Salem Essam Imam
Senior Manager Industrial Valley and Special Economic Zone Development
Jeddah
Summary
Industrial engineering and infrastructure development professional with 6+ years of progressive leadership experience at Emaar Economic City, spearheading complex infrastructure projects and tenant enablement across King Abdullah Economic City’s Industrial Valley (IV) and Special Economic Zones (SEZ). Proven ability to deliver multi-stakeholder projects under tight deadlines, develop strategic processes and tools, and lead cross-functional teams. Recognized for driving key economic initiatives aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and rapidly advancing from intern to senior management.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
2
2
Languages
Work History
Senior Manager, Industrial Valley and Special Economic Zone Development
Emaar Economic City
04.2024 - Current
- Lead strategic delivery of IV & SEZ infrastructure, coordinating complex design, permitting, and construction projects for tenants such as Hyundai, Pirelli, CEER, and others.
- Established strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat business.
- Implemented and developed operational standards, policies and procedures.
- Lead the Industrial Valley & SEZ Construction and Funding Committee, overseeing project funding strategies and approvals.
- Manage multi-stakeholder engagement with government entities including ECZA, PIF, MOE, MIM, and Saudi Electricity Company to secure permits and utility supply.
- Developed and implemented technical packages, dashboards, and fast-track plans to support infrastructure delivery and tenant onboarding.
- Improving operational logistics for IV & SEZ tenants.
- Oversaw gas zone completion and led technical coordination for tenants projects.
- Held monthly meetings to create business plans and workshops to drive successful business.
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones and deliver high-quality results.
- Consistently met or exceeded annual performance targets set by senior leadership.
- Mentored junior staff members for skill development and career progression within the organization.
- Reviewed and analyzed reports, records and directives to obtain data required for planning department activities.
- Managed large-scale projects and introduced new systems, tools, and processes to achieve challenging objectives.
- Demonstrated exceptional adaptability in navigating complex situations or rapidly changing environments with ease.
- Increased customer satisfaction with timely project deliveries and seamless communication.
- Enhanced company reputation by driving successful initiatives that addressed client pain points effectively.
Manager, Industrial Valley Development
Emaar Economic City
04.2022 - 04.2024
- Delivered critical infrastructure milestones for CEER, Lucid, MEPCO, and Juffali projects, ensuring alignment with tenant requirements and commitments.
- Developed utilities dashboard linking tenant demands with operational planning across IV.
- Coordinated over 60 oversized shipments with customs and port authorities, establishing a revenue-generating cost recovery process.
- Managed asset readiness and refurbishment for IV facilities including SOD and warehouses.
- Led environmental compliance efforts and site evacuation coordination.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by resolving disputes promptly, maintaining open lines of communication, and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
- Managed budgets effectively, ensuring optimal financial performance while investing in necessary resources for business growth.
- Streamlined workflows by identifying bottlenecks in existing systems and implementing appropriate solutions.
- Managed budget allocations to prioritize spending on high-impact projects, optimizing resource utilization.
- Conducted market research to identify customer needs and adjusted product offerings accordingly, increasing customer satisfaction.
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project goals, fostering collaboration and innovation.
- Leveraged data and analytics to make informed decisions and drive business improvements.
Assistant Manager, Industrial Valley Development & PMO
Emaar Economic City
08.2020 - 04.2022
- Supported infrastructure delivery and permitting for tenants.
- Supervised day-to-day operations to meet performance, quality and service expectations.
- Improved customer satisfaction by addressing and resolving complaints promptly.
- Collaborated with the management team to develop strategic plans for business growth and improvement.
- Enhanced team productivity by streamlining operational processes.
- Engaged with customers to gather feedback, using insights to improve service and product offerings.
- Developed tenant briefing packages, managed plot handovers, and secured construction permits.
- Implemented phasing plans for the IV2 Automotive Hub and activated multiple project to enhance site operations.
- Led refurbishment assessments and facility management improvements for IV assets.
Management Associate
Emaar Economic City
11.2019 - 08.2020
- Rotational training supporting project tracking, stakeholder communications, and infrastructure planning.
- Participated in rotational training across development and PMO departments.
- Supported reporting systems, internal project tracking, and communication with stakeholders.
- Gained exposure to tenant operations, site planning, and infrastructure delivery mechanisms.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Engineering
King Abdulaziz University
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 01.2014 - 01.2019
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office
- PMO coordination
- Team leadership
- Analytical problem solving
- Cross-Team Communication
- Strategic planning
- Operations management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Data analytics
- Organizational improvement
- Budget oversight
- Reporting oversight
Accomplishments
- Successfully secured the approval of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) by supporting the completion and submission of the full project file to the authority, ensuring accuracy, alignment with national objectives, and efficient execution.
- Played a key role in attracting and securing strategic automotive investments under the King Salman Automotive Cluster, contributing to the successful signing of multiple anchor projects and positioning KAEC as a competitive hub for the automotive sector.
Timeline
Senior Manager, Industrial Valley and Special Economic Zone Development
Emaar Economic City
04.2024 - Current
Manager, Industrial Valley Development
Emaar Economic City
04.2022 - 04.2024
Assistant Manager, Industrial Valley Development & PMO
Emaar Economic City
08.2020 - 04.2022
Management Associate
Emaar Economic City
11.2019 - 08.2020
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Engineering
King Abdulaziz University
01.2014 - 01.2019
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