset and the ability to navigate and resolve complex trade lifecycle challenges. You will champion client experience enhancements through data-driven insights and collaborative innovation.

The role requires an individual with a commercial mindset who can balance operational risk with client satisfaction, driving initiatives that deliver sustainable improvements while supporting the bank’s growth objectives. In a fast-paced and evolving environment, agility and resilience are essential to managing changing priorities and client expectations effectively.

This position functions within a dynamic, matrixed organisational structure where collaboration, transparency, and communication are paramount. The Operational Client Relationship Manager interfaces directly with diverse teams including Sales, Front Office, Operations, and Compliance, as well as external clients spanning various markets and regions. You will play an instrumental role in bridging operational expertise with commercial activities, emphasising a seamless client experience throughout the trade lifecycle.

The role is based in Dubai, providing an excellent opportunity to engage with key regional clients, understand their unique business contexts, and tailor services accordingly. The candidate will be expected to manage workload independently while liaising with global teams to ensure consistent standards. Working in a multicultural environment, the role requires strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity to build trusted partnerships.

• Fluency in English & Arabic, both written and verbal, is essential for effective communication with clients and internal teams.
• A tertiary qualification in Finance, Business, Economics or a related discipline is highly preferred.
• Demonstrable understanding of financial markets, instruments, and post-trade operational processes.
• Previous experience in a client relationship management role within financial services, particularly covering Markets or asset management clients.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex trade data and operational metrics.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and willingness to keep abreast of industry trends and regulatory changes.

Standard Chartered is a leading international bank with a proud legacy spanning over 170 years. Our operational footprint is robust, and we pride ourselves on being agile enough to adapt quickly while having the scale and impact to make meaningful differences for our clients and communities globally. We are passionate about challenging conventional approaches, embracing new ideas, and continually seeking innovative ways to improve.

At the heart of our organisation is a commitment to diversity and inclusion, recognising the strengths drawn from our varied cultural backgrounds and perspectives. Our purpose — to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity — and our brand promise — to be here for good — guide us in every decision and interaction. When you join Standard Chartered, you become part of a values-driven environment that celebrates individuality, collaboration, and integrity.

• Do the right thing: Act with integrity and put clients at the centre of everything we do.
• Never settle: Strive for excellence and continuous improvement through innovation and learning.
• Are better together: Foster an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and empowered.

At Standard Chartered, we are committed to supporting the comprehensive wellbeing and development of our people.

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits: Including retirement savings plans, medical and life insurance, with additional flexible and voluntary options where applicable.
• Generous time-off policies: Annual leave, parental leave up to 20 weeks, sabbatical options up to 12 months, volunteering leave, and adherence to minimum combined annual and public holiday standards of 30 days globally.
• Flexible working arrangements: Designed to support work-life balance, offering hybrid and remote options aligned with business needs.
• Proactive wellbeing programmes: Access to digital wellbeing platforms such as Unmind, resilience-building courses, global Employee Assistance Programmes, mental health first-aiders, and a range of self-help toolkits.
• Learning and development focus: Ongoing opportunities to reskill and upskill through diverse physical, virtual, and digital learning platforms, fostering a continuous learning culture.
• Inclusive and values-led workplace: A culture that celebrates diversity, promotes respect and equality, and enables everyone to achieve their full potential.