Head of Strategy (UAE National)

Job Title: Head of Strategy

Entity: Expo Office

Location: Abu Dhabi,

Department: Strategy

Reports To: Head of Expo Office

Employment Type: Full-Time / Permanent

*About the Entity*

The Nations Expo Office is a government entity established under the patronage of Abu Dhabi leadership to oversee and advance countries participation in World Expositions and other global platforms of strategic importance.

The Office is mandated to present the nation's vision, strengthen international partnerships, and deliver high-impact programs aligned with countries priorities and leadership directives.

*Position Overview*

The Head of Strategy is responsible for shaping the overarching strategy of the Office and defining the strategic direction of the nation's participation across a portfolio of World Expositions.

This role ensures a clear long-term vision, enabling each participant to strengthen global positioning while maintaining institutional continuity and learning. The role combines visionary thinking with structured strategic planning and advisory.

Working closely with the Head of the Office and cross-functional teams, the Head of Strategy translates countries priorities into actionable frameworks guiding all aspects of participation, including design, programming, communications, partnerships, and legacy.

*Key Responsibilities*

*Strategy & Portfolio Leadership*

• Lead the development and continuous refinement of the Office's overarching strategy and long-term vision

• Ensure alignment of all participations with countries priorities and leadership directives

• Position global platforms as tools for cultural diplomacy, innovation exchange, and international engagement

• Ensure consistency, coherence, and institutional learning across participations

*Participation Strategy Development*

• Lead the development of strategies for each participation from early positioning through legacy

• Translate global themes into a distinctive countries narrative and positioning

• Define purpose statements, strategic frameworks, and narrative direction

• Oversee research, insights, and contextual analysis to inform decision-making

*Decision Frameworks & Advisory*

• Develop structured evaluation frameworks to assess participation opportunities

• Define criteria for strategic relevance, impact, and countries value

• Prepare strategic recommendations and advisory materials for leadership

• Support executive decision-making through structured analysis and scenario planning

*Strategic Alignment & Delivery*

• Ensure strategic intent is consistently translated across all streams (design, programming, communications, operations)

• Act as custodian of the overall strategic vision throughout the project lifecycle

• Facilitate alignment across internal teams and external stakeholders

*Legacy & Impact*

• Define long-term impact objectives for each participation beyond event delivery

• Establish frameworks to assess strategic, diplomatic, and reputational outcomes

• Ensure legacy considerations are embedded across all workstreams

*Governance & Leadership Support*

• Prepare strategic briefs, memos, and executive-level presentations

• Support governance processes and key decision milestones

• Facilitate strategy workshops and leadership engagements

*Qualifications & Skills*

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Strategy, Public Policy, International Relations, or related field

• 7–10+ years of experience in strategy, public policy, or international programs

• Experience within government, semi-government, or complex multi-stakeholder environments

• Proven experience in developing organizational or portfolio-level strategies

• Skills & Competencies

• Strong strategic thinking and structured problem-solving capabilities

• Experience developing decision frameworks, evaluation models, and scenario plans

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly for leadership audiences

• Ability to translate complex concepts into clear strategic narratives

• Strong stakeholder engagement and alignment capabilities