Advisor to the Director General

Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity seeks an Advisor to the Director General to provide senior-level strategic counsel, independent judgement, and leadership direction on partnerships and priorities. The role reports directly to the Director General and operates independently of program teams.

Responsibilities include shaping institutional strategy, governance engagement, external positioning and high-level stakeholder engagement with governments and global health partners.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years’ senior-level experience in strategy, advisory, philanthropy, global health, international development, government, multilateral institutions, consulting or mission-driven organisations.
• Strong understanding of philanthropy, global health and international development ecosystems.
• Proven credibility advising senior executives, boards and heads of state on complex strategic, political or institutional issues.
• Experience leading organisations at formative, transitional or scale-up stages is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level strategic counsel to the Director General, supporting long-term direction and leadership priorities.
• Advise on MBZFH’s positioning within global philanthropy and health landscapes, and external engagement.
• Prepare materials for high-level speaking engagements, visits, summits and stakeholder meetings.
• Support governance-related preparation including board materials and trustee engagement.

Skills

Strategic counsel

Job description

SRI Executive Search has been contracted by the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity to assist with the search for an exceptional candidate to fill the position of Advisor to the Director General.

About the Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity

The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity (MBZFH) is an innovative philanthropy headquartered in Abu Dhabi, dedicated to advancing human potential and opportunity through global health and inclusive development. Building on the UAE’s longstanding legacy of investing in health outcomes worldwide, MBZFH works across health systems strengthening, healthcare infrastructure, health workforce, preventable diseases, maternal, newborn and child health, assistive technology and thriving communities.

By 2030, MBZFH aims to reach more than 500 million people across 50+ countries. The Foundation is now seeking an Advisor to the Director General to serve as a senior strategic counsel and trusted thought partner, providing independent judgement, institutional insight and high-level advice on the Foundation’s direction, positioning, partnerships and leadership priorities.

For more information, please visit: https://mohamedbinzayedfoundation.org/en/.

Role Purpose

The Advisor reports directly to the Director General and operates independently of programmatic teams. He/She will provide senior-level strategic counsel to the Director General, supporting the Foundation’s long-term direction, institutional positioning, leadership priorities and external engagement. The role acts as a confidential thought partner, bringing independent judgement, sector insight and constructive challenge to complex decisions. It is intended to strengthen executive-level reflection, strategic coherence and leadership effectiveness, rather than manage day-to-day implementation.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Advisory to the Director General

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the Director General on matters relating to MBZFH’s mission, institutional priorities, portfolio direction and long-term impact.
• Provide independent judgement, constructive challenge and senior counsel on complex strategic decisions, emerging opportunities and areas of institutional risk.
• Guide and support the Director General assess key decisions by clarifying trade-offs, sequencing, priorities and institutional implications.

Institutional Strategy and Portfolio Direction

• Contribute strategic insight to leadership discussions on partnerships, portfolio evolution, organisational development, governance engagement and institutional priorities.
• Provide senior-level input on major initiatives, strategic reviews, special projects and cross-cutting questions requiring Director General attention.

External Positioning and Senior Stakeholder Engagement

• Advise on MBZFH’s positioning within the global philanthropy, health and inclusive development landscape, including opportunities to strengthen its influence, credibility and contribution.
• Support the Director General in shaping high-level engagement with government entities, philanthropic institutions, multilateral organisations, global health and development partners, and other senior stakeholders.
• Prepare the Director General for high-level speaking engagements, official visits, summits and senior stakeholder meetings, including talking points, briefing notes, remarks and other strategic materials.

Political, Geopolitical and Sector Insight

• Help identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities across philanthropy, global health, inclusive development and humanitarian action that may inform the Foundation’s direction.
• Track the political and geopolitical environment relevant to MBZFH’s mandate and advise on implications for institutional positioning, partnerships and leadership engagement.

Governance and Executive Judgement

• Support Board and governance-related preparation, including materials for Board meetings, trustee engagement and other governance discussions requiring Director General involvement.
• Bring external perspective, discretion and political sensitivity to sensitive institutional, stakeholder and leadership matters.
• Act with the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity and judgement in all interactions on behalf of, or in support of, the Director General.

Profile

Experience and Expertise

• At least 10 years’ senior-level experience in strategy, advisory, philanthropy, global health, international development, government, multilateral institutions, consulting or mission-driven organisations.
• Strong understanding of philanthropy, global health and/or international development ecosystems, including the role of foundations in shaping partnerships, influence and impact at scale.
• Demonstrated credibility advising senior executives, boards, government leaders, philanthropic leaders, heads of state, UHNW donors or equivalent senior decision-makers on complex strategic, political or institutional issues.
• Desirable experience includes having previously led a relevant organisation, foundation, programme, institution or major initiative, or having served as a member of an Executive Leadership Team with responsibility for organisational direction, strategy, partnerships or institutional impact.
• Excellent strategic judgement, analytical capability and ability to synthesize complex information into clear, balanced and actionable advice.
• Strong external orientation, with the credibility and judgement to engage senior stakeholders across cultures, sectors and institutional contexts.
• High levels of discretion, integrity, political sensitivity and emotional intelligence, with experience working on confidential or sensitive leadership matters.
• Ability to take a long-term, institution-wide view while understanding the practical implications of strategic choices.
• Experience working with organisations at a formative, transitional or scale-up stage would be advantageous.

Languages

Fluency in English is essential. Arabic language skills would be a strong advantage.

Terms of Appointment

This is a two-year renewable contract.

Role Location

The role is based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with some travel.

Rest assured, all information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality.