Head of Strategic Initiatives

Dubai Future Foundation
Dubai
Full timeFunction: Administration & Executive AssistanceExperience: 9-11 yearsEducation: bachelorsSkills: ["Transformation leadership","Executive stakeholder management","Portfolio management","People leadership","Communication and influence"]

Lead the Strategic Initiatives function within the Institute’s Strategy, Investment & External Outreach team, owning the end-to-end portfolio of RDI and highest-priority strategic work. Set strategic direction and standards across strategy, operating model design, governance frameworks, and research centre activation through commercialisation and executive advisory. Partner with executive leadership, research centre stakeholders, and HQ functions while building the team’s strategic capability and governance cadence.

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Dubai Future Foundation
Dubai Future Foundation
2 weeks ago

Head of Strategic Initiatives

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Job Summary

Lead the Strategic Initiatives function within the Institute’s Strategy, Investment & External Outreach team, owning the end-to-end portfolio of RDI and highest-priority strategic work. Set strategic direction and standards across strategy, operating model design, governance frameworks, and research centre activation through commercialisation and executive advisory. Partner with executive leadership, research centre stakeholders, and HQ functions while building the team’s strategic capability and governance cadence.
Location: Dubai
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Administration & Executive Assistance
Seniority: Sr. Director level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Lead the Strategic Initiatives function and own the end-to-end portfolio across RDI and the Institute.
  • •Partner with CEO, Director of Strategy, and executive leadership to define, sequence, and prioritise strategic programmes aligned to the Institute’s growth plan.
  • •Lead complex cross-functional initiatives from concept through implementation, including research centre activation, operating model design, and governance frameworks.
  • •Provide thought leadership and executive advisory on strategy, governance, operating models, transformation, and commercialisation/spin-off governance.
  • •Coach and develop the team, set governance reporting cadence, and present updates to senior leadership and governance committees (including government stakeholders).

Key Requirements

  • •12–15+ years in strategy consulting and/or corporate strategy with leadership experience.
  • •Experience shaping strategy or operating models for research, scientific, or government/semi-government institutions (highly desirable).
  • •Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.
  • •Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
  • •Ability to establish methodologies, quality standards, and governance for strategic work across the Institute.
Experience:9-11 yearsStrategy consultingCorporate strategyResearch institutionsGovernmentSemi-governmentInnovation
Education:Bachelor's in Business, Economics, Public Policy (or related field)
Skills:Transformation leadershipExecutive stakeholder managementPortfolio managementPeople leadershipCommunication and influence

Company Brief

Dubai Future Foundation
Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) is a government-backed organisation that designs and delivers strategic initiatives, research and innovation programmes—including Museum of the Future and Dubai RDI—to accelerate Dubai’s adoption of advanced technologies and future-ready policies.
Industry: Government
Company Size: Medium (51 to 250 employees)
Growth: Government & Public Sector
Funding: Government Funded
Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Founded: 2017
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