Requirements
Requires a postgraduate qualification in management, engineering, science, business, or a related discipline. Must have significant senior leadership experience in a university, research institute, innovation organization, or comparable complex environment, with experience leading multidisciplinary operational teams. Essential experience includes strategic planning, organizational development, research administration, grant management, developing governance frameworks, operational policies, risk management, regulatory compliance, program management, financial management, and commercial acumen. Experience supporting AI, robotics, engineering, or physical sciences research, and with commercialization, innovation ecosystems, or technology transfer is preferred.
Description
Job description / Role
Job Type
Full Time
Job Location
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Nationality
Any Nationality
Salary
Not Specified
Gender
Not Specified
Arabic Fluency
Not Specified
Job Function
General Management
Company Industry
Education & Training
Application open:
Full-time
The associate director reports to the director of the university’s physical AI systems laboratory, serves as a trusted advisor to the director and is a key member of the laboratory’s executive leadership team.
As the senior operational leader of the physical AI systems laboratory, the associate director is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day management of the laboratory’s operations. Working in close partnership with the director, the steering committee, and other senior faculty, the associate director ensures that the laboratory has the people, infrastructure, financial resources, governance, and partnerships required to deliver world-leading research, innovation, education, and industry engagement.
The associate director will be expected to demonstrate success through:
Delivery of the laboratory’s strategic objectives.
High operational efficiency and service quality.
Strong financial performance and sustainable growth.
Successful delivery of major research programs.
High staff engagement and retention.
Growth in strategic partnerships and external funding.
Effective governance, compliance, and risk management.
Development of world-class research infrastructure.
The associate director translates strategic priorities into operational plans, enabling faculty, students, engineers, researchers, and professional staff to work effectively within a safe, compliant, and collaborative environment. The role provides leadership in the physical AI laboratory and related areas across finance, human resources, facilities, laboratory operations, research administration, commercial partnerships, and organisational development.
This role will enable research excellence rather than running a commercial enterprise, while still incorporating the executive leadership expected of a head of lab.
Key responsibilities
Strategic leadership
Partner with the director to develop and implement the laboratory’s strategic plan.
Translate strategic objectives into operational programmes and measurable outcomes.
Lead institutional planning, organisational development, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Monitor organisational performance and recommend improvements to maximise research impact and operational effectiveness.
Operational management
Provide overall leadership of the laboratory’s professional services and operational functions.
Develop operational policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
Ensure efficient delivery of laboratory services, facilities, technical support, and administrative operations.
Oversee laboratory infrastructure, equipment lifecycle management, and operational planning.
Financial management
Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation.
Ensure responsible stewardship of research funding, philanthropic income, commercial revenue, and institutional investment.
Monitor financial performance and provide regular reports to the director.
Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and sustainable growth.
Research operations
Oversee research administration and project management across the laboratory’s portfolio.
Support successful delivery of large interdisciplinary research programmes.
Ensure compliance with funding agency requirements and university policies.
Coordinate operational support for major research proposals and collaborative initiatives.
People leadership
Lead and develop professional services, technical, and operational staff.
Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performance organisational culture.
Support workforce planning, recruitment, professional development, and succession planning.
Partnerships and external engagement
Develop and manage strategic relationships with industry, government, research organisations, and philanthropic partners.
Support development of collaborative research programmes and commercial partnerships.
Represent the laboratory in operational discussions with internal and external stakeholders.
Assist the director in developing long-term strategic alliances.
Governance, risk and compliance
Ensure compliance with university policies and relevant regulatory requirements.
Lead risk management, health and safety, laboratory governance, and business continuity planning.
Establish effective reporting and performance monitoring systems.
Support governance committees and advisory boards.
Infrastructure and facilities
Oversee laboratory operations including robotics facilities, computing infrastructure, technical workshops, and experimental environments.
Coordinate infrastructure planning and future capital investment.
Ensure effective utilisation of shared research facilities.
Academic qualifications required
Postgraduate qualification in management, engineering, science, business, or a related discipline.
Professional experience required
Essential:
Significant senior leadership experience within a university, research institute, innovation organisation, or comparable complex environment.
Experience leading multidisciplinary operational teams.
Strategic planning and organisational development experience.
Research administration and grant management.
Ability to influence across complex organisations, building partnerships across academia, industry, and government.
Experience developing governance frameworks and operational policies whilst also managing risk and regulatory compliance.
Excellent organisational and programme management skills.
Strong financial and commercial acumen.
Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills.
Experience leading through ambiguity and organisational growth.
Preferred:
Experience supporting AI, robotics, engineering, or physical sciences research.
Experience with commercialisation, innovation ecosystems, or technology transfer.
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