Senior Manager - Strategic Projects, CEO Office

Calo Inc; Dubai; On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Calo Inc is seeking a strategic partner to the Chief of Staff to drive initiatives that matter. This role is not conventional; it demands agility, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. Candidates should be prepared for high visibility in critical moments and thrive in dynamic environments.

Qualifications

• Strong ability to manage projects and support executives.
• Excellent at strategic execution with a focus on results.
• Agile thinker who can navigate complex challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic projects and initiatives across the organization.
• Support new initiatives from inception to market fit.
• Create high-quality deliverables for high-visibility meetings.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Project management

Agility

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Job description

We could give you a traditional job description. But that wouldn’t do this role (or you, or us) justice.

This isn’t your average strategy role.

You won’t be parked behind a spreadsheet or confined to theoretical frameworks.

You’ll be in the arena - sleeves rolled up, mind racing, making things happen.

You’ll be the right hand to the Chief of Staff.

What does that even mean? Who is he? Listen to him here explain what the role is all about - just the first 5 minutes of the video will do.

Code Words: Alignment, Collaboration, Execution.

The role can be based in Dubai, Riyadh, or Bahrain.

What is Calo?

Calo is an app providing personalized meal plans for busy people through nutritional algorithms, built with love by chefs, nutritionists, and software engineers. Launched in Bahrain in 2019, we have since expanded to 6 countries, delivered millions of meals to our customers, and launched our very own Grab & Go Cafe concepts. We're on a noble mission to make healthy easy. We think this is one of the most important problems to tackle in our world today. We have global ambitions - no small thinking here. More about calo here.

Ok, now what will you actually be doing (beyond the buzzwords)?

• Driving strategic projects - You saw this one coming!

  You’ll partner with the Chief of Staff, CEO, and teams across Calo to lead and execute initiatives that shape how we operate. To make this more tangible: think strategy playbooks, OKRs, org transformation, customer-centricity initiatives, operating models, cross-functional collaboration, AI enablement… the things that actually matter to how a company runs. If these terms make sense to you, carry on. If not, you’ve probably stopped reading already.

• Supporting the zero-to-one - Okay, we already broke our “no buzzwords” promise.

  We wouldn’t be a startup (or a scale-up or whatever you want to call us) without the magic of the 0–1 phase: blank slates, new segments, new geographies, new models. Your role is to support the leaders of these initiatives in whatever way possible to help them reach PMF.

  Don’t know what that is? It’s not a dealbreaker, but if “0–1” and “PMF” get you excited, your chances, and our interest, are rising.

• Sprinting through high-stakes moments - At this point, this shouldn’t surprise you, we warned you not your conventional JD!

  You’ll lead the charge in creating top-tier deliverables for strategic instances: board meetings, leadership off-sites, town halls, business retrospectives, etc. No pressure - just visibility at the highest levels.

• Mastering the masterview - Pun very much intended.

  You’ll help us maintain (and elevate) a bird’s-eye view of all key initiatives. Follow up, unlock, support, facilitate, reframe - whatever it takes to keep the momentum going.

• Most importantly, filling the gaps - This one requires serious mental agility.

  There’s no room for “that’s not part of my JD.” Something’s missing? You’re there. This role is equal parts planned and impromptu. You’ll often find yourself solving problems that weren’t on your to-do list - because someone needs to, and you can.

If we haven’t scared you off yet and you’re wondering whether you’re a good fit, ask yourself this:

Are you a living paradox? Here’s a quick test - answer these 6 questions:

• Am I strategic and grounded, at the same time?
• Am I a thinker and a doer, at the same time?
• Am I a story teller and a pro of SOPs, at the same time?
• Am I extremely structured and agile, at the same time?
• Am I an excellent project manager and a partner to leaders, at the same time?
• Am I a relentless follow-upper and a relationship builder, at the same time?

If you answered yes to 5 out of 6 - keep going.

Butterflies in your belly? You’re almost there. The only remaining question is: how to apply?

Hint: not your traditional application.

We get lots of candidates who reach out, and we’re always humbled by the interest.

But it’s impossible to tell who’s a killer candidate from a black-and-white A4.

So: put some love into your application.

Try a Loom, a Notion page, a deck, a video, a voice note - whatever it takes to tell us who you are and why you think you’d be a great fit.