Chief Specialist- Research and Development

Roads and Transport Authority; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

Roads and Transport Authority in Abu Dhabi seeks an experienced leader to govern research programs, partnerships, and IP enablement, aligning outcomes with RTA strategy. You will steer R&D centers, awards, and PoCs to deliver high-quality studies.

The role focuses on developing policies, governance for centers, and strategic partnerships with universities, while mentoring researchers and ensuring compliance with data standards and publication workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or Science.
• Experience: 9+ years with Master’s, 11+ years with Bachelor’s.
• Preferred certifications: PMP/PRINCE2 (or equivalent), research ethics (e.g., CITI).

Responsibilities

• Develop and update research policies, processes, systems, annual plans and KPIs.
• Promote research culture; define publishing frameworks, authorship rules and review cycles.
• Govern R&D centers; align portfolios and KPIs with future directions.
• Define PoC governance: selection criteria, test protocols, evaluation gates, reporting cadence.
• Lead the RTA Scientific Research Award framework, rubrics and calendar.
• Plan strategic research partnerships with universities and centers; define scopes and IP terms.
• Supervise corporate research projects from concept to delivery; ensure scope, schedule, budget, quality gates.
• Coordinate with Dubai Future Foundation; integrate deliverables into plans.
• Govern the central database for research outputs; enforce data standards and workflows.
• Prepare policy/strategy docs, leadership presentations and periodic KPI reports.
• Mentor early-career researchers; provide linkages to IP/legal teams for protection.
• Draft and review MoUs and collaboration agreements; monitor partner obligations and benefits.
• Review PoC outcomes; drive adoption, iteration or closure; capture reusable methods.
• Update R&D sources, frameworks, tools; improve collaboration and study quality.
• Analyze performance trends; propose corrective actions; update policies and KPIs.

Education

Bachelor's/Master's degree in Engineering/Science

Job description

Job description

Job Purpose

• Lead research governance, partnerships, programs, and IP enablement; steer R&D centers, awards, and proof-of-concepts; and deliver high-quality studies and outcomes aligned with RTA strategy and future directions.

  
  

Roles and Responsibilities

Strategy

• Develop and update Authority research and studies policies, processes, systems, annual plans and KPIs, aligning them with RTA strategy and standards.

  
  

• Promote a research culture and define publishing frameworks, authorship rules, and review cycles for Authority research outputs.

  
  

• Establish governance for R&D centers, aligning portfolios, KPIs, and annual plans with future directions and sector needs.

  
  

• Define proof-of-concept governance with selection criteria, test protocols, evaluation gates, and reporting cadence.

  
  

• Direct the RTA Scientific Research Award framework, rubrics, calendar, and improvement actions to raise submission quality.

  
  

• Plan strategic research partnerships with universities and centers, defining scopes, benefits, IP clauses, and performance indicators.

  
  

Operations

• Supervise corporate research projects from concept to delivery, meeting scope, schedule, budget, and quality gates.

  
  

• Coordinate research initiatives with Dubai Future Foundation and integrate deliverables into departmental plans.

  
  

• Govern the central database for research outputs; enforce data standards, metadata, access controls, and publication workflows.

  
  

• Prepare policy/strategy documentation, leadership presentations, and periodic reports on research indicators, initiatives, risks, and corrective actions.

  
  

• Scout internal researchers, deliver awareness programs, and mentor early-career researchers to strengthen the pipeline.

  
  

• Provide linkages to legal and IP experts; guide researchers to register and protect IP per approved procedures.

  
  

• Draft and review MoUs and collaboration agreements; monitor partner obligations, deliverables, and realized benefits.

  
  

Product/Process Improvement

• Review research and PoC outcomes; mandate adoption, iteration, or closure; capture lessons and reusable methods.

  
  

• Review and develop R&D sources, frameworks, and tools; enhance researcher toolkits, templates, and guidance to improve collaboration and study quality.

  
  

• Analyze performance trends; recommend corrective actions; and update research policies, processes, frameworks and KPIs.

  
  

• Education – Bachelor’s/ Master’s degree in Engineering/Science

  
  

• Experience – 9+ years in case of Master’s degree(11+ years in case of Bachelor’s degree)

  
  

• Qualification – Preferred: Certifications such as PMP/PRINCE2 (or equivalent), research ethics(e.g., CITI)