Accelerator Project Specialist - Riyadh, KSA

Leveraging our 25 years of experience directly managing world-renowned innovation programming and spaces, CIC Captains has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s National Technology Development Program. Known as NTDP, this program contributes to developing the technology ecosystem in the Kingdom through a number of initiatives aimed at making it a regional center for innovation and investment.   

For its part, CIC Captains will be managing NTDP’s Empowering Accelerators, a program that seeks to enable local and global business accelerators to adopt international best practices based on quality standards, to enable entrepreneurs to come up with distinctive business models by providing financial support. The Captains team will bring best-in-class practices to propel the existing successes of Empowering Accelerators, and along the way, identify strategic improvements that maximize program impact.

Captains will be supporting the Empowering Accelerators program by delivering quality and efficient program operations and services that help startups to maximize the output of their growth journey. These efforts are part of an overarching strategy that Captains will deploy to develop the Kingdom’s reputation as a leading international tech hub, in turn attracting entrepreneurs, academics, venture capitalists, corporates, and others.

The professional services arm of CIC – Captains helps governments, universities, and large organizations with the development of world class innovation ecosystems and programs. We leverage our on-the-ground work as operators of innovation centers to provide actionable solutions. Our lived experiences in cities around the world have taught us the importance of excellence and the commitment required to achieve it. 

This position is based in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. As an Empowering Accelerators Specialist, you will be responsible for helping the local team (2-3 people including yourself) oversee the day-to-day operations support for the national accelerator programs — supporting several accelerator organizations operating four to six month long cohorts of startups. This work will be done in close collaboration with members of the NTDP organization.

Overall, as part of the Riyadh team, you and your colleagues will focus primarily on two work streams: administrative duties related to compliance and operations of the accelerator programs, and field work compliance assessments and reporting. It is expected that local partner organizations will hire additional personnel as needed to ensure a successful partnership and launch of operational programming. As a Specialist, you will play a key role in carrying out work related to all aspects of our operation.  

 

You and your colleagues will oversee day-to-day operations, managing communication lines with external and internal parties, including companies in the Empowering Accelerators program (accelerators and venture capital firms), as well as internal NTDP leadership units, and leading in the development and distribution of reports to all project stakeholders.  

Your specific work will include:

• Tracking Accelerator status from application to graduation while following established processes and operations.

• Improving processes as needed in coordination with the team.

• Providing direct support, tracking to-dos, and managing relationships with various accelerators and other stakeholders.

• Ensuring adherence to schedule and budget.

• Evaluating the performance of the accelerator programs including: 

- reviewing and evaluating accelerator outputs and subsequent results, while leveraging best practices used in accelerator programs and innovation ecosystems

- preparing evaluation reports.

• Communicating with and collecting information from the Accelerator programs, including tracking needed follow-ups with key stakeholders.

• Preparing and delivering weekly and monthly reports on the accelerator programs.

• Preparing presentations for various committees. 

• Attending events and building relationships with accelerators and other stakeholders.

The Riyadh team will also be responsible for onsite observation and support to the accelerator programs throughout Saudi Arabia. Field visits will be part of this effort and are expected to include:

• Interviews with companies to obtain feedback on the most prominent advantages of the program and points of improvement, and to ensure that the accelerators adhere to the standards of the program plan.

• Conduct surveys for startups to assess the quality of the accelerator from the point of view of the beneficiary companies.

• Ensure that accelerators adhere to the standards of the program plan.

 

The team will receive ongoing support from Captains leadership (based in Cambridge, MA) for ongoing strategy development, program refinement, and issues resolution. The Captains team will also provide direct support to you, and the other members of the team, for personnel and HR related issues as part of CIC’s standard protocols.  

We like to employ service-minded people who are dependable and able to work independently.

More specifically, we are looking for someone who possesses the following characteristics:

• A self-starter with a strong work ethic. You have the ability to own and manage multiple tasks and get the details right, while being able to ask for help when faced with uncertain situations.

• A strong communicator. You’re a balanced and comfortable presence around all people, with a proven record of professional success, and some hard-won lessons only challenging situations or failure can teach. You communicate effectively with team members and clients alike, including under pressure. You’re comfortable reaching out proactively to ensure expectations are shared and met, and comfortable speaking in front of large groups. You have the ability to translate business goals into program delivery and services.

• Naturally drawn to a "start-up" environment, and eager for work that requires you to be independent, strategic, and proactive. You have experience and ease working with companies of various sizes, cultures, and native languages, and the ability to shift approach based on the needs and workstyle of the client.

• Creative and strategic visionary, coming up with new ideas and effectively implementing ways to bring them to life. You have exemplary time management and organizational skills, and can work to a deadline while keeping the big picture in mind. 

• Able to work independently for lengthy periods on projects.

• Strong relationship with technology; Mac and Google Suite proficient.

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. Relevant professional experience, including passion for project management with demonstrated results to match.

• A highly detail-oriented and organized work style with solid time-management skills.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.  

• A natural instinct for navigating challenging situations (high EQ).

• A deep willingness to collaborate with innovation-minded colleagues.

• Fluency in English (C1 level).

If you don't meet all the requirements or qualifications but bring some other unique skills and experience that would be valuable in this role, please apply and highlight those attributes for us in your cover letter.

This is a contractual 1099 position.

Compensation is $100,000 per annum (prorated per month) plus a generous housing allowance.

There is the potential for a longer term contract, however, the initial contract will start as early as soon as possible, ending on August 31, 2025.

In addition to helping our clients achieve great things, we work to ensure that our employees are healthy and supported. 

Some of the benefits of being here include:

• Adventure awaits! This will be the first time CIC has a team operating on the ground in Riyadh.  This is a really exciting moment for our organization and you will be in the middle of it.  We will learn a great deal about our work in Saudi Arabia through you and we hope that you, too, will gain skills and personal insights through this rich experience.

• Fun people in a dynamic environment. We pride ourselves on finding driven and bright collaborators who are eager to lend their own unique skills to the team, as well as to our inspiring clientele. The number one reason CICers say they like working here is because of their colleagues.