Programs Developer

Overview

We are seeking a Creative Program developer to join the Programs Division of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture Department.
The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is an iconic landmark building, a beacon for knowledge to illuminate, inspire, and catalyze the potential of the Kingdom’s vast talent pool. Ithra is an all-purpose culture destination, and an environment for transformative experiences to unlock the power of potential through mastery in arts, science, literature and innovation. Facilities include an idea lab, library, theater, museum, energy exhibit, art gallery, children’s museum, and a knowledge tower housed under one roof to provide visitors with an immersive and transformative experience.

The Programs Division is responsible for planning and executing all of the King Abdulaziz Center‘s programs, including, but not limited to, the Museum programs, Theater and Performing Arts programs, as well as Idea Lab and the Outreach programs. In addition, it is responsible for the Library and other educational, scientific, and technological programs.The Creativity & Innovation unit is the Center’s creative component; it uses a project-based approach to engage its participants, stimulate creativity, foster innovation, and develop participants’ skills in creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and entrepreneurship through mentorship and facilitation services that support them through the idea and concept development phases.

The Program Developer will manage the day to day activities and strategic direction of the innovation programs under Creativity & Innovation function. The role holder will be responsible for maintaining and managing portfolio of innovation development projects, as well as coordination and managing the work of internal staff in the unit, and external collaboration with partners, public audience and other team members in departments. The role holder will be key in designing and delivering programs with the objectives of enriching creative content, supporting professional skills development, building an immersive tech ecosystem of innovators that support the growth of the creative economy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Excellence in Innovation
•    Passionately acting as an advocate for innovation, challenging traditional thinking, leading learning opportunities to promote innovative solutions
•    Acting as the primary coordinator for innovation programs efforts between internal teams, partners, and external consultants to ensure program goals are executed efficiently and effectively.
•    Building, developing and maintaining a high-quality fellowship program (identify and recruit best-in-class coaches, design and implement curriculum, manage relationships, etc.)
•    Executing and overseeing the daily, weekly, and long-term objectives and goals of the innovation programs.
•    Creating a leading center of innovation and immersive content creation in the region to develop and cultivate internal and external innovation ecosystems
•    Raising the profile of the unit both nationally and within the institution and manage the existing innovation networks
•    Seeking opportunities to supplement the function’s expertise through partnerships and collaborations 
•    Designing and organizing programs and events to achieve the delivery of new innovative projects
•    Leading agile and adaptive project and development techniques to ensure maximum throughput of projects
Strategy and Policy
•    Developing strategies for programs that deliver on desired social impacts.
•    Providing input to the Creativity & Innovation unit’s strategic plan in the areas of innovation and agile development.
•    Providing management information on the nature, scope and status of innovation landscape, programs/projects, and the social impact gained by the realization of these projects.
•    Create scopes of work, contracts, and agreements to deliver these projects.
•    Communicating and monitoring the success of the innovation programs.
•    Undertaking regular reviews of the unit’s success and adapting plans as appropriate.

Resources Management
•    Managing internal and external human resources and assigning them tasks and priorities to deliver on the mandates required.
•    Managing the training and technical development of the team.
•    Managing budgets allocated to the innovation programs.
•    Contributing to the financial planning and risk management process by producing business cases and financial models to support new requirements for innovation development.

Minimum Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in innovation management, project management, design management, education or equivalent fields.
• A master’s degree is desirable.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of experience in the design and creative industries, creative arts, academic learning, and teaching or more broadly, project managing large projects with diverse communities and/or working with multidisciplinary industries.
• Knowledge in financial management and budget review
• Strong knowledge of developing and design educational programs focused on innovation and incubation of ideas
• Exceptional project manager skills with previous experience managing the operational, technical, and relational aspects of projects and programs
• Experience leading grant and/or investment competitions and fellowship programs

Skills and Attributes:

• Excellent oral and written communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Able to work in formal partnerships and informal collaborations
• Demonstrates gravitas and credibility in order to represent the organization and build confidence internally and externally.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage a complex workload
• Able to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends