Program Manager DEEP Qatar

ESMT Berlin is a leading global business school with its campus in the heart of Berlin.

Founded by 25 global companies, ESMT offers master, MBA, and PhD programs, as well as executive education on its campus in Berlin, in locations around the world, online, and in online blended format.

We strongly believe in cross-team collaboration to achieve our mission to develop entrepreneurial leaders who think globally and act responsibly.

DEEP - Institute for Deep Tech Innovation - is ESMT’s innovation hub dedicated to amplifying our ecosystem’s ability to generate and scale science-based businesses.

We empower scientists to commercialize technologies, support deep tech startups to scale internationally and connect leading research organizations to connect with the startup and innovation ecosystem effectively.

DEEP is running targeted and ambitious activities in the fields of Healthcare, Natural Capital, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence and Compute, currently expanding to Qatar

Join our DEEP Qatar team on-site as a

(m/f/x, 40 hrs./week, starting in August-September 2026, on-site in Doha)

and help shape the future by bringing your expertise and passion to ESMT.

How you'll make a difference

The Program Manager is central to executing DEEP Qatar's local initiatives and supporting the delivery of the three flagship programs: DEEP Academy, DEEP Pioneers, and CDL Doha.

They make sure every cohort week, venture session, and mentor gathering runs flawlessly on the ground in Doha, and help establish DEEP Qatar's brand presence locally through digital channels and a physical presence at ecosystem events.

They work closely with the Program Operations team in Berlin to maintain consistency with global CDL standards, and with the Doha-based Venture Managers on local delivery and venture intake.

In year one, this is a build-as-you-go role, requiring the entrepreneurialism to figure things out in a new market without a local playbook.

Program delivery

Own end-to-end local build and delivery for cohort sessions across DEEP Academy, DEEP Pioneers, and CDL Doha.

Manage scheduling, logistics, venues, catering, and travel for participants, mentors, and faculty.

Manage faculty, speakers, and practitioners across the programs, including onboarding, attendance, briefings, and on-site coordination.

Serve as the first point of contact for participants during cohort weeks.

Ensure programs run to CDL global standards while adapting to the local context.

Own project-level budget management across programs, tracking spend and reporting into the overall Qatar program budget managed by the Operations Lead.

Manage inbound inquiries.

Berlin coordination

Work closely with the Program Operations team in Berlin (led by the Head of Operations) and the Berlin-based Program Managers to ensure alignment across the DEEP network.

Provide local execution support for Berlin-led activities that involve Qatar and draw on Berlin's support for Qatar-led cohorts, particularly during the first year of the programs.

Venture Manager support

Provide local logistical support to Venture Managers across the program verticals, including coordinating venture visits, founder sessions, and ecosystem touchpoints in Qatar.

Support Venture Managers with the application process and onboarding of candidates and ventures into the programs.

Ecosystem days and gatherings

Lead the operational delivery of DEEP Qatar's ecosystem days, including gatherings that connect CDL ventures and mentors with the local startup, innovation, investment, and corporate community in Qatar.

Manage logistics, venues, speakers, attendee management, and on-the-day execution alongside the Director, Operations Lead, and Venture Managers.

Brand and local presence

Support the establishment and growth of DEEP Qatar's brand presence in the local ecosystem through social media channels (such as LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and others) and produce content that feeds into Berlin's central channels.

Coordinate with the Berlin team on brand consistency and execution.

Represent DEEP Qatar at relevant ecosystem events, demo days, and gatherings alongside the Director.

Vendor and supplier management

Manage local vendors and suppliers required for program delivery, including venues, catering, AV, travel, and accommodation.

Build a reliable Doha supplier network from a standing start.

Participant data and reporting

Track participant data, attendance, feedback, and core program KPIs.

Provide regular delivery reports to the Director and Berlin counterparts.

What makes you a great fit

You are a program operator who takes pride in flawless delivery.

You have run multiple concurrent programs or events to a high standard, ideally in an accelerator, university executive education, professional services, or events context.

You are the calm center during intense cohort weeks.

You are entrepreneurial enough to figure things out in a new market with no local playbook, and disciplined enough to run programs to a global standard.

You are comfortable working across cultures and flexible when working across time zones.

You enjoy being the person who makes things work.

You are comfortable being hands-on with logistics one moment and engaging with a senior researcher or venture founder the next.