Special Projects Lead (12-Month Contract)

We are currently looking for a Special Projects Lead to support a key initiative within the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) on a 12-month freelance contract. DCT Abu Dhabi is the government entity responsible for driving the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, playing a central role in positioning the emirate as a global hub for culture, creativity, and tourism. This role sits within a high-impact program focused on delivering transformative, high-impact initiatives leveraging AI, emerging technologies, and innovative business models to accelerate sector growth and unlock new opportunities. Key Responsibilities Ideation & Opportunity Development - Identify, evaluate, and shape high-impact, innovative initiatives across priority sectors - Scan global markets for disruptive trends, emerging technologies, and whitespace opportunities - Develop business cases and investment theses for new initiatives - Present concepts to senior leadership for prioritization Project Design & Structuring - Translate approved ideas into structured, executable project plans - Define scope, success metrics, governance frameworks, and risk mitigation strategies - Identify and engage partners, vendors, and potential co-investors - Establish reporting cadences and governance models Launch & Execution Oversight - Drive execution of special projects from concept through launch phase - Coordinate cross-functional teams and manage interdependencies - Track progress, resolve blockers, and escalate risks where required - Transition projects to permanent teams once stabilized Strategic Advisory - Act as a thought partner to leadership on high-priority strategic topics - Provide ad hoc analysis and contribute to long-term strategic roadmap Function Setup & Incubation - Support the setup of a Special Projects function, including structure and processes - Build and scale teams for each initiative (define skillsets, hiring needs, operating models) Requirements - 7–10 years of experience in top-tier management consulting (MBB or strong Tier 2 firms such as Strategy&, Kearney, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, ADL) - Demonstrated career progression (minimum 1–2 promotions) within the same firm - Proven track record delivering high-impact strategic or transformation projects Core Capabilities - Exceptional structured thinking and problem-solving - Ability to operate in ambiguous, zero-to-one environments - Strong executive presence and stakeholder management at senior levels - Experience in business case development and financial modelling - Entrepreneurial mindset with comfort around innovation and risk Experience & Exposure - Strong exposure to emerging technologies (AI, digital platforms, metaverse, blockchain, etc.) with practical understanding - Engineering or technical background is a plus - Minimum 2+ years of experience in the GCC (required) - Strong AI conceptual proficiency 📍 Location: Abu Dhabi 📅 Contract: 12 months If this sounds relevant to your background, please apply and submit your updated CV.

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