UAE Operations Lead

About the Role

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as primary liaison to local academic and industry partners and build relationships across UAE beneficiary and local entities.
• Represent the program at industry events and conferences; direct in-country marketing, communications, and cultural protocol.

Program Reporting and Contract Execution

• Oversee in-country contract execution, local capital expenditures, milestone completion documentation, and formal requests to UAE stakeholders.
• Deliver situation reports to the Program Director on stakeholder sentiment, local dynamics, and emerging risks.
• Draft and present progress reviews to in-country leadership and manage contracts with UAE-assigned entities under framework agreements.

Operations and Workforce Development

• Coordinate cross-border logistics between U.S. and UAE stakeholders and maintain the in-country plan for milestone delivery.
• Facilitate local workshops, meetings, and site visits; oversee in-country program expenditures and procurements.
• Steer collaborative academic and R&D programs and lead workforce development execution with UAE and U.S. academic partners.

Basic Qualifications

• UAE nationality is preferred.
• Seven or more years of professional experience working in the UAE.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, or a related field.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience running a disciplined operating cadence with minimal direction.
• Ability to travel internationally as needed.

Desired Skills

• UAE offset program experience and experience tracking, measuring, and documenting delivery plans are desired.
• Knowledge of UAE defense and industrial ecosystems and familiarity with advanced technology or engineering R&D environments are desired.
• UAE hiring strategies, internship pipelines, and student onboarding expertise are desired.
• Background in budgeting, procurement, licensing, and capital expenditure is desired.
• Strong reporting skills, including executive briefings and stakeholder presentations, are desired.