The Opportunity

New York University Abu Dhabi is seeking an accomplished commercial leader to drive the next phase of executive education growth for the Stern School of Business at NYU Abu Dhabi.

NYU is a leading global research university, with degree-granting campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. Stern at NYUAD brings the academic strength and global reach of NYU Stern to organisations and senior leaders across the UAE and wider region.

Based within NYU Abu Dhabi's Office of Executive and Professional Education (OEPE), the Assistant Director will be dedicated to Stern at NYUAD Executive Education, working closely with the Stern at NYUAD team through a dotted-line relationship. The role combines the institutional platform and resources of NYUAD with a clear commercial mandate: to build Stern's regional client base, develop strategic relationships and convert opportunities into sustainable partnerships.

The successful candidate will operate across Stern, NYUAD and NYU's global network, identifying where Stern's academic and research expertise can create distinctive value for regional organisations and leading opportunities from initial engagement through solution design, proposal, negotiation and partnership.

Key Responsibilities

1. Develop the market, identifying and converting strategic opportunities across government, corporate and institutional sectors.
2. Build senior relationships and secure high-value and multi-year partnerships.
3. Lead complex bids and proposals, including potentially multi-million-dollar opportunities.
4. Shape and author propositions, translating faculty expertise and research into differentiated commercial solutions.
5. Structure partnerships, including MSAs, MOUs, pricing and commercial terms, in partnership with Finance and Legal.
6. Mobilise the NYU network, drawing on expertise and programmes across New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai to strengthen the regional proposition.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a commercially credible business development leader with:

1. 7+ years' experience in business development, strategic partnerships, corporate relations or a comparable commercial environment.
2. A demonstrable record of originating and securing high-value B2B business, ideally with government entities or major corporations.
3. Experience personally architecting, writing and leading complex proposals and bids, including multi-million-dollar opportunities.
4. Strong commercial judgement across pricing, negotiation, contracting and partnership development.
5. The ability to translate complex academic, research or technical expertise into clear, differentiated client propositions.
6. Established credibility with senior government and corporate stakeholders, particularly UAE/GCC market experience.
7. Experience in executive education, higher education, professional services or another knowledge-intensive environment would be advantageous.
8. Arabic is highly desirable.

The Context

Based in Abu Dhabi, the role sits at the intersection of NYUAD's institutional platform, Stern's global academic proposition and the UAE's growing demand for leadership and organisational capability development.

The appointment will play an important role in determining how Stern Executive Education builds its regional market, develops strategic partnerships and translates its global academic proposition into commercial impact.

NYU Abu Dhabi is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community and welcomes applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

Applications

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

Closing date: 18 September 2026 at 09:00 GST.

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