Director, MENA Futures Lab, Middle East Programs

The Atlantic Council’s work on social, economic and human development issues in the Middle East honors the legacy of Rafik Hariri and his life’s mission to unlock the human and economic potential of the Arab world.

The Atlantic Council seeks an “intellectual entrepreneur” to guide, build, and advance the MENA Futures Lab – the flagship initiative of the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Taking advantage of new opportunities emerging in the Levent, the Gulf and elsewhere in the region, the Lab will serve as a collaborative center of excellence focused on empowering entrepreneurs, women, and private sector growth in the Middle East. In particular, the Rafik Hariri Center’s MENA Futures Lab will:

• Seek to build on and accelerate economic opportunities in key geographic hubs, such as the Levant and the GCC, as potential engines for positive transformation
• Support the full economic participation and agency of women in order to achieve long term goals around employment, economic diversification, and prosperity
• Convene stakeholders, policy makers, and thought leaders in both Washington DC and the MENA region at the highest level to increase the visibility of regional innovation and opportunity, advance shared economic goals, and build strong commercial and economic ties between the MENA region and the rest of the world, particularly North America and Europe
• Conduct critical data-focused research into the entrepreneurial ecosystem, trade, economic development, private sector growth, and gender inclusion that provides recent, relevant, accurate insights for policymakers
• Support healthy, vibrant, competitive entrepreneurial ecosystems and startups, with a particular focus on women founders, that can attract regional and international investment
• Facilitate greater regional economic and commercial integration
• Produce high-quality multimedia products that tell effective stories, draw attention to successful founders, and highlight innovation from the region through platforms like the recently launched Innovators Lounge Podcast

The director will ideally have extensive private sector experience in the Middle East, deep intellectual and language credentials, and rich familiarity with the region’s economies, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and culture with a rolodex to match. The director will construct and fundraise for ambitious projects, lead programs, write opinion pieces, conduct and publish research, appear on media outlets, and engage with US, transatlantic, and regional policymakers and stakeholders in order to advance policies that promote prosperity in the Middle East region. The director will have opportunities to pursue their own analytical interests under the guidance of the senior director of the Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East Programs, while cooperating with colleagues within center and other Atlantic Council programs to develop and implement regional and global initiatives.  

The successful candidate will have an expert level understanding of the evolving economic and business-related dynamics and changes within the region, a willingness to take ownership of and promote policy changes publicly, and a desire to help build and scale a fast-growing Atlantic Council initiative. The candidate will develop concepts for, write, and oversee production of major projects, policy documents, and longer reports. They will also moderate private and public events at the Atlantic Council and outside institutions and will be comfortable with public speaking at in-person and virtual events. Demonstrated expertise and work related to the economic development of the region is required. The successful candidate will also have experience managing a team and will play a key role in mentoring junior staff and supporting their growth as budding experts, operations managers, and development professionals. Strong writing and speaking skills in English are essential; fluency in Arabic is preferred.

This position is based in Washington, DC, with occasional travel to the region, and very occasional travel to Europe or elsewhere. The Atlantic Council offers a competitive compensation package commensurate w