Chief of Staff & Director – Cultural Affairs

About the role

Black Pearl Consult is recruiting a Chief of Staff and Director of Cultural Affairs in Abu Dhabi, reporting directly to the CEO. The role provides strategic leadership across executive operations, cultural affairs, government relations and international partnerships, with the highest level of institutional representation in external affairs. The Director represents the organization with full authority at the highest levels of government and diplomacy, engaging ministers, ambassadors and heads of major international counterparts.

Key responsibilities

• Support the CEO's office: manage the CEO's priorities, agendas and engagements, prepare briefing notes, talking points, stakeholder profiles and recommended positions, draft correspondence and statements, and accompany the CEO to meetings, forums, delegations and summits.
• Nurture relationships with UAE strategic partners and key government ministries (Foreign Affairs, Education, Culture), and represent the organization at ministerial and diplomatic levels.
• Monitor the diplomatic, governmental and regulatory landscape, arrange bilateral visits and incoming delegations, and lead negotiations of international partnerships such as MoUs and co-productions.
• Drive cross-departmental projects from concept to delivery, set KPIs, maintain governance and ethical standards, and report on risks and milestones.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Arts, Arts Management, Cultural Policy, Education, Business Administration or a related field; Master's degree or PhD in Arts Management, Cultural Governance, Education or Executive Business Administration strongly preferred.
• 12 to 15+ years of progressive senior leadership experience in major institutions, diplomacy, government entities or an executive office; prior experience as a Chief of Staff, Head of Office or Director in a private office strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in international networks and high-level stakeholder ecosystems, and a proven record of diplomatic engagement and partnership building.
• Thorough understanding of the UAE's governmental, diplomatic and institutional landscape.

Required skills

• Exceptional written and spoken English; French strongly preferred; Arabic an advantage.
• Stakeholder management, stakeholder mapping and high-level diplomatic engagement.