Senior Manager ERIF Partnerships

Overview

Position

Senior Manager ERIF Partnerships

Job Code

Reports to

Executive Director, ERI Foundation

Direct Reports

Division/Section

ERI Foundation

Department

ERI Foundation

Sector

Education, Research, and Innovation

Job Family

Role

NEOM is focused on becoming a pre-eminent global location for new technologies and associated future-facing industries, encompassing many sectors spanning from education, through health and well-being, the digital world, energy, food, and water, to creative industries, tourism, and sport. It will be driven by knowledge creation fueled by Research and Innovation (R&I) programs that are international in scope and characterized by their excellence and topicality.

The ERI Foundation (ERIF), one of the four pillars of the ERI sector, is charged with helping NEOM to build a vibrant R&I ecosystem. ERIF will convene and connect innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, service providers, academics, and students, to promote and enhance NEOM’s R&I credentials.

As an organization that translates ideas to impacts, ERIF will:

• Establish and operate the flagship ERIF Applied Research Institutes (ARIs).
• Establish and operate cutting-edge shared R&I infrastructures.
• Prioritize and deliver strategic R&I programs and initiatives.
• Establish and deliver competitive R&I fellowship programs.
• Support NEOM to build a robust and resilient R&I culture.
  
  

Three ARIs have already been initiated, focused on (i) Ocean Science and Solutions, (ii) Hydrogen and e-fuels, and (iii) Future of Urban Liveability. They build on NEOM strategic priorities and leverage key assets, in partnership with NEOM sectors and regions including Environment, Nature and Conservation, Energy and Water (Enowa), The Line, Technology and Digital (Tonomous). Our R&I infrastructures program is focused on establishing state-of-the-art shared facilities including (i) clean room and nanofabrication, (ii) analytical, (iii) imaging and characterization, (iv) high performance computing, and (v) mechanical and electrical workshops, and makerspaces. These facilities are planned for deployment within an ERI Oxagon campus and will be available for use by university, ARI, corporate, agency, start-up, and community users. Funding programs for R&I projects, initiatives, and fellowships, including our Academy of International Fellows are also being rolled out, with collaborative global projects underway across marine science and the energy transition.

The ERIF Partnerships Senior Manager will report to the Executive Director of the NEOM ERI Foundation and will provide key operational support to ensure that ERIF partnership projects, and initiatives progress smoothly. They will build a strong team to support the full range of academic, industrial, societal, and government agency collaborations and engagements within NEOM and with global partners. Together, they will coordinate activities, resources, and information among the various teams within the ERI Foundation, the wider ERI sector, specifically NEOM U and the Talent Academy, and across other NEOM sectors and regions, and support and help to manage ERIF engagements with global partners. In short, the Partnerships Senior Manager is charged with keeping ERIF collaboration and engagement activities organized, efficient, and productive at all times.

Key Accountabilities & Activities

• ERIF collaboration and engagement:
• Work with the ERIF leadership team to support the development of ERIF collaboration and engagement opportunities within and without NEOM, reporting regularly on progress to the Executive Director ERI Foundation, and other key stakeholders.
• Convene and preside at meetings with internal and external stakeholders involved in ERIF partnership projects, programs, and initiatives to secure regular updates and progress reports, and explore opportunities to develop and grow activities.
• Promote ERIF activities to potential partner organisations, and work to identify opportunities to build collaboration and engagement.
• Track, document, and manage an ERIF partnership data base and build a network of contacts in partner organisations.
  
  

• Communication Facilitation:
• Foster effective communication and collaboration among ERIF, ERI operations, NEOM U and Talent Academy teams.
• Collate ERIF collaboration and engagement information, prepare timely briefings, and communicate as needed to appropriate parties.
• Support the preparation of related documents and presentations for ERIF senior leadership.
  
  

• Team Building:
• Build a strong team to deliver an excellent service in support of ERIF partnerships, that builds trust in the ERIF through exemplary engagement and responsiveness.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to the team.
  
  

• Monitoring Partnership Performance:
• Develop a partnership performance review framework and success metrics.
• Regularly review partnership performance and impact, including financial, scientific, and compliance delivery.
  

Background, Skills & Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Ability to develop and foster partnerships with diverse organizations having different interests, needs, and expectations.
• Ability to negotiate with and influence others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across multi-functional teams.
• Ability to thrive and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic, and sometimes high-pressure environment, with good attention to detail and delivery.
• Self-motivated, willing to take initiative, and to drive pro-active problem solving.
• Proven experience in partnership and collaboration roles, including within higher education.
• Proficiency in project management tools and software.
  
  

Qualifications

• Required:
• PhD or other higher degree.
• Bachelor's degree in an analytical discipline.
• 10+ years experience across coordination, partnership, and administrative management roles, including significant periods spent in higher education, and with external facing responsibilities.
• Preferred:
• Certification in project management.
  

COMMUNICATION - MAIN STAKEHOLDERS

Internal

External

• ERI Foundation Directors and Senior Managers.
• ERI Operations team.
• NEOM U and Talent Academy teams.
• NEOM Sectors and Regions.
• NEOM Central Departments.
• Partner, collaborator, and other external agency staff involved in ERI Foundation programs, projects, initiatives, and other activities.
  
  

VERSION TRACKING

Version

1.3

Prepared by

Jennifer Watkins; Donal Bradley; Martin Kirk

Date: 06/03/2024

First Review by

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Second Review by

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Evaluation

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Approved by

Name (Title)

Signature

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