Strategic Projects Associate: AI Strategy & Partnerships

Institute of Foundation Models; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Institute of Foundation Models in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Associate on the Strategic Projects team to turn frontier AI models into real-world impact. You will work on high-priority initiatives spanning strategy, commercial activities, partnerships, and operations.

You will move between analysis, execution and stakeholder engagement, owning problems from definition to delivery, collaborating with research, engineering, product, legal and finance to translate capabilities into value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Law, or a related field is required.
• Master's degree (MBA, MSc) or equivalent experience preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience in strategy consulting, corporate strategy, or related roles.
• Experience in AI, technology, or TMT sectors is an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with senior audiences.
• Hands-on, execution-oriented with strong ownership in fast-paced environments.
• Ability to engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel/financial modelling.

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end execution of strategic initiatives, from scoping and planning through delivery, tracking milestones, and unblocking issues across teams
• Conduct in-depth analysis to inform leadership decisions, including market and competitive landscapes, business cases, financial models, and partner or deal evaluations
• Support go-to-market and commercial efforts for IFM's foundation models, including positioning, pricing inputs, launch planning, and adoption strategies
• Help identify, structure, and manage strategic partnerships with industry, government, and academic stakeholders
• Produce crisp, executive-ready documents and presentations, such as strategy papers, board and leadership briefings, and partner materials
• Collaborate closely with research, engineering, product, legal, and finance teams to translate technical capabilities into clear value propositions and actionable plans
• Design and improve internal processes, operating models, and governance for strategic programs
• Stay on top of developments in the AI ecosystem, including models, players, policy, and infrastructure, and turn them into insights for IFM's strategy
• Perform all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager commensurate with these functional objectives

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical mindset

Executive communication

Ownership mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Fluent in English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Law, or a related field

Master's degree (MBA, MSc) or equivalent experience

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel/Financial modelling

Job description

The Institute of Foundation Models in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Associate on the Strategic Projects team to turn frontier AI models into real-world impact. You will work on high-priority initiatives spanning strategy, commercial activities, partnerships, and operations.

You will move between analysis, execution and stakeholder engagement, owning problems from definition to delivery, collaborating with research, engineering, product, legal and finance to translate capabilities into value.