CITY COMPETITIVENESS, INDUSTRIAL POLICY & SME DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE ADVISOR

Duncan & Ross; Riyadh; On-site; USD 120,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Executive Advisor for City Competitiveness, Industrial Policy, and SME Development. This pivotal role involves leading large-scale economic programs with significant funding, advising governments and global forums on urban economic strategies, and fostering innovation ecosystems. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in economic competitiveness, particularly with NEOM or similar projects, and a strong background in consulting. Join a forward-thinking organization committed to driving sustainable economic growth and making a lasting impact on urban development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in economic strategy at the World Bank or similar.
• Experience with NEOM or equivalent city-scale strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead economic competitiveness programs with multi-billion-dollar funding.
• Advise on urban economic strategies and SME policy frameworks.

Skills

Economic Competitiveness

Urban Economic Strategies

SME Policy Frameworks

Cluster Development Models

Strategic Partnerships

Thought Leadership Publishing

Education

Master's Degree in relevant field

Job description

About the job: CITY COMPETITIVENESS, INDUSTRIAL POLICY & SME DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE ADVISOR

Key Responsibilities:

1. Lead large-scale economic competitiveness programs with multi-billion-dollar funding scopes (>USD $1B).
2. Advise governments, giga-projects, and global forums on urban-scale economic strategies, SME policy frameworks, and cluster development models.
3. Design and implement world-class competitiveness roadmaps, fostering innovation ecosystems and sustainable economic growth.
4. Engage with B20, G20, and other global policy platforms to influence high-level economic policy and regulatory reforms.
5. Support NEOM or equivalent giga-projects by providing expert strategy advisory for city-scale economic development, infrastructure investment, and sector prioritization.
6. Collaborate with sovereign clients, multilaterals, and private investors to design programs that accelerate economic diversification and productivity.
7. Develop and manage strategic partnerships with multilateral organizations, consulting networks, and government agencies globally.
8. Publish thought leadership on competitiveness, urban economic transformation, SME development, and innovation policies.

Qualifications:

1. Hold a relevant Master's degree.
2. Have led an economic competitiveness program with funding >USD $1B.
3. Have served a minimum of 8 years at the World Bank managing economic strategy or lending portfolios or equivalent multilateral institutions.
4. Have served a minimum of 8 years in a Tier 1 global consulting firm such as McKinsey.
5. Experience advising NEOM or equivalent city-scale strategies.
6. Experience working with B20/G20 taskforces.
7. Advised on SME policies or cluster programs across at least three world regions.
8. Prior experience advising NEOM or comparable giga-projects within the last 3 years.

Vertical: Technology