Institutional Partnerships & Programming Manager – Contract

Ethara; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 335,000 - 670,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

Ethara in Abu Dhabi invites an experienced Institutional Partnerships & Programming Manager to lead the intake, evaluation and delivery of a government-led international summit.

The role oversees institutional contributions across governments, multilateral and development institutions, IGOs, NGOs, academia and foundations, shaping proposals with programme producers to maintain neutrality and credibility. Immediate availability is required for this position.

Qualifications

• 6–8 years’ experience in partnerships, institutional relations or programme development with governments, multilateral and development institutions.
• Proven experience evaluating and shaping institutional contributions to high-level programmes.
• Experience in UN, COP-level or government summit environments is a strong advantage.
• Experience working with UAE government entities or international organisations in the UAE is highly desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Public Policy, Communications, Business or a related discipline; postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Strong institutional relationship management capabilities across government, multilateral, academic and philanthropic organisations.
• Strong judgement, discretion and cultural awareness when dealing with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent research, writing, reporting and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience with partner and proposal tracking and reporting using Excel or CRM systems.
• Excellent written English; Arabic is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Own the intake, evaluation and review of institutional partnership proposals, assessing programme purpose, fit, format, timing, funding implications and relationship considerations.
• Prepare clear written recommendations and proposal reviews for senior stakeholders.
• Identify, assess and map relevant institutions across government, multilateral and development institutions, IGOs, NGOs, academia, foundations, and youth and community organizations.
• Lead outbound engagement with relevant institutional partners.
• Shape partner contributions with programme producers, ensuring they are delivered through the appropriate format and at the appropriate level.
• Manage institutional programme contributions including roundtables, working groups, workshops, youth programmes and knowledge products.
• Manage programme-side relationships with institutional partners while keeping relevant stakeholders informed.
• Work closely with Marketing's partnerships and stakeholder engagement team to ensure a coordinated approach to institutional relationships.
• Maintain rigorous partner and proposal tracking systems, ensuring information remains accurate, structured and actionable.
• Provide clear daily and weekly reporting on progress, risks, gaps, dependencies and required actions.
• Work against defined deadlines and KPIs, proactively identifying partner gaps, risks and emerging opportunities

Skills

Partnerships management

Institutional relations

Programme development

Proposal evaluation

Stakeholder management

Written English

Education

Bachelor's degree in International Relations/Public Policy/Communications/Business

Postgraduate qualification (advantage)

Tools

Excel

CRM systems

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Institutional Partnerships & Programming Manager to join our team immediately and support the development and delivery of a high-profile, government-led international summit programmed in Abu Dhabi.

The role will manage the process through which institutions contribute to the programme, evaluating and shaping proposals while protecting the neutrality and credibility of the programme. Working closely with the Head of Programming and relevant stakeholder teams, the successful candidate will manage institutional relationships across government, multilateral and development institutions, international organizations, NGOs, academia, foundations, and youth and community organizations.

Immediate availability is required for this position.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Own the intake, evaluation and review of institutional partnership proposals, assessing programme purpose, fit, format, timing, funding implications and relationship considerations.
• Prepare clear written recommendations and proposal reviews for senior stakeholders.
• Identify, assess and map relevant institutions across government, multilateral and development institutions, IGOs, NGOs, academia, foundations, and youth and community organizations.
• Lead outbound engagement with relevant institutional partners.
• Shape partner contributions with programme producers, ensuring they are delivered through the appropriate format and at the appropriate level.
• Manage institutional programme contributions including roundtables, working groups, workshops, youth programmes and knowledge products.
• Manage programme-side relationships with institutional partners while keeping relevant stakeholders informed.
• Work closely with Marketing's partnerships and stakeholder engagement team to ensure a coordinated approach to institutional relationships.
• Maintain rigorous partner and proposal tracking systems, ensuring information remains accurate, structured and actionable.
• Provide clear daily and weekly reporting on progress, risks, gaps, dependencies and required actions.
• Work against defined deadlines and KPIs, proactively identifying partner gaps, risks and emerging opportunities

Job Specifications:

• 6–8 years’ experience in partnerships, institutional relations or programme development with governments, multilateral and development institutions, universities or foundations.
• Proven experience evaluating and shaping institutional contributions to high-level programmes.
• Experience in UN, COP-level or government summit environments is a strong advantage.
• Experience working with UAE government entities or international organisations in the UAE is highly desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Public Policy, Communications, Business or a related discipline; postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Strong institutional relationship management capabilities across government, multilateral, academic and philanthropic organisations.
• Strong judgement, discretion and cultural awareness when dealing with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent research, writing, reporting and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience with partner and proposal tracking and reporting using Excel or CRM systems.
• Excellent written English; Arabic is an advantage.