RDI Program Consulting Manager📣 Job Ad

About the RDI Program Consulting Manager Role

eSense is seeking an experienced RDI Program Consulting Manager to lead the activation of a national Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) program in Saudi Arabia. This full-time role is based in Riyadh and involves a high-visibility, strategic engagement focused on translating a national RDI strategy into an operational, funded, and governed program.

Program Overview and Strategic Impact

The successful candidate will serve as the primary day-to-day driver of this engagement, coordinating between the Client, consulting team leads, subject-matter experts, and external stakeholders. The program encompasses design, stakeholder mobilization, governance setup, funding mechanisms, and execution tracking, aiming to ensure successful launch and milestone achievement. External stakeholders include industry players, academia, research institutions, and funding bodies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project management for the RDI program activation, covering scoping, planning, execution, monitoring, and reporting.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, timelines, resource allocations, and risk/issue logs across all workstreams.
• Act as the primary liaison with Client stakeholders to ensure alignment on objectives, priorities, and deliverables.
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams spanning the RDI value chain, from research and technology development through to commercialization and scale-up.
• Facilitate workshops, steering committee meetings, and governance forums with Client leadership and industry stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with third parties, including research institutions, industrial players, mining companies, and potential funding partners.
• Track program KPIs and ensure RDI activation milestones (*, governance structure sign-off, funding vehicle launch, pilot project selection) are met on time.
• Manage project budget, resourcing, and vendor/subcontractor coordination as applicable.
• Identify risks and dependencies early, driving mitigation actions with engagement leadership.
• Prepare high-quality status reports, steering committee materials, and executive presentations in both English and Arabic.
• Ensure quality control and consistency of deliverables produced by subject-matter expert teams.
• Support change management and communication efforts to drive adoption of the RDI program across the Client's departments and sector stakeholders.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• 8–12+ years of experience in project or program management, preferably within consulting, government advisory, or large-scale transformation programs.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience across the RDI value chain, with particular depth in the research and development (R&D) phases (*, research prioritization, technology development, TRL progression, IP management, tech transfer, or commercialization).
• Proven track record of working on innovation-focused projects or programs, such as national innovation programs, R&D funding schemes, innovation ecosystems, or incubation/acceleration programs.

Sector Knowledge and Location Requirements

• Solid understanding of the Industry & Mining sector's strategic direction in Saudi Arabia, including the National Industrial Strategy and Vision 2030-aligned sector priorities.
• Prior experience working within or advising the Industry and/or Mining sector is preferred.
• Candidates must currently be based in Saudi Arabia.

Application Process

We invite qualified candidates to submit their applications for this role.