About the Job:
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The company is a technology holding group and a global leader in creating visionary artificial intelligence for a better tomorrow. Born in Abu Dhabi and operating worldwide across industries, the company is on a mission to build the Intelligence Grid for the AI-native societies of today and tomorrow.
The company AI Function sits at the center of the group’s AI agenda, shaping enterprise-wide AI strategy, priority use cases, partnerships, and investments. It plays a key role in defining where and how the company builds, partners, or acquires AI capabilities, while ensuring alignment with national priorities, responsible AI principles, and global best practices.
Within this function, the AI Strategy & Partnerships team works closely with senior leadership, operating companies, and external partners to design and execute the company’s AI growth strategy, structure strategic partnerships, support ecosystem development, and drive cross-group initiatives that scale AI impact across the organization.
Responsibilities:
- Execute and manage the company’s academic research partnership model.
- Support establishment and operation of partnerships with selected universities and research institutions.
- Maintain a clear view of active academic partnerships and research engagements.
- Lead day-to-day execution of joint research programs and fellowships, coordinating research scopes, timelines, deliverables, and reporting.
- Coordinate evaluation of external research proposals and ideas, and prepare structured summaries for internal review.
- Ensure external research activities map to agreed company research priorities, supporting adjustments to research scope as needed.
- Track outputs from external research engagements, including publications, models, code, datasets, and benchmarks.
- Facilitate the transfer of research findings into internal AI R&D teams, coordinating technical briefings and knowledge-sharing sessions.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in AI, Machine Learning, Computer Science, or a related field (PhD is a plus, but not required).
- 8+ years of experience in AI research or research partnership environments.
- Strong understanding of academic research processes and incentives.
- Experience working with leading universities or research institutions.
Expected Profile:
- Technically credible in AI research discussions.
- Strong execution and coordination skills.
- Comfortable operating across academic and industry environments.
- Structured, detail-oriented, and reliable.
- Focused on outcomes and knowledge transfer.
Work Conditions:
- Full-time, Hybrid work flexibility.
Benefits:
- A forward-looking, inclusive workplace built on innovation and collaboration.
- Meaningful growth through structured development and high-impact AI projects.
- Competitive compensation with performance incentives and comprehensive health coverage.
- Lifestyle perks designed for your life in the UAE including medical support, wellbeing initiatives, and access to exclusive partner discounts.
