Strategic Research & Data Visualization Lead

MiZa; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 360,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

MiZa in Abu Dhabi seeks a Research Manager to drive strategic insight and data-led storytelling across growth, urban planning, and innovation initiatives.

You will produce robust analyses, visual dashboards, and board-ready materials to shape investment decisions and placemaking strategies across MiZa’s neighbourhood ecosystem.

The role requires 6+ years of applied research/analytics, strong Power BI/Tableau skills, and excellence in English communication for executive audiences.

Qualifications

• Degree-level education or other suitable qualification in a relevant topic.
• Minimum of 6 years’ experience in applied research, strategy, or analytics within business growth, innovation, customer experience and/or urban innovation contexts.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data management, visualization, and interpretation: hands-on skills in data visualization tools (data modeling, DAX, visual design, PowerBI).
• Experience producing dashboards, presentations, and reports for government, investment, or corporate audiences.
• Excellent English writing and presentation skills, capable of distilling technical findings into concise executive summaries.
• Experience in consulting, think tanks or government in innovation or economic development contexts.
• Experience in user journey, customer experience and community-building.
• Knowledge of spatial & people movement analytics, urban design, or economic development frameworks (e.g., innovation ecosystems, creative industry hubs).
• Familiarity with Abu Dhabi, UAE and GCC innovation and diversification agenda and latest initiatives.
• Advanced skills in Excel, SPSS, or GIS software.
• Strategic and analytical thinking
• Data-driven storytelling and design sensibility
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication
• Intellectual curiosity and cross-sector insight synthesis
• Project management and collaborative working
• Attention to visual and narrative detail

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-disciplinary research including trends in business support programmes and urban placemaking.
• Analyse global and regional trends in entrepreneurship and innovation neighourhood development.
• Conduct benchmarking and policy analysis to identify global best practices.
• Synthesize data into evidence-based recommendations and new thinking for MiZa.
• Translate research outputs into dashboards, maps, infographics using Power BI, Tableau, and PowerPoint.
• Design and build automated dashboards tracking metrics on business performance, innovation outputs, and urban development.
• Develop board-ready presentations and reports for senior decision-makers.
• Prepare CAPEX/investment decks and government-level presentations for potential partners.
• Collaborate with economists, strategists, architects, and consultants to ensure depth and alignment.
• Contribute to placemaking and urban planning by integrating socio-economic data with spatial insights.
• Liaise with data providers, government agencies, and think tanks for data sources.
• Set organisational standards for research and data visualization best practices.

Skills

Data visualization

Executive storytelling

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Project management

English writing

Education

Degree-level education

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Microsoft PowerPoint

Excel

GIS software

Job description

MiZa in Abu Dhabi seeks a Research Manager to drive strategic insight and data-led storytelling across growth, urban planning, and innovation initiatives.

You will produce robust analyses, visual dashboards, and board-ready materials to shape investment decisions and placemaking strategies across MiZa’s neighbourhood ecosystem.

The role requires 6+ years of applied research/analytics, strong Power BI/Tableau skills, and excellence in English communication for executive audiences.