Director – Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IESC)
Closure Date: Feb 28, 2026
Reference Number: 394
Abu Dhabi
The Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IESC) is responsible for leading, managing, and developing the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. The role focuses on student entrepreneurship, startup incubation, strategic partnerships, and alignment with national innovation priorities and Sustainable Development Goals .
Location: Abu Dhabi
Job Type: Full-Time
Qualification:
PhD or Master’s degree in Business, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Engineering, or related field.,
Job Description:
- Lead the strategic planning, development, and execution of IEC initiatives.
- Align center activities with institutional strategy and national innovation agendas.
- Design and deliver entrepreneurship programs, workshops, competitions, and incubation activities.
- Oversee innovation challenges, startup acceleration programs, and sustainability initiatives.
- Support the licensing and development of student-led startups.
- Prepare students for competitions, grants, and external funding opportunities.
- Build and manage strategic partnerships with government entities, incubators, accelerators, and industry.
- Represent the university in innovation networks, forums, and national platforms.
- Lead MoUs and collaborative initiatives with key stakeholders.
- Promote innovation and entrepreneurship culture across campuses
- Lead outreach activities, media engagements, and awareness campaigns.
- Prepare semester and annual activity reports.
- Track KPIs related to innovation, entrepreneurship, and SDGs.
- Respond to surveys and data requests from regulatory and governmental bodies.
- Participate in innovation forums, conferences, and benchmarking activities.
- Stay current with best practices in entrepreneurship education and incubation.
Skill Required:
- 1–3 years of Related experience.
- Strategic leadership and program management
- Entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem expertise
- Stakeholder and partnership management
- Strong communication and reporting skills
- Knowledge of UAE innovation ecosystem and SDG