Startup Attraction and Support Lead

Overview

Position

Startup Attraction & Support (Professional / Lead)

Job Code

Reports to

Startup Attraction & Support Manager

Direct Reports

None

Division/Section

Business Attraction & Support

Department

Strategy & Economic Development Office

Sector

NEOM Authority

Job Family

About NEOM

NEOM aims to create a prosperous economy while achieving exceptional livability, building thriving businesses, and reinventing conservation, in line with Saudi Arabia Vision 2030. NEOM aspires to be an accelerator of human progress, where society and economy enable new avenues and dimensions of prosperity.

Role Purpose

The Strategy & Economic Development Office (SEDO) maximizes economic competitiveness across economic sectors and ecosystems, in support of NEOM’s vision and goals. It operates to enable NEOM’s competitive economy by coordinating with private, public and institutional stakeholders.

The Startup Attraction & Support team is looking for a professional level to join the team and support the development of the NEOM startup ecosystem. The candidate will be responsible for delivering initiatives with a focus on startup attraction, business environment competitiveness and building a seamless investor journey across NEOM.

Key Responsibilities & Activities

Overarching responsibilities

• Conducts research, diagnostics, and benchmarking to support the development of a NEOM wide startup ecosystem.
• Leads on building strategic relations with key multipliers, partners, and service providers.
• Supports startup attraction initiatives in line with the SEDO’s innovation and startup strategy.
• Conducts outreach activities to maintain an active pipeline of startup leads.
• Develops communications and promotional collaterals, aligning messages and branding with NEOM Authority guidelines.
• Organizes startup delegation visits and various engagements aimed at startup attraction and support.
• Assists in providing training, platforms, and capability development programs to sectors and regions engaged in startup promotion.
• Tracks and analyses KPIs, to measure startup attraction and the economic impact of NEOM’s efforts to develop the startup ecosystem.
• Assists in the delivery of grants and in managing subcontractors and professional services firms.
• Identify tools to support the setup & development of startups in NEOM.
  
  

Qualifications

BACKGROUND, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years of professional experience in economic development, incubators, accelerators, and innovation development entities.
• Familiarity in working across the entrepreneurial ecosystem and startup support entities such as venture capital, accelerators, incubators, and event management companies.
• Resilience & perseverance
• Ability to develop content and present comfortably to a large audience.
• Ability to build and maintain multi-stakeholder engagements.
• Graduate of a bachelor’s degree in management, marketing, engineering or business administration
• Enrolled or completed professional courses in entrepreneurship, project management, communication, or negotiation
• Willingness to relocate to NEOM.
  
  

COMMUNICATION - MAIN STAKEHOLDERS

Internal

External

• Innovation Managers in Sectors & Regions
• Marketing & Events
• Leaders of think-tanks and accelerators
• Startups and entrepreneurs