The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is seeking a Program Activation Lead (Contract) to support the execution of Dubai SME’s strategic mandates. This hybrid role focuses on designing and implementing impactful, founder-facing programs, accelerators, and platforms that empower Emirati entrepreneurs across key sectors including technology, F&B, creative industries, and home-based businesses. The selected candidate will ensure each initiative is scalable, localized, and aligned with national priorities like D33.

Key Responsibilities:

Program Design & Localization

• Develop and tailor founder-centric programs to meet the needs of Emirati entrepreneurs

• Align initiatives with D33 priorities and sector-specific opportunities

• Create operational toolkits, SOPs, frameworks, and playbooks to support smooth implementation

Accelerator & Venture Builder Enablement

• Activate partnerships with DFHQ, accelerators, and venture studios

• Define eligibility, onboarding, graduation, and support criteria for participating founders

• Integrate coaching, mentorship, and skill-building into program structures

Pilot Testing & Iteration

• Lead pilot launches and trial runs of new programs

• Monitor performance metrics and iterate based on real-time feedback

• Adapt global best practices for localized SME ecosystem development

Internal Coordination & Handover

• Coordinate with internal teams for seamless transition from design to execution

• Train staff, document activation protocols, and support scalable program delivery

• Ensure all programs are structured for long-term sustainability

Requirements:

• 6–10 years of experience in program development, incubators, accelerators, or startup ecosystems

• Proven success launching founder-facing programs such as accelerators or venture studios

• Experience with government economic/entrepreneurship initiatives is a strong advantage

• Familiarity with SME landscapes in the GCC or other emerging markets