Programs Manager - Scaling and New Market Entry

Who we Are

We are the largest Business Expansion Platform in the GCC / Saudi. We specialize in facilitating high-growth companies' entry into the Saudi and UAE markets. We offer comprehensive growth services including business setup, co-working spaces, and recruitment, alongside innovation programs developed with government and leading private sector partners to strengthen key regional sectors.

Who You Are

We're seeking a Program Manager to join our programs team to manage a program focused on enabling companies to scale to new markets. In this role you will be owning the end to end delivery of one of our programs along side the team. From day one, this person will have an immediate impact on our productivity by leading one of our key programs with our client, project management, and working closely with the program team leadership team. The ideal candidate will have proven success in professional services/consulting environment in a client facing role, with strong experience in stakeholder and client management. Additionally, we're prioritising candidates with strong networks in the Bahrani startup ecosystem and with first-hand experience/knowledge of expanding a company to new markets. 

The Opportunity

This is a unique opportunity for a make-it-happen doer looking to fast-track their personal growth in the entrepreneurial, tech and digital space. You will have the opportunity to shape the next wave of startups and high growth businesses through your guidance, support and challenge. You will also be regularly leading interactions with senior stakeholders in government and some of the largest local and international companies in the region.

This role is a great opportunity for an ex-founder <> ex-consultant mix that wants to find their next chapter after their startup journey or consulting journey, or a professional services team member with an entrepreneurial spirit, or a Project Manager who always wanted to be more hands on with innovation and program design.

The Role

AstroLabs runs high-impact, practical entrepreneurial programs throughout the MENA region. As the Program Manager you will act as single-point accountability for delivery of programs in execution. You will also be a growth partner for the companies in the program, actively supporting them in their scaling to new markets, uncovering opportunities for them and ensuring their success. 

With ambitious plans to scale KSA, UAE and regionally and with a varied program mix of face-to-face, online and blended delivery channels; you will provide key insights into the design of programs that have impact based on your experience of running them yourself. You will spot gaps and fill them, identify new value-adding activities in terms of content, networks and coaching that go above and beyond in delivering the best in entrepreneurial programs.

In this role, you will

• Manage client relationships - Single point of contact with senior management on customer side

• Manage end-to-end a unique business growth program, responsible for the success of participating companies as well as the client

• Complete ownership of program experience: Regularly analyzing program feedback to generate actionable insights to improve the program experience

• Act as an advisor and consultant to scaling companies, supporting them in their growth journeys and ensuring a first class experience for their executives and employees 

• Create high-grade program, market analysis and post-program reports, managing large date sets and producing high quality decks

• Collaborate with global and regional startup communities for sourcing startups for our accelerator and fast pilot programs

What’s in it for you

• Your role will directly impact the growth of startups in the region, you will play a pivotal role in helping them achieve milestones, meet their next investor or secure their next customer

• You will have full autonomy to implement your ideas (actually, that’s the main thing we will ask for)

• You will become part of a high-performance team focused on outcomes for our customers. No bureaucracy, no corporate politics

• You will get a serious opportunity to grow. We are growing at pace and want our team to grow with us. You will build your personal development plan and have full support in progressing in your career in this job and all the ones that follow!

Your Profile:

• You’re a Doer. You get stuff done and follow things through to completion, no matter what. You come with your own set of networks, contacts and opportunities to add value to the program and companies

• You’re also a Strategist. You get the full picture and you’re able to devise strategies and initiatives to reach the target outcomes

• You’re a structured, systems and process thinker able to design and implement systems and process the manage and measure work without compromising creativity and flexibility

• You’re an effective project manager with a proven track record of facilitating high performance collaboration in diverse situations

• You’re adaptable and flexible. You’re able to cope with the changing nature of the role and to shift gears rapidly from one object to another, multiple time a day

• You have outstanding communication skills both verbal and written

• You create great decks and presentations

Your Key Qualifications

• Minimum of 4 years’ work experience in consulting and/or project management or founder of a startup for at least 3 years

• Experience in business scaling, deep understanding of scaling a company in GCC markets, high business acumen

• Prior experience in a top-tier management consulting firm is a plus

• Structured and organized / works well under pressure

• You’ve honed your communication in outstanding presentation and communication skills

• Flexibility and coach-ability

• Analytical Bachelor's degree, for example business studies, economics, finance, MIS, engineering or other STEM topics

• Proven interest and passion for entrepreneurship and exposure to the local or international startup ecosystem

• Fluency in Arabic is preferred 

• This job is located onsite in Manama, Bahrain. Preference is for candidates with previous experience in the Bahraini business ecosystem.