Director (Business Development), Dubai, UAE

Director (Business Development), Dubai, UAE

Silicon Foundry, a Kearney company, is an innovation advisory firm that catalyzes opportunities and accelerates change to push the frontier of what's possible.

We help our Members navigate new technologies and market shifts, discover and engage with key emerging leaders, and unlock high impact customer, partnership, investment, co creation, and acquisition opportunities. Our Members represent a diverse spectrum of corporations from across the globe, such as BP Innovation, NatWest, UPS, SK Innovation, Honda Innovations, the State of Michigan, and Southwest Airlines, and many more. Learn more at .

About The Role

The Director is a senior leadership role responsible for driving business development, owning client relationships, and ensuring the successful delivery of high impact venture and innovation projects across the MEA region. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives, shaping strategies and translating them into execution. The role requires a blend of commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and hands on leadership, with direct accountability for revenue growth, client satisfaction, and project outcomes.

Who You Are

• A proven business builder with a strong track record of winning and delivering client engagements.
• Equally comfortable in front of clients, in the boardroom, and with startups and innovators.
• A strategic thinker with commercial acumen, able to identify opportunities and convert them into mandates.
• A collaborative leader who can motivate teams, manage complexity, and deliver excellence under pressure.
• A thought leader passionate about shaping the future of ventures, startups, and innovation in MEA.
• An active participant in the MEA innovation ecosystem, with a strong network to draw upon for sourcing opportunities, partnerships, and market insights.

What You'll Do Business Development & Client Acquisition

• Lead business development efforts to generate new clients and Members across the MEA region.
• Independently source and originate new opportunities, leveraging personal networks and market insights, while also nurturing relationships with Kearney Partners and stakeholders to surface and pursue potential prospects.
• Build trusted relationships with senior executives, understanding their innovation and growth priorities.
• Develop tailored proposals, pitches, and solutions that address Members and client needs and secure new mandates.

Client Project Leadership & Delivery

• Oversee the design and execution of client engagements, ensuring delivery of strategic, high quality outputs.
• Serve as the senior point of contact for clients, managing relationships at C suite and executive levels.
• Lead multi disciplinary project teams ensuring alignment, productivity, and excellence in delivery.
• Balance strategic oversight with a hands on approach, stepping in directly where needed to drive outcomes and model excellence.
• Ensure projects deliver measurable impact aligned to client objectives.

Thought Leadership & Market Positioning

• Develop and publish thought leadership on venture trends, emerging technologies, and corporate innovation.
• Represent the firm at key industry events, panels, and conferences to raise visibility and credibility.
• Position the firm as a go to partner for corporates, startups, and investors in the MEA innovation ecosystem.

Ecosystem Development & Strategic Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with VCs, startups, corporates, accelerators, and ecosystem enablers.
• Curate and activate partnerships that strengthen the firm's pipeline and client offering.
• Leverage networks to source high quality startups and innovation opportunities relevant to client projects.

Internal Leadership & Development

• Contribute to shaping the firm's MEA growth strategy, service offerings, and go to market approach.
• Mentor and coach junior team members, driving professional growth and knowledge sharing.
• Enhance delivery methodologies, tools, and frameworks to increase efficiency and impact.

Desired Skills & Experience

• 8-10 years of experience in consulting, venture capital, corporate innovation, or related fields.
• Demonstrated track record in business development, with proven ability to originate and close significant client engagements.
• Experience leading complex, multi stakeholder client projects with measurable impact.
• Strong network across corporates, startups, investors, and ecosystem players in the MEA region.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with presence and credibility at senior levels.
• Proven leadership ability in managing teams, mentoring talent, and driving organizational growth.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ability to navigate ambiguity and build new opportunities.

Requirements

• Role is for applicants currently in or willing to relocate to an office in the GCC region (e.g. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait).

Compensation And Benefits

• Competitive compensation package.
• Housing Allowance - cash based allowance to support housing and part of total fixed salary, paid monthly with Base Salary.
• Discretionary annual Bonus.
• Participation in company commission program.
• Annual Leave Ticket - economy class return ticket for employee & dependents to home country, once every year.
• Health Insurance - for employee & dependents (spouse & children).
• 25 days PTO.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Silicon Foundry, LLC, is an Equal Opportunity Employer By Choice. We believe we are best equipped to help our Members, partners, and colleagues to grow and navigate what's next. We understand, respect, and value diversity - unique styles, experiences, identities, abilities, ideas and opinions - while being inclusive of all people.