Job Description: Global Program Manager & Strategy Consultant – Data & AI
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Salary: AED 35,000–40,000 per month
Notice Period: 30 days preferred
Role OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Global Program Manager & Strategy Consultant – Data & AI to lead and drive the execution of strategic data, analytics, and artificial intelligence initiatives across the organization.
The role will act as a bridge between business leadership, technical teams, and external partners, translating strategic objectives into actionable program roadmaps and measurable business outcomes. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in program management, strategy consulting, data and AI transformation, and large-scale enterprise delivery.
Experience working with government entities, public sector organizations, or large consulting environments in the UAE/GCC region will be highly advantageous.
Key Responsibilities1. Program Strategy & Delivery
- Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of complex Data & AI programs, from strategy development and planning through execution and delivery.
- Develop program roadmaps, milestones, budgets, resource plans, and delivery strategies.
- Oversee initiatives involving data platforms, data lakes, business intelligence, advanced analytics, predictive modelling, and Generative AI.
- Monitor program performance against KPIs, SLAs, timelines, budgets, and expected ROI.
- Manage multiple projects and vendors, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and strategic objectives.
2. Strategy Consulting & Business Alignment
- Translate business priorities into data-driven strategies and actionable transformation initiatives.
- Advise senior stakeholders on Data & AI opportunities, program priorities, and implementation approaches.
- Develop business cases, value propositions, and benefits-realization frameworks for strategic initiatives.
- Communicate complex technical concepts and AI capabilities in clear business terms to executive leadership.
- Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, decision-making, and business performance through data and AI.
3. Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Management
- Collaborate with executive leadership, business teams, data engineers, architects, analytics specialists, and AI teams.
- Drive alignment across business and technical stakeholders to ensure successful program execution.
- Manage expectations, resolve escalations, and facilitate timely decision-making.
- Coordinate with multiple vendors, consultants, and implementation partners in a complex delivery environment.
4. Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Establish program governance frameworks, reporting structures, and delivery standards.
- Identify and mitigate program risks, dependencies, issues, and resource constraints.
- Ensure adherence to data governance, quality, security, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Track benefits realization, delivery outcomes, and continuous improvement opportunities.
- Provide regular progress updates, executive dashboards, and strategic recommendations to leadership.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- * Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
- Significant experience in program management, strategy consulting, or enterprise transformation, preferably involving Data & AI initiatives.
- Proven track record of managing large-scale, complex, multi-workstream programs from strategy through execution.
- Strong understanding of data platforms, data lakes, business intelligence, advanced analytics, AI/ML, and Generative AI use cases.
- Experience in strategic planning, business case development, benefits realization, and executive-level reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to manage senior stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and multi-vendor delivery environments.
- Strong expertise in program governance, risk management, budgeting, resource planning, and performance measurement.
- Excellent communication, leadership, problem-solving, and stakeholder-management skills.
Certifications
- * PMP, PgMP, or PRINCE2 certification is required.
- Agile/Scrum certifications such as CSM or PMI-ACP are an advantage.
Preferred Experience
- * Experience working with UAE/GCC government entities, public sector organizations, or large-scale consulting firms.
- Exposure to enterprise-wide digital transformation, data modernization, and AI adoption programs.
- Experience managing strategic initiatives involving multiple business units, technology teams, and external partners.
- Familiarity with data governance frameworks, responsible AI principles, and enterprise data management practices.
Ideal Candidate ProfileThe ideal candidate combines strategic consulting expertise with strong program execution capabilities. They should be comfortable engaging with C-level stakeholders, shaping Data & AI transformation roadmaps, and ensuring complex initiatives deliver measurable business value.
- Candidates with experience in government transformation, management consulting, and enterprise-scale Data & AI programs in the UAE/GCC are particularly encouraged to apply.
