Director of Strategic Partnerships - Saudi National Only

Uptime Institute Data Center Academy: KSA

The Uptime Institute Data Center Academy: KSA, provides industry leading training and development opportunities, linked to employment for Saudi Nationals within the rapidly growing Data Center sector. The academy works with leading universities and colleges to connect candidates with employers to provide a combination of industry leading education, assessment and on the job training, providing a pipeline of new talent to help fuel the growth of the sector within the Kingdom.

This role reports directly to the VP of Education Program Management and works in close partnership with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations. Together, these roles provide integrated leadership across the Academy, balancing commercial sustainability with academic excellence.

Role Summary

We are seeking a relationship-driven and strategically minded leader to serve as Director of Strategic Partnerships. This role is responsible for building and managing the employer, institutional, and government relationships that enable the Academy to thrive. The Director will oversee the commercial, government, and external-facing aspects of the Academy, including employer partnerships, institutional collaboration, and funding compliance, while working closely with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations to ensure programs are academically sound, commercially sustainable, and aligned with partner needs and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Employer & Institutional Partnerships

• Lead the development of employer partnerships to secure hiring opportunities for graduates.
• Manage relationships with universities, colleges, and feeder institutions, in collaboration with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations, to ensure candidate quality and program fit.
• Oversee the commercial terms and onboarding of new employer partners, while the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations ensures academic alignment.
• Jointly represent the Academy with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations at stakeholder meetings, forums, and industry events.
• Take responsibility for employer and partner satisfaction, ensuring issues are addressed promptly and expectations are met.
• Ensure all graduates receive a timely job offer for HRDF funding requirements
• Monitor and track revenue against targets

Government Relations & Compliance

• Serve as the primary liaison with the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), responsible for funding compliance and reporting.
• Lead the commercial aspects of licensing and registration with authorities, while the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations ensures academic compliance.
• Monitor changes in policy, regulation, and funding; collaborate with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations to align academic structures to national priorities.
• Work jointly with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations to ensure clarity of responsibilities for government engagement, with this role leading on commercial and funding compliance.

Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Report to leadership on commercial and partnership performance, coordinating with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations to integrate academic outcomes.
• Develop and maintain joint feedback mechanisms with employers, government, and academic partners to inform both commercial and academic improvements.
• Ensure high partner satisfaction by proactively managing expectations and resolving issues in coordination with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations.
• Collaborate with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations to align external partner feedback with learner outcomes, ensuring a single integrated system of reporting

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional relationship management and partnership-building skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation capability.
• Knowledge of Saudi workforce development funding, particularly HRDF.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills (Arabic & English).
• Ability to work in a joint-leadership model, ensuring alignment with the Director of Curriculum & Academic Operations on shared responsibilities.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Education Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in partnerships, workforce development, or government relations in KSA.
• Proven experience with employer engagement and HRDF compliance.