Executive Advisor to the CEO | Strategic Affairs & Transformation | Abu Dhabi Confidential | Senior Executive Appointment

A high-profile Abu Dhabi institution operating at the intersection of government, higher education, and economic development is seeking an exceptional Executive Advisor to join the CEO's office. This is a rare opportunity to shape national-level strategy from the inside — advising a CEO whose remit spans sovereign initiatives, international partnerships, and long-term economic transformation
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The Role Reporting directly to the CEO, you will serve as a trusted strategic partner — owning high-priority workstreams, providing rigorous analytical and advisory support, and ensuring the organisation's most critical initiatives are executed to board-level standard. This is not a traditional advisory role. You will be in the room where decisions are made, contributing to strategy, managing senior stakeholder relationships, and representing the CEO externally when require
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Key responsibilities include:Acting as a senior extension of the CEO on complex policy, strategy, and transformation workstreams Providing analytical and advisory support across a portfolio of national initiatives Reviewing and preparing board-level reports, presentations, and briefing materials Monitoring delivery against the strategic plan and identifying material deviations Liaising with government entities, multilateral organisations, academic institutions, and private sector partners Mentoring and developing a high-performance internal t
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The Ideal Candidate You have built your career at the highest levels of management consulting, government, or multilateral organisations — and you are ready to step into a principal role where your judgment shapes outcomes, not just recommendati
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You will have:A minimum of 5 years at Partner level (or equivalent) within a top-tier management consulting firm, or a senior leadership role in a government/multilateral organisation of comparable seniority Deep experience in strategic advisory, policy development, or economic transformation — ideally with GCC or broader MENA exposure A proven track record delivering complex, board-facing projects with multiple senior stakeholders Outstanding written and verbal communication skills; you are equally at home writing a board paper and presenting to a minister A Master's degree or higher from a globally recognised institution Experience in or around the higher education, R&D, or public sector reform space is a strong adva
ntage