Job description

About Dubai Future Foundation:

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) was established in 2016 to institutionalize future-shaping for Dubai and strengthen the city’s position as a leading global city of the future. The Foundation works in partnership with government and private-sector entities to imagine, design and accelerate Dubai’s future. Its work spans five strategic areas: future foresight, knowledge dissemination, capacity building, future design and future acceleration. At the heart of DFF’s mandate is turning future-focused ideas and opportunities into tangible outcomes. The Foundation embraces risk-taking, agility and foresight as key attributes in navigating emerging opportunities and challenges. DFF is guided by a core belief that leading in the present is not enough; the future must be actively imagined, designed and executed.

LIFE AT DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) aims to realize the wise vision of Dubai’s leadership to institutionalize the envisioned future and forward-thinking methodologies, while positioning Dubai as the leading city of the future. In partnership with its local and global partners from governments, companies, startups, and entrepreneurs, DFF drives joint efforts to collectively imagine, design, and execute the best possible future for humanity.

Under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, DFF runs and oversees many future-facing projects and initiatives, such as the Museum of the Future, Area 2071, The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE, Dubai Future Accelerators, One Million Arab Coders, Dubai Future Academy, Dubai Future Solutions, Dubai Future Labs, Dubai Future Forum, etc.

DFF’s efforts to share knowledge, adopt innovation, support entrepreneurs and innovative startups, build capacity, and promote forward-thinking and foresight principles contribute to Dubai’s ambitions to be a role model for the cities of the future through the power of imagination, innovation, foresight, and a disruptive mindset.

For more information on the initiatives, projects, and programmes of Dubai Future Foundation, please visit the website: www.dubaifuture.ae

WHERE DOES THIS ROLE FIT INTO THE BIGGER PICTURE?

Senior Programme Manager – lead the design, governance, and delivery of high-impact Dubai Future Academy programs, translating strategic priorities into structured learning journeys and managing partners, stakeholders, risks, and outcomes across the full program lifecycle.

Dubai Future Academy (DFAc) is the capability-building arm of Dubai Future Foundation. It supports Dubai by developing learning opportunities through collaborations with world-class education providers and subject matter experts.

The Senior Program Manager leads complex academy programs by shaping program scope, coordinating partners and subject matter experts, managing delivery governance, and ensuring each learning journey is delivered with strategic clarity, operational excellence, and a strong participant experience.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Senior Program Manager at DFAc, you will own assigned academy programs from concept and planning through delivery, reporting, and continuous improvement.

The role suits someone who can work confidently with senior stakeholders, education partners, faculty, and cross-functional teams; turn ambiguity into clear plans; and make thoughtful decisions under pressure.

You will lead delivery rhythms, manage risks and dependencies, guide coordinators or project support resources, and ensure that every program reflects the quality, ambition, and future-focused mandate of Dubai Future Foundation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Program Strategy & Portfolio Planning

• Lead the end-to-end design, planning, and delivery of academy programs aligned with Dubai Future Academy priorities and Dubai Future Foundation's future-focused mandate.

• Translate strategic objectives into clear program scopes, workplans, milestones, budgets, resource plans, and governance rhythms.

• Build and maintain integrated program plans across internal teams, external partners, faculty, venues, communications, and operations.

• Anticipate dependencies, risks, and decisions early, escalating with clear recommendations and practical mitigation options.

2. Stakeholder, Partner & Faculty Leadership

• Lead day-to-day engagement with education providers, subject matter experts, speakers, senior stakeholders, and cross-functional Dubai Future Foundation teams.

• Shape partner briefs, session requirements, faculty onboarding, and delivery expectations so every contributor understands the program purpose and audience.

• Facilitate planning meetings, executive updates, and decision forums, ensuring actions, owners, and deadlines are clearly captured and closed.

• Build trusted relationships that support collaboration, responsiveness, and high-quality delivery across the program lifecycle.

3. Program Delivery, Governance & Risk Management

• Own delivery readiness across program phases, including participant selection, curriculum sequencing, session logistics, operations, technology, and on-ground execution.

• Lead delivery teams during live programs, resolving issues calmly, making timely decisions, and protecting the participant and stakeholder experience.

• Maintain governance discipline through status reporting, risk registers, issue logs, change control, and post-program close-out.

4. Participant Experience & Executive Communications

• Oversee participant communications, joining instructions, agendas, briefing notes, reminders, and follow-ups, ensuring messages are accurate, polished, and timely.

• Manage participant selection and onboarding processes in coordination with internal stakeholders, partners, and senior reviewers where required.

• Use feedback, attendance, engagement, and operational insights to improve participant experience before, during, and after each program.

• Prepare clear written updates, talking points, summaries, and briefing materials for academy leadership and senior stakeholders.

• Ensure sensitive information, participant data, and stakeholder communications are handled with discretion and appropriate confidentiality.

5. Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Define program success measures and ensure relevant data is captured consistently across attendance, satisfaction, learning outcomes, stakeholder feedback, and delivery quality.

• Lead end-of-program reporting, synthesizing insights, lessons learned, risks, achievements, and recommended improvements for leadership review.

• Convert feedback and performance data into practical improvements to program design, partner management, delivery processes, and future academy offerings.

• Lead the re-design and reconceptualisation of programmes year-on-year, seeking to not only update content but also evolve the delivery formats, focus areas, and objectives.

WHY THIS ROLE IS IMPORTANT

This role makes a visible impact by turning Dubai Future Academy priorities into high-quality learning programs that build capability, strengthen future readiness, and connect leaders with world-class expertise.

The Senior Program Manager protects program quality by bringing structure to complex work, aligning stakeholders, managing risks, and ensuring delivery decisions are made with clarity and pace.

This role is important to strengthening the Academy's reputation, scaling its impact, and reinforcing Dubai Future Foundation's position as a regional and international thought leader in future-focused capability building.

WHAT DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION OFFERS

We will offer you a unique opportunity to support learning journeys that build leadership capability and future skills. You will work closely with an experienced academy team, engage with senior stakeholders, and support delivery alongside world-class partners.

You will build practical skills in program delivery, coordination, communications, and reporting, with the chance to learn across multiple initiatives and grow your confidence through hands-on experience.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS AND BEHAVIORS

• You have a Bachelor's degree in Education, Learning and Development, Project Management, or a related field; a Master's degree or relevant professional certification is an additional asset.

• You have 10+ years of experience in program management, executive education, capability building, consulting, government programs, innovation programs, or strategic initiatives.

• You have proven experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder capacity-building programs end to end, from concept and planning through delivery, reporting, and continuous improvement.

• You are confident managing senior stakeholders, government entities, universities, training providers, consultants, speakers, and cross-functional delivery teams.

• You have excellent written and spoken English communication skills. Fluency in written and spoken Arabic is an additional asset.

• You can translate strategic priorities into practical plans, milestones, governance mechanisms, budgets, and delivery decisions.

• You are confident with Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, and comfortable using collaboration, reporting, and project management tools.

• You bring strong judgment, attention to detail, and discretion when managing sensitive information, competing priorities, and shifting timelines.

• You are a clear communicator and facilitator who can lead meetings, brief speakers, prepare senior-level updates, and represent the Academy professionally.

• You are proactive, curious, collaborative, and future-oriented, with the ability to motivate teams and deliver high-quality learning experiences.