New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint an Assistant Director, Innovation Programs, startAD reporting to the Senior Associate Director, startAD.
We are looking for an innovative individual to manage the day-to-day running of demanding innovation programs of startAD, ensuring they run smoothly, whilst working closely with the Senior Associate Director and the programs team. You will play a key role in identifying and scouting the next generation of startups and adding quality mentors, coaches and partners to our network.
The Assistant Director of Innovation Programs is responsible for the strategy, planning, operations, marketing and execution of startAD startup and mSME programs. The role will also work closely with the Senior Associate Director in designing and developing special projects that will strengthen startAD’s impact and revenue generation. This candidate is further responsible for communicating the mission and increasing awareness of startAD programs by acting as a liaison between the organization and various NYUAD and external stakeholders. The candidate is expected to support startAD’s leadership in providing direction and guidance for core programs and establishing key metrics and milestones for short- and long-term goals. The role will also be primarily responsible to develop and manage the programs’ budget and content development strategy.
This position is a one year fixed term contract, however subject to renewal.
Key Responsibilities:
Program Management
Design and deliver comprehensive innovation programs comprising of multiple innovation initiatives
Proactively identify and manage program risks and ensure that effective mitigation is in place
Establish recruitment processes and selection metrics for various startAD programs
Manage and ensure successful execution of all innovation programs through their entire life cycle
Define and manage program governance, track and monitor progress, produce reports, identify and address blockers and escalate issues requiring stakeholder resolution.
Work closely with other startAD departments to achieve successful outcomes
Monitor program resources and budgets ensuring effective spend tracking and value for money.
Keep up to date with the latest developments in innovation methods and practice, review and assess their relevance and applicability to startAD.
Identify trainers and mentors for startAD core programs and providing similar support to the incubator program
Create and implement systems, metrics and processes for reviewing and analyzing the effectiveness of startAD programs and initiatives
Design and execute tech workshops for the UAE community members, government corporate partners and startups on various topics and assist them with prototyping
Business Development
Work closely with the Senior Associate Director on strategic planning and continuing development of overall mission, vision and planning of short and long term goals for startAD
Increase startAD’s revenue generation by designing new programs and diversifying revenue streams
Facilitate key stakeholder meetings, workshops and events
Support in the design and implementation of technical bids and proposals.
Attend conferences, lectures, workshops and seek out professional development opportunities
Assist in building and maintaining effective relationships and act as a liaison with other NYUAD departments and programs, graduate student groups, governmental agencies, corporate partners, community, and other stakeholders to increase awareness of startAD
Act as representative for the organization at various external events including panels, talks and guest lectures
Work closely with the Marketing & Communications team to scale startAD’s brand through programs and other initiatives
Team Management
Line Manage the startAD Program team members and oversea their professional development and employee performance activities
Coordinate all aspects of of planning with the team members responsible for individual delivery
Work with the individual team members to produce specific definitions of objectives, success factors and associated business cases for individual initiatives
Ensure the growth and development of the programs team
Identify how the programs team can support other startAD departments (Operations and Marketing & Communications)
Required Education:
Degree education
Preferred Education:
Degree education (or equivalent) ideally in a quantities discipline (e.g., engineering, science, economics, finance and business administration
MBA
Required Experience:
Strong knowledge and understanding of the innovation & startup Ecosystem
Minimum 5 years’ experience in innovation management, innovation program management, project management, product or service development or project planning, professional experience in the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem
Experience in an academic setting working with faculty, researchers, undergraduate/graduate students and student groups
2-4 years’ experience in designing and executing impactful incubation programs to support local mSMEs and startups
Strong change management background, a person that lobbies for change to impact business direction and spearheading change initiatives
Experience in early stage investments and due diligence processes
Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral) and demonstrated ability to manage professional relationships across a variety of stakeholder groups
Ability to work well in small teams
Previous experience founding, investing in and mentoring tech startups
Proven track record of managing a team
Preferred Experience:
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks while sticking to deadlines
Experience in designing and executing academic research commercialization programs
Data driven
Ability to think creatively
Arabic speaker
Other Information
About NYUAD
NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.
