The Innovation Section Head is responsible for leading and delivering the Department of Energy's innovation agenda and supporting strategic initiatives that strengthen Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for water, energy, sustainability, and technology innovation.
The role sits within the Chairman's Office and is responsible for developing strategic partnerships, driving innovation programs, attracting emerging technologies, fostering ecosystem development, and supporting the testing, commercialization, and deployment of innovative solutions.
The role covers innovation across the water, power, district cooling, and petroleum products sectors, including desalination, groundwater utilization through agritech, wastewater treatment and reuse, rainwater harvesting, power generation, transmission and distribution, energy efficiency, decarbonization, sustainability, robotics, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies relevant to Abu Dhabi's long-term priorities.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead and deliver strategic innovation initiatives aligned with DOE priorities.
Support the development of innovation platforms, centres of excellence, demonstration facilities, and ecosystem-building initiatives.
Develop operating models, governance frameworks, business cases, implementation plans, and stakeholder engagement strategies for strategic programs.
Build and manage relationships with government entities, utilities, technology providers, universities, research institutions, investors, startups, and international partners.
Identify, evaluate, and attract emerging and disruptive technologies relevant to Abu Dhabi's water, energy, sustainability, and economic development objectives.
Lead technology scouting, market intelligence, benchmarking, and partnership development activities.
Manage innovation pilots, demonstration projects, and technology validation initiatives.
Support innovation activities across water, power, district cooling, and petroleum products sectors, with a focus on decarbonization, sustainability, resilience, resource efficiency, and transformation.
Promote the application of artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, advanced analytics, digital twins, and smart infrastructure technologies.
Support the positioning of Abu Dhabi as a global innovation destination through strategic engagements, international partnerships, and major industry events.
Prepare strategic reports, presentations, briefing notes, and recommendations for DOE leadership and the Chairman's Office.
Monitor global technology and innovation trends and identify opportunities relevant to the sector.
Represent DOE in stakeholder engagements, working groups, steering committees, and international forums.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, e.g., Engineering, Innovation Management, etc.
Experience
Minimum of 8 years of experience in the field of innovation management and research and development