Senior Program Manager – Dubai Future Academy (UAE National)

DUBAI FUTURE FOUNDATION; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Dubai Future Foundation is seeking a Senior Program Manager for Dubai Future Academy to lead high-impact learning programs from concept to delivery. You will coordinate with education partners, faculty, and senior stakeholders to ensure clear scope, timely milestones, and excellent participant experiences.

The role demands strategic clarity, operational excellence, and strong communication in English with Arabic as a plus.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in program management, executive education, capability building, or related fields.
• Proven experience leading complex multi-stakeholder programs end to end with governance, budgets, and delivery.
• Strong English communication; fluency in Arabic is an asset.
• Ability to translate strategic priorities into practical program plans, milestones, and governance mechanisms.
• Proficient with MS Office and collaboration tools; excellent attention to detail and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design, planning, and delivery of academy programs aligned with DFA priorities.
• Translate strategic objectives into clear program scopes, milestones, budgets, and governance rhythms.
• Manage delivery governance, risks, dependencies, and stakeholder communications across the program lifecycle.
• Oversee participant experience, executive updates, and post-program reporting with data-driven improvements.

Skills

Program management

Stakeholder management

Executive education

Leadership

English fluency

Arabic (asset)

Curriculum planning

Governance & risk

Education

Bachelor's degree in education

Bachelor's degree in learning and development

Bachelor's degree in project management

Master's degree (asset)

Professional certification (asset)

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) aims to realize the wise vision of Dubai’s leadership to institutionalize the envisioned future and forward-thinking methodologies, while positioning Dubai as the leading city of the future. In partnership with its local and global partners from governments, companies, startups, and entrepreneurs, DFF drives joint efforts to collectively imagine, design, and execute the best possible future for humanity.

Under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, the DFF runs and oversees many future-facing projects and initiatives, such as the Museum of the Future, Area 2071, The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE, Dubai Future Accelerators, One Million Arab Coders, Dubai Future Academy, Dubai Future Solutions, Dubai Future Labs, Dubai Future Forum, etc.

DFF’s efforts to share knowledge, adopt innovation, support entrepreneurs and innovative startups, build capacity, and promote forward-thinking and foresight principles contribute to Dubai’s ambitions to be a role model for the cities of the future through the power of imagination, innovation, foresight and disruptive mindset.

For more information on the initiatives, projects, and programmess of Dubai Future Foundation, please visit the website: www.dubaifuture.ae

Where does this role fit into the bigger picture?

Senior Programme Manager - lead the design, governance, and delivery of high-impact Dubai Future Academy programs, translating strategic priorities into structured learning journeys and managing partners, stakeholders, risks, and outcomes across the full program lifecycle.

Dubai Future Academy (DFAc) is the capability building arm of Dubai Future Foundation. It supports Dubai by developing learning opportunities through collaborations with world-class education providers and subject matter experts. The Senior Program Manager leads complex academy programs by shaping program scope, coordinating partners and subject matter experts, managing delivery governance, and ensuring each learning journey is delivered with strategic clarity, operational excellence, and a strong participant experience.

Senior Program Manager – Dubai Future Academy

As Senior Program Manager at DFAc, you will own assigned academy programs from concept and planning through delivery, reporting, and continuous improvement. The role suits someone who can work confidently with senior stakeholders, education partners, faculty, and cross-functional teams; turn ambiguity into clear plans; and make thoughtful decisions under pressure. You will lead delivery rhythms, manage risks and dependencies, guide coordinators or project support resources, and ensure that every program reflects the quality, ambition, and future-focused mandate of Dubai Future Foundation.

• Lead the end-to-end design, planning, and delivery of academy programs aligned with Dubai Future Academy priorities and Dubai Future Foundation's future-focused mandate.
• Translate strategic objectives into clear program scopes, workplans, milestones, budgets, resource plans, and governance rhythms.
• Build and maintain integrated program plans across internal teams, external partners, faculty, venues, communications, and operations.

Stakeholder, Partner & Faculty Leadership

• Lead day-to-day engagement with education providers, subject matter experts, speakers, senior stakeholders, and cross-functional Dubai Future Foundation teams.
• Shape partner briefs, session requirements, faculty onboarding, and delivery expectations so every contributor understands the program purpose and audience.
• Facilitate planning meetings, executive updates, and decision forums, ensuring actions, owners, and deadlines are clearly captured and closed.
• Build trusted relationships that support collaboration, responsiveness, and high-quality delivery across the program lifecycle.

Program Delivery, Governance & Risk Management

• Own delivery readiness across program phases, including participant selection, curriculum sequencing, session logistics, operations, technology, and on-ground execution.
• Lead delivery teams during live programs, resolving issues calmly, making timely decisions, and protecting the participant and stakeholder experience.
• Maintain governance discipline through status reporting, risk registers, issue logs, change control, and post-program close-out.

Participant Experience & Executive Communications

• Oversee participant communications, joining instructions, agendas, briefing notes, reminders, and follow-ups, ensuring messages are accurate, polished, and timely.
• Manage participant selection and onboarding processes in coordination with internal stakeholders, partners, and senior reviewers where required.
• Use feedback, attendance, engagement, and operational insights to improve participant experience before, during, and after each program.
• Prepare clear written updates, talking points, summaries, and briefing materials for academy leadership and senior stakeholders.
• Ensure sensitive information, participant data, and stakeholder communications are handled with discretion and appropriate confidentiality.
• Define program success measures and ensure relevant data is captured consistently across attendance, satisfaction, learning outcomes, stakeholder feedback, and delivery quality.
• Lead end-of-program reporting, synthesizing insights, risks, achievements, and recommended improvements for leadership review.
• Convert feedback and performance data into practical improvements to program design, partner management, delivery processes, and future academy offerings.
• Lead the re-design and reconceptualisation of programmes year-on-year, seeking to not only update content but also evolve the delivery formats, focus areas and objectives.

Qualifications:

You have a bachelor's degree in education, learning and development, project management, or a related field; a master's degree or relevant professional certification is an additional asset.

• You have 8+ years of experience in program management, executive education, capability building, consulting, government programs, innovation programs, or strategic initiatives.
• You have proven experience leading complex multi-stakeholder capacity building programs end to end, from concept and planning through delivery, reporting, and continuous improvement.
• You are confident managing senior stakeholders, government entities, universities, training providers, consultants, speakers, and cross-functional delivery teams.
• You have excellent written and spoken English communication skills. Fluency in written and spoken Arabic is an additional asset.
• You can translate strategic priorities into practical plans, milestones, governance mechanisms, budgets, and delivery decisions.
• You are confident with Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, and comfortable using collaboration, reporting, and project management tools.
• You bring strong judgment, attention to detail, and discretion when managing sensitive information, competing priorities, and shifting timelines.
• You are a clear communicator and facilitator who can lead meetings, brief speakers, prepare senior-level updates, and represent the Academy professionally.
• You are proactive, curious, collaborative, and future-oriented, with the ability to motivate teams and deliver high-quality learning experiences.

What does the Dubai Future Foundation offer?

We will offer you a unique opportunity to support learning journeys that build leadership capability and future skills. You will work closely with an experienced academy team, engage with senior stakeholders, and support delivery alongside world‑class partners. You will build practical skills in program delivery, coordination, communications, and reporting, with the chance to learn across multiple initiatives and grow your confidence through hands‑on experience.