National University of Dubai (NUD) is seeking an exceptional founding Director to establish and lead its Future Industries & Engineering Institute, one of four pioneering institutes at the heart of a new, globally connected research university.

Born in Dubai and global by design, NUD is being built to bring together academic excellence, research, technology and industry to

address the defining challenges of our time.

Overview

The Future Industries & Engineering Institute will focus on the future of industry and engineering, advancing intelligent robotics, digital manufacturing, sustainable materials, product design, and resilient supply chains. It will combine fundamental, applied, and translational research with academic programmes, government and industry partnerships, innovation, executive education, societal impact and venture creation.

NUD is seeking an exceptional visionary, hands-on industry, academic and/or research leader to establish and lead the Future Industries & Engineering Institute and its activities. An institution builder, connector and innovator who brings entrepreneurial energy, technological curiosity, strong industry engagement and/or research ambition and academic credibility. Dubai itself will provide a rich context of contemporary practice and future ambition that will empower the Future Industries & Engineering Institute.

This is a founding role, not a conventional department head position. The Director will be responsible for turning an ambitious vision into an operating institute, building its academic identity, research agenda, programme portfolio, industry ecosystem and innovation capabilities. Alongside building the Future Industries & Engineering Institute, the Director will work across NUD to connect with AI, computing, finance, product and service technology innovation, applied research, entrepreneurship, etc., and create opportunities for transdisciplinary scholarship, innovation, deployment and venture creation.

The successful candidate will be an industry or academic leader, institution builder and innovation catalyst with the ambition to create something globally distinctive grounded in Dubai.

The Role

This founding leadership appointment offers the opportunity to build an institute from the ground up. Reporting to the Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Director will shape its academic identity, research agenda, programmes and partnerships, establishing a globally distinctive centre for education, research and innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

Institute Building & Leadership

1. Define and establish the Institute’s identity, strategy, operating model and phased development roadmap, translating priorities into tangible outcomes.
2. Recruit, lead and develop an internationally competitive faculty community across intelligent robotics, digital manufacturing and re-manufacturing, manufacturing technology systems and factories, product design, and resilient and adaptive supply chains.
3. Develop a strong culture based on scholarly excellence, collaboration, intellectual ambition and real-world impact, with a bias for execution.
4. Build the Institute’s governance, quality assurance and collaborative research culture, bringing together academics, visiting faculty, professors of practice, investors, entrepreneurs and technology leaders.

Research, Technology & Innovation

1. Establish an internationally relevant research agenda spanning intelligent robotics, digital manufacturing and re-manufacturing, manufacturing technology systems and factories, product design, and resilient and adaptive supply chains.
2. Attract outstanding researchers, secure competitive and sponsored funding, and enable fundamental, applied and translational research with rigorous academic standards.
3. Create practical pathways for promising research to be tested, deployed and, where appropriate, commercialized through products, services, intellectual property and ventures.

Industry, Government & Global Partnerships

1. Develop strategic relationships with industrial partners, engineering professional bodies, manufacturers, engineers, government entities, logistics operators and technical entities.
2. Build international collaborations and generate opportunities for sponsored research, real-world projects, talent development and executive learning.

Academic Programmes

1. Lead the end-to-end design, development and launch of a distinctive portfolio of degree programmes, integrating academic rigour, market relevance, interdisciplinary learning and industry engagement.
2. Provide leadership for the first programmes, including curriculum, faculty, quality and launch.
3. Develop strong disciplinary foundations and connections across intelligent robotics, digital manufacturing and re-manufacturing, manufacturing technology systems and factories, product design, and resilient and adaptive supply chains.
4. Embed experiential learning through live challenges, industry projects, venture creation and the integrated capstone. Develop complementary executive education and micro-credential opportunities.

Collaborations & Venture Creation

1. Work across NUD’s AI, computing, finance, product and service technology innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership capabilities to build shared programmes, research and innovation initiatives.
2. Connect research, technology, product development, business models, capital and commercialization to accelerate solutions and venture creation.

The Candidate

We welcome distinguished academic, research and industry leaders who combine intellectual ambition, entrepreneurial drive and the ability to build and deliver.

The successful candidate should combine high agency, technological curiosity, entrepreneurial thinking with research ambition and excellence. Meaningful, hands-on industry experience in engineering or manufacturing is highly valued.

Candidates must demonstrate:

1. Leadership and personal professional credibility and the ability to build new teams, launch high-quality programmes, develop talent and deliver outcomes in an entrepreneurial environment.
2. Distinguished standing in intelligent robotics, digital manufacturing and re-manufacturing, manufacturing technology systems and factories, product design, and resilient and adaptive supply chains or a related field, with a record of leading internationally recognized/impactful research and strong experience in post-graduate teaching, supervising or mentoring.
3. Candidates from an academic background should have a sustained track record in research through significant competitive grants success, authoritative publications, and impactful policies.
4. A strong national and international reputation as evidenced by their advisory to government and external stakeholders, plenary talks at conferences, and fellowships of professional bodies and national academies.
5. Strong commercial acumen, established industry networks and the ability to translate practical experience into innovative academic programmes, applied research, strategic partnerships and real-world impact.
6. Evidence of creating research collaborations, securing external funding and meaningful engagement with industry, investors, entrepreneurs and/or government.
7. International networks, excellent communication and stakeholder leadership, interdisciplinary curiosity and a commitment to Dubai as a global innovation platform.

The Opportunity

This is not a conventional academic leadership appointment. It offers the opportunity to shape a new institute from its inception, build its founding team, and establish a distinctive international presence in engineering research, advanced manufacturing, and industrial innovation.

Applications

To express your interest or discuss the opportunity confidentially, please contact Daniel Munks at Daniel.Munks@perrettlaver.com, Ellie Beveridge at Ellie.Beveridge@perrettlaver.com or Emma Stone at Emma.Stone@perrettlaver.com quoting reference number 8749.

Applications should consist of a covering letter, full CV detailing academic and professional qualifications, employment history, and relevant achievements. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

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