Senior Partnerships Manager

Job Purpose:

MBZUAI is seeking a Senior Partnerships Manager to cultivate and manage relationships with key research partners and stakeholders. As the primary point of contact for partners, it is important to ensure that their needs are met and that they are satisfied with the research collaboration. This role involves understanding and addressing the unique needs of each partner and fostering long-term relationships that support the research objectives of MBZUAI. To successfully execute research projects involving partners, the Senior Partnerships Manager must work closely with internal teams. Ultimately, this role is crucial in building strong partnerships that contribute to the advancement of AI research and development at MBZUAI.

Key Responsibilities:

Partnership Development

• Build, grow, and retain C-suite and principal investigator relationships across multiple industry sectors, locally and globally.
• Structure multiyear, enterprise scale research programs and Centres of Excellence (CoE) that align partner needs with MBZUAI’s strategic themes.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned accounts, understanding their needs, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and facilitating the successful execution of research projects.

Communication

• The primary goal is to support the university’s research initiatives by ensuring effective communication, collaboration, and strategic account management practices.
• Facilitate clear and concise communication between internal and external stakeholders, ensuring a shared understanding of research objectives, requirements, and expectations.

Collaboration

• Work closely with internal teams to ensure the successful execution of research projects involving partners.
• Collaborate with research teams to understand their needs and ensure the successful execution of research projects involving partners.
• Work closely with the legal and finance departments to manage contracts and budgets.

Planning and Strategy

• Develop strategic account plans to identify growth opportunities, address challenges, and enhance the overall research development and engagement strategy.
• Facilitate the creation of a CoE for our partners, driving innovation and excellence.

Professional Development

• Monitor global trends in AI and account management best practice.
• Translate insights into upgraded playbooks and processes.

Performance Evaluation

• Monitor and evaluate account performance, track key metrics, and provide regular reports to management to support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

Other Duties

• Carry out all other duties as reasonably directed by the manager that are commensurate with these functional objectives.

Academic Qualification:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field is required.
• A postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.

Professional Experience:

Essential

• 15+ years total, with 10 years+ in strategic account management / business development in research, academic, or technology environment.
• Proven track record in multiple domains business development, or client relations within the research, academic, or technology sector.
• Deep working knowledge of industry governing bodies and authorities within the research ecosystem.
• Proven understanding of research ecosystem in Abu Dhabi.
• Ability to identify key contacts and to drive business development for MBZUAI’s research programs.
• Experience in cultivating and managing relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and clients
• Experience in managing partnerships, collaborations, and projects in a research or academic setting.
• Familiarity with the industry or field in which the projects are being managed. In the case of research or academic setting, this could include knowledge of research processes, academic structures, and compliance requirements.

Preferred

• A Project Management Professional (PMP) or PRINCE2 certification is preferred.
• Familiarity with the industry or field in which the projects are being managed. In the case of a research or academic setting, this could include knowledge of research processes, academic structures, and compliance requirements.