Our client is seeking a Strategist who will work collaboratively within the Future of Education team across a range of initiatives and programs. You will contribute to the generation, validation, and implementation of insights and ideas that drive programs forward. You will develop and take part in, facilitate, and/or lead programs and initiatives with both internal and external stakeholders. Working collaboratively in a small team dedicated to fostering and driving change, you will uphold the standards of creativity, rigor, and long-term impact achievement.

Key responsibilities:

• Support the development lifecycle of ideas into high impact programs and initiatives
• Design and develop impactful strategies that drive program creation, implementation, and refinement
• Contribute to the development and delivery of analysis, insights, and strategic proposals
• Conduct primary and secondary research, including literature reviews, landscape scans, interviews, surveys, and focus groups
• Define and execute plans, directions, and strategies based on research and insights that move initiatives forward in purposeful ways
• Synthesize and present complex information and plans in thoughtful, highly accessible ways
• Propose, build, and nurture collaborative partnerships with external stakeholders
• Lead facilitation of conversations and relationships that encourages evolution of thought and action, and allow for co-creation and exploration
• Engage with stakeholders, including leadership and subject matter experts, to clarify the purpose, vision, and strategy of programs and initiatives
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, actively adapting programs and initiatives to meet evolving needs and opportunities

Candidates from diverse backgrounds will be considered for this position, including candidates who have:

• Experience leading facilitation and delivery of innovative/complex projects, preferably with a combination of public and private sector experience, particularly in the social sector
• Experience starting, growing, and leading new teams, programs, initiatives, concepts, companies
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, systems thinking, and analytical abilities
• Experience designing for and advising on multi-faceted and nuanced frameworks and situations
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills to collaborate with governments, thought leaders, and other key stakeholders including other implementing partners/entities
• A strong and enthusiastic commitment to exploring and actualizing the future of education and a track record in embedding innovation
• The ability to work across multiple, interdependent workstreams, always with an eye to delivering on leadership’s vision
• Completed a recognized leadership development program (e.g. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program, Future Leaders Program, etc.)

Preferred candidate criteria:

• UAE National
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in innovation, systems change, strategy, policy, social impact, behavioural science, leadership, education, or related fields
• 5+ years of experience in public and private sectors, with credibility within the social sector and/or strategy and innovation spaces
• Entrepreneurial/startup experience
• Flexible, agile, creative problem solver who has proven experience excelling in highly dynamic and ambiguous environments
• Ability/passion/willingness to build from scratch things that don’t exist but should
• Comfortable asking tough questions and being challenged
• Willing to extend their experience into new contexts; passion for learning new things
• Leads through collaboration and inclusion; generous of spirit; strengthens the ideas of others
• Exceptional communication skills; fluency in Arabic and English

Thank you for your application.  Only suitable candidates will be contacted. Please note that by applying to this role, your profile will be searchable in our database.  Our Recruiters will contact you should another suitable role become available.