Venture Development Manager

We are currently looking for a Venture Development Manager to support a key initiative within the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) on a 12-month freelance contract.

DCT Abu Dhabi is the government entity responsible for driving the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, playing a central role in positioning the emirate as a global hub for culture, creativity, and tourism.

This role sits within a high-impact program focused on strengthening Abu Dhabi’s gaming ecosystem by supporting the development of early-stage ventures and founder communities. The successful candidate will help design and scale incubation and acceleration programs, as well as establish dedicated pathways to support Emirati entrepreneurs in creating and growing original gaming IP.

• Lead the design and rollout of an early-stage incubation program that supports founders from concept through prototype and product-market fit
• Assess delivery options, including integration with existing platforms, standalone incubators, and international partnerships, and develop supporting business cases
• Design program components, including founder support, product development resources, grants, and launch and follow-on pathways
• Drive implementation, partner coordination, and reporting activities
• Support team build-out and scaling of the platform

• Lead the design and launch of a gaming acceleration track that supports studios from prototype to commercial scale, market launch, and follow-on funding
• Define the program model, including cohort structure, intake criteria, in-kind support, mentorship, and targeted investment mechanisms
• Evaluate build-versus-partner approaches and define operating models accordingly
• Source, assess, and select delivery partners and operators, establishing mandates, economics, and success metrics
• Lead founder sourcing, selection, onboarding, and performance management across cohorts

• Lead the setup of a dedicated pathway for Emirati-led ventures to create, launch, and scale original gaming IP
• Design program components, including grants, mentorship, milestone-based support, and access to publishers, investors, and international showcases
• Manage applicant sourcing, selection, and milestone governance, linking funding to clearly defined progress gates
• Build founder pipelines through universities, creator communities, and ecosystem partners
• Represent the program to key stakeholders and partners

• 6–8 years of experience within fast paced ecosystem and proven internal promotions
• Manager level within MBB or an equivalent top-tier strategy firm
• Direct hands‑on experience with early‑stage ventures, including incubation, acceleration, venture building, or corporate venture capital
• Proven experience designing and delivering founder‑support initiatives or venture development programs

• Strong structuring and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to translate ambiguous mandates into actionable plans, operating models, and business cases
• Proven capability to design and stand‑up new programs and initiatives end‑to‑end
• Ability to independently lead work streams and drive execution
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Strong working knowledge of AI tools and their application to strategy, investment evaluation, and project management
• Ability to engage credibly with founders, delivery partners, and senior stakeholders
• Excellent presentation and project management capabilities

12-month contract

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates