RDI program Consulting

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the activation of a national Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) program in Saudi Arabia. This is a high-visibility, strategic engagement that translates a national RDI strategy into an operational, funded, and governed program — covering program design, stakeholder mobilization, governance setup, funding mechanisms, and execution tracking.

The successful candidate will act as the primary day-to-day driver of the engagement, coordinating between the Client, consulting team leads, subject-matter experts, and external stakeholders (industry players, academia, research institutions, and funding bodies) to ensure the program launches successfully and meets its milestones.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project management of the RDI program activation, including scoping, planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, resource allocations, and risk/issue logs across all workstreams
• Serve as the primary liaison with Client stakeholders, ensuring alignment on objectives, priorities, and deliverables
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams spanning the RDI value chain — from research and technology development through to commercialization and scale-up
• Facilitate workshops, steering committee meetings, and governance forums with Client leadership and industry stakeholders
• Manage relationships with third parties, including research institutions, industrial players, mining companies, and potential funding partners
• Track program KPIs and ensure milestones tied to RDI activation (e.g., governance structure sign-off, funding vehicle launch, pilot project selection) are met on time
• Manage project budget, resourcing, and vendor/subcontractor coordination where applicable
• Identify risks and dependencies early, and drive mitigation actions with the engagement leadership
• Prepare high-quality status reports, steering committee materials, and executive presentations in both English and Arabic
• Ensure quality control and consistency of deliverables produced by subject-matter expert teams
• Support change management and communication efforts to drive adoption of the RDI program across the Client's departments and sector stakeholders
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related field
• Scientific/academic degree (e.g., in a STEM discipline) strongly preferred; Master's or PhD is a plus
• Innovation or RDI-related certifications (e.g., Innovation Management, RDI/R&D management, Design Thinking, Technology & Innovation Management) preferred
• PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification preferred
• 8–12+ years of experience in project/program management, ideally within consulting, government advisory, or large-scale transformation programs
• Demonstrated hands-on experience across the RDI value chain, with particular depth in the research and development (R&D) phases (e.g., research prioritization, technology development, TRL progression, IP management, tech transfer, or commercialization)
• Proven track record of having worked on innovation-focused projects/programs previously (national innovation programs, R&D funding schemes, innovation ecosystems, incubation/acceleration programs, or similar)
• Solid understanding of the Industry & Mining sector's strategic direction in Saudi Arabia (e.g., National Industrial Strategy, Vision 2030-aligned sector priorities); prior experience working within or advising the Industry and/or Mining sector is preferred
• Must currently be based in Saudi Arabia
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience engaging senior government officials and executives
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Arabic and English
• Proven ability to manage ambiguity, competing priorities, and fast-changing scopes typical of national program activations