Position Summary
We are seeking a Senior Program Officer with significant experience in philanthropy or impact-focused work, who shares a strong alignment with the mission of our foundation. The Senior Program Officer will play a key leadership role in managing and advancing the foundation’s grantmaking and strategic initiatives, with a particular focus on emerging markets such as MENA, Africa, and India.

This role requires expertise in program design, implementation, and evaluation, along with the ability to navigate and balance the priorities of grantees, partners, and internal teams. The Senior Program Officer will serve as a trusted advisor and connector, cultivating collaborations, addressing challenges with thoughtful creativity, and ensuring alignment with the foundation’s mission and goals.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, exceptional communication skills, and a proven track record of driving impact through grantmaking and partnerships in dynamic environments. The Senior Program Officer will report directly to the Managing Director.

This position involves significant international travel and requires residency in Abu Dhabi from September through May annually.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with Leadership: Work closely with senior leadership to understand objectives, advance initiatives, and communicate priorities effectively.

• Strategic Grantmaking: Lead and refine grant strategies, balancing support for high-impact existing programs with targeted initiatives aligned with the foundation’s mission. Manage the full lifecycle of grants and related investments, developing metrics to assess effectiveness and share insights with the broader ecosystem.

• Build Strategic Partnerships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with mission-aligned organizations, helping them leverage the foundation’s platform to achieve shared goals, with an initial focus on MENA, Africa, India, and nearby emerging markets.

• Shape an Impact Ecosystem: Facilitate collaboration across grantees, connecting educators, employers, game developers, and learning platforms to create synergies and amplify outcomes.

• Evaluate and Share Impact: Oversee monitoring and evaluation of grants, track outcomes, and communicate insights to strengthen the broader ecosystem.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Manage internal and external communications with expertise, working with a diverse range of stakeholders including senior leadership and partners.

• Represent the Foundation: Build strong relationships with grantees, philanthropic partners, and the wider community to promote the foundation’s mission.

Key Qualifications and Attributes

• Demonstrates integrity, transparency, and strong ethical principles.

• Humble, low-ego, and able to navigate complex challenges thoughtfully.

• Conceptual thinker with strong analytical and synthesis skills.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to connect ideas across diverse initiatives.

• Strong multitasking abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

• Comfortable collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders and navigating cultural sensitivities.

• Self-motivated, with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to see connections across initiatives to create compounded impact.

• Humor, approachability, and the ability to foster positive relationships are highly valued.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with family foundations or closely with a founder is highly desirable.

• International grantmaking experience.

• Expertise in creative grantmaking, program strategy, and partnership building, ideally in education, technology, or social impact.

• Advanced understanding of how technology—including games, apps, computing, and emerging scientific innovations—can be deployed for educational or social impact.

• Experience curating events in collaboration with foundations or nonprofit organizations.

• Demonstrated success in emerging markets, especially MENA, Africa, or India.

• Strong knowledge of due diligence processes, financial analysis, and effective grant management.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in philanthropy, program strategy, and partnership development.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

• Passion for innovation in philanthropy, particularly leveraging technology for education, skills development, and social change.

ID: ZC131784