Job Description

Contract Duration:

12 months - Renewal upon mutual agreement.

Role Purpose

The Strategic Partnerships Lead will design, secure, and manage high-impact partnerships that advance Dubai SME's strategic programs. This role focuses on co-delivery, co-funding, and long-term collaboration with key ecosystem players, including venture capital firms, corporates, accelerators, incubators, and government entities. By working across all five strategic pillars, the Partnerships Lead ensures that alliances deliver measurable outcomes that accelerate SME growth, innovation, and investment.

Core Responsibilities

1. Ecosystem Partnerships & Alliances

Identify, evaluate, and prioritize partnership opportunities with VCs, corporates, accelerators, incubators, multilaterals, and regulators. Design partnership models aligned with Dubai SME's strategic pillars and initiatives. Negotiate and execute MOUs, funding agreements, and partnership frameworks. Manage the full partnership lifecycle, including onboarding, activation, performance monitoring, and renewal.

2. Co-Funding & Resource Mobilization

Secure financial contributions, in-kind services, and joint investment commitments from partners. Structure co-investment vehicles and joint delivery models with public and private stakeholders. Track and report on partner ROI, co-funding metrics, and leverage ratios.

3. Stakeholder Engagement & Policy Alignment

Represent Dubai SME in councils, committees, and forums at national and regional levels. Collaborate with regulators and government agencies to align partnerships with national economic policies. Contribute thought leadership through ecosystem reports, SME policy recommendations, and cross-sector strategy inputs.

4. Program Enablement & Delivery Support

Ensure partner commitments align with program objectives, KPIs, and execution frameworks. Monitor compliance with agreed deliverables and resolve partnership issues as needed. Facilitate knowledge-sharing through joint workshops, events, and publications.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Public Policy, or International Relations (required). Master's degree or executive education in Innovation, Economics, or Public Administration (preferred). Professional certifications in partnership development, negotiation, or ecosystem strategy (preferred).

Experience

8-12 years of experience in strategic partnerships, business development, or ecosystem building. Prior experience in the UAE or GCC within the SME, entrepreneurship, or innovation ecosystem (mandatory). Proven success in structuring and managing partnerships in the startup/SME space. Strong track record of negotiating and executing MOUs, co-funding agreements, or joint ventures. Familiarity with public-private partnership models in the GCC or comparable markets.

Technical Skills

Expertise in strategic negotiation, partnership structuring, and ecosystem mapping. Knowledge of co-funding mechanisms, impact reporting, and joint program delivery. Ability to design and implement multi-stakeholder collaboration frameworks tied to economic KPIs.

Core Competencies

Strong stakeholder influence and cross-sector engagement capabilities. Strategic thinker with disciplined execution skills. Excellent communication, deal execution, and relationship management abilities.
Job Type: Contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: AED25,000.00 - AED35,000.00 per month