Chief of Staff & Director – Cultural Affairs

Black Pearl; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Black Pearl Consult in Abu Dhabi seeks a Chief of Staff & Director - Cultural Affairs to provide strategic leadership across executive operations, cultural affairs, government relations, and international partnerships.

Reporting to the CEO, this role requires exceptional stakeholder management, navigation of high-level institutional relationships, and the ability to translate diplomatic engagement into tangible outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Arts, Arts Management, Cultural Policy, Education, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master's degree or PhD in Arts Management, Cultural Governance, Education, or Executive Business Administration (strongly preferred).
• 12 to15+ years of progressive senior leadership experience within major institutions, diplomacy, government entities, or the executive office of a senior leader.
• Prior experience as a Chief of Staff, Head of Office, or Director in a Private Office is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing complex international networks and high-level stakeholder ecosystems.
• Proven track record of high-level diplomatic engagement, stakeholder management, and building multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Thorough understanding of the UAE's governmental, diplomatic, and institutional landscape.
• Exceptional written and spoken English; French strongly preferred; Arabic an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Office of the CEO Support: Manage the strategic priorities, agendas, and engagements of the CEO to optimize executive leadership time and focus.
• Strategic Partnerships, Institutional Diplomacy & Government Relations: Oversee relationship frameworks with UAE strategic partners and key government ministries.
• International Partnerships: Identify and negotiate strategic partnerships with leading global institutions and counterpart entities.
• Project Delivery, Intelligence & Governance: Drive cross-departmental projects with timelines, milestones, and budget alignments.

Skills

Diplomatic engagement

Stakeholder management

International partnerships

Executive leadership

Governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Arts/Arts Management/Cultural Policy/Education/Business Administration

Master's or PhD in Arts Management/Cultural Governance/Education/Executive MBA

Job description

Job description

Black Pearl Consult is looking for an accomplished Chief of Staff & Director - Cultural Affairs to provide strategic leadership across executive operations, cultural affairs, government relations, and international partnerships in the UAE. Reporting directly to the CEO, this senior leadership opportunity is suited to a professional with exceptional stakeholder management skills and experience navigating high-level institutional relationships and international collaborations.

The role carries the highest level of institutional representation in external affairs. The Director represents the organization with full authority at the senior-most levels of government and diplomacy, engaging ministers, ambassadors, and heads of major international counterpart entities as a trusted representative.

This role leads the organization's strategic external and cultural affairs: managing key governmental and ministerial relationships within the UAE and internationally, cultivating diplomatic missions, opening new avenues for strategic collaboration, and leading complex project delivery that converts high-level partnerships into tangible results.

Key Responsibilities

1. Office of the CEO Support:

Manage the strategic priorities, agendas, and engagements of the CEO to optimize executive leadership time and focus.

Prepare comprehensive briefing notes, talking points, stakeholder profiles, and recommended positions prior to every official engagement.

Serve as the principal point of follow-through on decisions made by executive leadership: record actions, track departmental progress, and report on delivery.

Draft high-level correspondence, statements, policy briefings, and official communications.

Accompany the CEO to official meetings, international forums, government delegations, and summits.

Work in close coordination with the CEO's Office Manager to streamline schedules, travel, and executive logistics while handling confidential matters with absolute discretion.

2. Strategic Partnerships, Institutional Diplomacy & Government Relations

Oversee and nurture relationship frameworks with UAE strategic partners and key government ministries (including Foreign Affairs, Education, and Culture).

Represent the organization with full authority at the highest levels of government, engaging ministers, ambassadors, and diplomatic attachés across the UAE and globally.

Monitor the diplomatic, governmental, and regulatory landscape; gather intelligence and analyze key developments relevant to institutional positioning.

Arrange high-level bilateral visits, incoming official delegations, and diplomatic occasions. .

3. International Partnerships

Identify and negotiate strategic partnerships with leading global institutions and counterpart entities in alignment with organizational goals.

Lead high-level partnership discussions through to agreed legal and operational frameworks (e.g., Memoranda of Understanding, co-productions, and international initiatives).

Manage international strategic partnerships led by the CEO, ensuring all commitments are met and outcomes are comprehensively reported.

4. Project Delivery, Intelligence & Governance

Drive cross-departmental projects from concept to final delivery, establishing clear timelines, milestones, and budget alignments.

Gather intelligence on global trends in public policy and institutional engagement, translating insights into actionable assessments for executive leadership.

Lead the department by setting clear KPIs, maintaining strict adherence to governance and ethical frameworks, and reporting regularly on risks and milestones.

RequirementsBachelor's degree in Arts, Arts Management, Cultural Policy, Education, Business Administration, or a related field.

Master's

Skills

Bachelor's degree in Arts, Arts Management, Cultural Policy, Education, Business Administration, or a related field.

Master's degree or PhD in Arts Management, Cultural Governance, Education, or Executive Business Administration (strongly preferred).

12 to15+ years of progressive senior leadership experience within major institutions, diplomacy, government entities, or the executive office of a senior leader.

Prior experience as a Chief of Staff, Head of Office, or Director in a Private Office is strongly preferred.

Demonstrated expertise in managing complex international networks and high-level stakeholder ecosystems.

Proven track record of high-level diplomatic engagement, stakeholder management, and building multi-stakeholder partnerships.

Thorough understanding of the UAE's governmental, diplomatic, and institutional landscape.

Exceptional written and spoken English; French strongly preferred; Arabic an advantage.