Programs Manager, Capability Building & Business Programs

A Summary

MIZA is seeking a Program Manager, Capability Building & Business Programs to design and oversee a portfolio of initiatives that strengthen MIZA’s role as a leading innovation district. This role is focused on developing and deploying an innovative set of programs which drives MiZa to become a unique ecosystem in the UAE where businesses can grow, collaborate, and develop new IP of place, driving local success as well as the potential to scale and export.

The remit spans business creation, incubation, acceleration, residencies, medium sized business growth as well as supporting smaller businesses, business development, leadership development, and talent pipelines , ensuring that businesses at every stage can access the right support and networks to succeed. As MIZA’s business community grows, this role will be instrumental in fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual growth, helping businesses connect, share expertise, and innovate together.

Working closely with operational and technical teams, this role ensures programs are strategically designed, effectively delivered, and aligned with MIZA’s mission of driving cross-sector collaboration and future-focused industries.

In This Role You Will

• Lead the creation of a capability building frameworks that support early-stage, growing, and mature businesses in the MIZA neighborhood.
• Design and manage programs that develop the skills, networks, and market readiness of MIZA tenants – adapting across various vertical sectors to fit MiZa’s varied economies.
• Build partnerships with business networks, government and non-government customers, industry bodies, funders and investors, accelerators, and academic institutions to expand opportunities for tenants.
• Foster collaboration between businesses, encouraging knowledge exchange and joint innovation projects.
• Oversee program execution to ensure quality, impact, and alignment with strategic goals.

Scope of Responsibilities

• Program Strategy: Develop a suite of business support programs including incubators, accelerators, residencies, funding, established business growth, and leadership/talent development.
• Ecosystem Building: Create opportunities for tenants to work together, share expertise, and develop exportable products and services.
• Market Readiness: Support businesses in preparing for expansion into new markets and securing investment or partnerships.
• Partnership Development: Establish collaborations with local and international organisations to enhance the reach and value of MIZA’s business programs, as well as secure funding where appropriate.
• Talent & Leadership Development: Introduce initiatives that strengthen skills, leadership capacity, and career pathways.
• Execution: Be a hands-on leader in terms of execution of programming, working with teams across the business to ensure programs meet objectives and deliver measurable impact.

You Would Be Perfect for This Role If

• You are a strategic thinker with extensive experience in business growth, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and business capability building.
• You have designed and delivered programs that have produced tangible outcomes and successes for businesses, from local growth and longevity, to market expansion and securing external investment.
• You can bridge the gap between strategy and delivery, ensuring programs are both ambitious and feasible, and always executed on time and on budget.
• You thrive in partnership-driven environments and have the existing relationships in the UAE (and possibly beyond) to connect businesses to the networks, tools, and resources they need to scale.
• You are committed to building a collaborative, future-forward community of businesses.
• You are a proven innovator with a track record in designing programs which have a higher impact, are not the standard template, and have in turn delivered improved levels of outcomes