Executive Director, Gulf

JOB SUMMARY:

Location: Doha preferred, with travel across the region

Reports to: Chief of Staff to the CEO

Contract Type: Full-time, international position

The Executive Director, Gulf will lead the development of CARE’s regional Gulf presence, set strategic priorities and build long-term partnerships across government, philanthropy, development finance, Islamic finance, and the private sector. 

As the global development sector navigates shifting geopolitical dynamics and evolving funding landscapes, this role will connect Gulf institutions’ priorities with CARE’s expertise, evidence, and global reach. It will translate shared priorities into partnerships, programs, and financing opportunities that advance women’s and girls’ economic opportunities, humanitarian response, and resilience. 

The position will advance CARE’s 2030 Impact Strategy by securing funding, mobilizing complementary capital, and developing partnerships that strengthen delivery and support government and local ownership.

Working with CARE’s President & CEO, Chief Revenue Officer, and program and finance leaders, the Executive Director will build CARE’s presence, influence, and strategic voice across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman. The role combines regional leadership, senior relationship development, policy engagement, and business development, with a focus on turning shared ambitions into substantial, lasting collaborations.

The Executive Director will help develop innovative financing approaches and compelling partnership propositions grounded in CARE’s country experience and technical capabilities. As CARE’s Gulf engagement grows, the Executive Director will recruit, lead, and develop a regional team.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Leadership 

• Develop and lead CARE’s Gulf Strategy, setting priorities for regional presence, strategic partnerships, influence, and capital mobilization.

• Establish and strengthen CARE’s regional presence from Doha, maintaining sustained engagement across the GCC.

• Shape CARE’s positioning as a trusted partner on women’s economic empowerment, humanitarian response, and sustainable development, articulating a compelling value           proposition grounded in evidence and delivery capabilities.

• Align regional engagement with CARE’s strategic priorities, embedding women’s and girls’ outcomes across the partnership portfolio.

• Identify flagship opportunities where Gulf partnerships can expand impact, mobilize additional capital, and strengthen national and local institutions.

• Lead advocacy, policy dialogue, and humanitarian diplomacy with regional actors, drawing on CARE’s evidence and field experience.

• Analyze political, economic, policy, and financing developments across the GCC, advising senior leadership on emerging opportunities and strategic risks.

•        Bring regional perspectives and partner priorities into CARE’s global strategy, programme development, and financing 

Partnership Development & Stakeholder Engagement 

• Build and manage long-term partnerships with Gulf governments, development agencies, foundations, corporations, family offices, development finance institutions, and               Islamic finance actors.

• Develop engagement with priority regional institutions, including KSrelief, Qatar Fund for Development, Education Above All, Emirates Red Crescent, Qatar Charity, and the             Islamic Development Bank.

• Develop tailored partnership strategies around shared priorities, opportunities for co-design, and mutually agreed outcomes.

• Represent CARE in high-level regional and international forums, policy dialogues, and strategic networks.

• Convene Gulf and global partners around concrete opportunities for collaboration, maintaining momentum from initial dialogue through implementation.

• Facilitate engagement between regional partners and CARE’s President & CEO, senior leadership, country directors, and technical experts.

• Build coalitions with peer organizations, UN agencies, governments, financial institutions, and local partners.

• Strengthen CARE’s existing partnerships through regional insight, senior engagement, and access to additional collaborators and capital.

   

Business Development & Capital Mobilization 

• Originate and develop substantial, long-term partnerships, guiding opportunities from initial engagement through co-design, proposal development, agreement, and                implementation.

• Secure multi-year funding and mobilize complementary resources aligned with CARE’s strategy and regional partner priorities.

• Work with program, country, and finance teams to develop practical financing propositions with clear outcomes, delivery models, costs, and partner contributions.

• Develop opportunities involving Islamic social finance, blended finance, and other catalytic financing approaches where appropriate.

• Support economic opportunity partnerships that connect skills, savings groups, enterprise development, market access, and appropriate finance.

• Lead the development of compelling partnership materials, concept notes, and proposals tailored to Gulf audiences.

• Coordinate multi-country, multi-million-dollar opportunities across technical, program, finance, and operational teams.

• Develop partnerships with Gulf corporations and family foundations, including collaborations involving employment, market access, enterprise development, and finance.

• Maintain a strong opportunity pipeline and cultivate partnerships beyond the initial funding commitment.

   

Organizational Capacity Building 

•         Build CARE’s expertise in Gulf engagement through regional insight, knowledge sharing, training, and mentoring.

• Develop and lead a regional team, identifying the capabilities and resources needed to sustain and expand CARE’s engagement.

• Establish effective systems for relationship management, opportunity development, and partnership stewardship.

• Monitor performance across funding secured, capital mobilized, partnership development, influence, and contribution to program outcomes.

• Capture lessons from regional partnerships to inform CARE’s wider strategy and practice.

• Equip colleagues with insight into regional institutions, philanthropic traditions, Islamic finance, cultural protocols, and advocacy approaches.

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Skills & Competencies

Essential

• Strategic judgment and the ability to translate organizational priorities into compelling, deliverable partnership propositions.

• Deep cultural fluency and established professional networks across the GCC, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

• Excellent written and verbal communication in English and Arabic.

• Strong economic and financial literacy, including the ability to assess partner incentives, financing needs, and proposed financing models.

• Understanding of regional philanthropy, Islamic social finance, and Gulf funding mechanisms.

• Exceptional relationship management and diplomatic engagement with senior government officials, foundation leaders, financial institutions, and philanthropists.

• Strong business development, negotiation, and partnership management skills.

• Ability to collaborate across disciplines and geographies, translating complex opportunities into clear priorities and action.

• Credibility and presence to represent CARE in senior government, development, philanthropic, and finance settings.

Highly Desirable

• Experience developing economic opportunity pathways and partnerships for women and young people.

• Experience with development finance institutions, Islamic finance institutions, or catalytic financing partnerships.

• Knowledge of humanitarian coordination mechanisms in the Middle East.

• Experience with consortium management, advocacy, or policy engagement.

• Experience establishing or scaling a regional office or institutional platform.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic and entrepreneurial mindset, with disciplined judgment about which opportunities to pursue.

• High emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity.

• Proactive and self-directed, with a collaborative leadership style.

• Resilient and adaptable in complex, evolving environments.

• Integrity and ethical standards aligned with CARE’s values.

• Commitment to CARE’s mission and to women’s and girls’ rights and economic opportunity.

• Ability to influence and build consensus without direct authority.

• Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and mentor high-performing teams.