Chief Strategy Officer

Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity

Abu Dhabi Emirate

On-site

AED 900,000 - 1,300,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity in Abu Dhabi seeks a Chief Strategy Officer to lead the development and implementation of the Foundation’s strategy, aligning portfolio priorities and driving disciplined execution across programs and partnerships. The role reports to the Director General and collaborates with governance bodies to ensure evidence-based decisions and organizational learning.

The candidate will shape long-term direction, oversee planning, performance frameworks, and

Qualifications

12 years work experience, with at least 5 years of senior leadership experience in strategy development/execution within global health, international development, philanthropy, or mission-driven sectors.
Previous experience in management consulting is highly desirable.
Demonstrated success in shaping organizational strategy, driving execution, and overseeing MEL within complex organizations.
Strong experience leading strategic planning processes, performance management systems, and cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

Lead development, refinement, and communication of the Foundation’s strategy and priorities.
Conduct strategic analysis, environmental scanning, and foresight to identify trends, opportunities, and risks.
Develop and maintain a strategic roadmap with measurable outcomes and milestones.
Ensure alignment between priorities, portfolio decisions, and resource allocation.
Represent the Foundation and its strategy at external events as required.
Oversee annual planning and budgeting cycles with the COO.
Establish dashboards and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress against objectives.
Drive cross-functional coordination and organizational change initiatives.
Provide senior leadership with insights and strategic guidance for decision-making.
Prepare analyses and recommendations for the Chairperson and governance bodies.

Job description

LinkedIn 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 Chief Strategy Officer.

About the Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity

The Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity 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 a Chief Strategy Officer to lead the development and implementation of the Foundations strategy, bringing together the Foundations portfolio under one vision and mission, ensuring strategic prioritisation, efficient monitoring and learning cycles, and strong collaboration across the organisation and with external stakeholders. This role is a rare opportunity to influence overall human development through the improvement of access to public health for all.

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

Role Purpose

The Director of Strategy will provide leadership for the Foundation’s strategic direction, annual planning processes, portfolio alignment across different programs, and the overall organizational performance cycles.

The role ensures that the Foundation consistently presents a clear and compelling vision, translating the mission into effective prioritization, and disciplined execution across programs, its partnerships, and overall operations.

Working closely with the Director General (DG), the Grant Operations Director, the wider leadership team, governance bodies and partners, the Chief Strategy Officer serves as a trusted strategic advisor, driving evidence-based decision-making, organizational learning, and long-term institutional impact.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Planning

Lead the development, refinement, and communication of the Foundation’s organizational strategy and strategic priorities.
Conduct strategic analysis, environmental scanning, and foresight exercises to identify emerging trends, opportunities, and risks that may influence the Foundation’s future direction.
Develop and maintain a strategic roadmap that translates organizational objectives into measurable outcomes and implementation milestones.
Ensure alignment between strategic priorities, portfolio decisions, and resource allocation across the Foundation.
Represent the Foundation and its strategy at external events, as required.

Annual Planning, Performance, and Budget Alignment

Oversee the Foundation’s annual planning and budgeting cycles in partnership with the Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Establish and maintain organizational performance frameworks, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress against strategic objectives.
Support leadership in setting annual priorities and ensuring clarity, accountability, and execution across teams.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)

Provide strategic oversight of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) function.
Partner with the MEL Director to design and strengthen an organization-wide MEL framework that supports evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement.
Ensure that learning, evaluation findings, and performance insights are systematically incorporated into strategic planning and organizational decision-making.

Strategic Initiatives and Organizational Change

Shape, support, and oversee cross-cutting strategic initiatives, pilot programs, and growth opportunities.
Drive cross-functional coordination and collaboration to advance strategic priorities and organizational change efforts.
Mobilize internal resources and coordinate rapid-response efforts in support of emerging priorities and organizational needs.

Executive and Governance Support

Work closely with the Director General and leadership team to prepare strategic analyses, presentations, briefing materials, and recommendations for the Chairperson and governance bodies.
Provide senior leadership with timely, high-quality insights and strategic guidance to support effective decision-making.
Foster alignment and engagement among internal stakeholders around the Foundation’s mission, role, and strategic direction.

First 12 Months - Success Outcomes

The succesful candidate will establish a clear and focused strategic direction for the Foundation, enable effective planning and learning cycles, strengthen alignment between resources and priorities, and ensure that leadership and governance bodies have the insights needed to make informed decisions. They will foster a culture of continuous learning, drive measurable progress on strategic initiatives, and position the Foundation for sustainable growth, innovation, and long-term impact.

Profile

Experience and Expertise

12 years work experience, with at least 5 years of senior leadership experience in senior leadership strategy development and execution role(s), ideally within global health, international development, philanthropy, or other mission-driven sectors.
Previous experience in management consulting is highly desirable.
Demonstrated success in shaping organizational strategy, driving execution, and overseeing monitoring, evaluation, and learning functions within complex organizations.
Strong experience leading strategic planning processes, performance management systems, and cross-functional initiatives.

Leadership and Collaboration

Proven ability to work effectively with senior executives, boards, governance bodies, and diverse stakeholder groups.
Experience convening and leading cross-functional teams to deliver complex organizational priorities.
Strong influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to align stakeholders around shared goals and outcomes.

Analytical and Strategic Capabilities

Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a track record of translating complex insights into practical strategic recommendations.
Skilled in strategic analysis, landscape assessment, organizational performance tracking, and long-term planning.
Strong project management capabilities, including the ability to manage multiple priorities in dynamic environments.

Communication and Personal Attributes

Outstanding communication, synthesis, and strategic storytelling skills.
Ability to distill complex information into clear, compelling narratives for executive and governance audiences.
Highly collaborative, intellectually curious, and adaptable, with a strong commitment to organizational learning and continuous improvement.
Demonstrates sound judgment, strategic thinking, and the ability to operate effectively in both long-term planning and fast-paced decision-making environments.

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