Director, Future Clusters

Role Overview

We are looking for a forward-thinking and commercially astute Director of Future Clusters who will spearhead the identification, cultivation, and acceleration of promising economic sectors vital to long-term economic diversification, attracting investment, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainable growth. This position involves leading the evolution of forward-looking industry clusters by analyzing global market movements, evaluating up-and-coming industries, engaging with investors and strategic partners, and driving initiatives to establish the organization as a premier investment and innovation hub.

Core Responsibilities

• Steer the identification, evaluation, and advancement of future industry clusters aligned with economic diversification goals.
• Develop and implement strategic cluster growth roadmaps and initiatives.
• Perform in-depth market intelligence and sector analyses to uncover emerging opportunities and worldwide trends.
• Assess new industrial sectors, innovative technologies, and business models with growth potential.
• Create compelling investment proposals targeting emerging sectors.
• Engage actively with investors, developers, multinational corporations, startups, research entities, and strategic collaborators.
• Facilitate the attraction of anchor tenants and pivotal industry participants to fortify cluster ecosystems.
• Forge strategic partnerships that drive sectoral expansion and innovation.
• Continuously monitor economic, technological, and industry shifts worldwide.
• Execute sector competitiveness evaluations and benchmarking research.
• Identify needs related to regulations, infrastructure, talent, and ecosystem support essential for cluster success.
• Draft business cases and strategic recommendations supporting new cluster initiatives.
• Liaise with government bodies, regulators, industry groups, investors, academic institutions, and ecosystem stakeholders.
• Represent the organization at conferences, forums, and industry gatherings.
• Promote collaboration between public and private sector actors.
• Oversee cross-functional programs advancing cluster development and sector activation.
• Set key performance indicators and other metrics to measure cluster progress and economic benefits.
• Drive the timely and budget-compliant delivery of strategic projects and initiatives.
• Identify and evaluate innovation opportunities in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Technology, Digital Economy, Logistics & Supply Chain Innovation, Smart Mobility, Biotechnology & Life Sciences, and Future Energy Solutions.
• Champion innovation-led economic growth initiatives.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Business Administration, Engineering, Public Policy, Finance, International Business, or similar disciplines.
• Preferably a Master's degree such as MBA, Economics, Public Policy, Strategy, or related fields.
• At least 12 years of experience in strategy development, investment promotion, economic development, consulting, or industry advancement roles.
• Proven track record in crafting sector strategies, building industry ecosystems, or spearheading economic initiatives.
• Strong familiarity with emerging industries, innovation ecosystems, and global investment patterns.
• Extensive experience managing high-level relationships with both public and private sector stakeholders.

Preferred Background

• Experience working within economic zones, free zones, investment promotion agencies, sovereign wealth funds, or economic development organizations.
• Background in management consulting, strategy consulting, or corporate strategy functions.
• Proven expertise in investment attraction and sectoral development initiatives.
• Experience facilitating public-private partnerships and ecosystem collaborations.
• Familiarity with emerging technology sectors and innovation-driven industries.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and planning
• Economic development knowledge
• Expertise in sector and cluster development
• Investment promotion acumen
• Market research and intelligence skills
• Stakeholder engagement and management
• Commercial insight
• Understanding of innovation and emerging technologies
• Program and project management
• Effective executive communication
• Partnership building and development
• Leadership and team management skills