Associate Manager - Family Business Advisory

Job Purpose:

The Associate Manager will lead and manage advisory service engagements with family-owned businesses, ensuring high-quality delivery of governance, succession planning, organizational structuring, and strategy advisory projects. The role requires a combination of project management excellence, client relationship skills, and understanding of family business dynamics to support the Centre’s mission of strengthening family enterprises.

Key Accountabilities:

Advisory Engagement Delivery

• Manage the full lifecycle of family business advisory projects, from scoping to execution and closure.
• Coordinate diagnostic assessments, governance reviews, and succession planning workshops.
• Develop and adapt advisory frameworks (e.g., family constitutions, governance structures, family charters).
• Ensure deliverables meet client expectations, timelines, and quality standards.

Project & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned family business clients.
• Build trusted relationships with family business owners, next-generation leaders, and advisors.
• Oversee project timelines, budgets, and resources; anticipate risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Align project delivery with the Centre’s strategic objectives and reporting requirements.

Research & Knowledge Development

• Support the development of new toolkits, case studies, and advisory frameworks tailored to regional family businesses.
• Stay current on family business trends, governance codes, and best practices globally and in the GCC.
• Contribute to thought leadership and internal capacity-building initiatives.

Team Collaboration & Capacity Building

• Coordinate cross-functional teams (legal, financial, HR, strategy) when projects require specialized expertise.
• Mentor junior associates or analysts supporting advisory projects.
• Ensure smooth collaboration with external advisors, consultants, and ecosystem partners.

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in business management / administration, Finance, or any related field.

Minimum Experience and Skills

• 4-5 years + experience in management consulting, advisory services, or project management (family business experience highly desirable). Fluency in Arabic is a must
• Based in Dubai, U.A.E and no visa constraints to travel regionally and worldwide
• Strong knowledge of governance, succession planning, organizational structures, or wealth preservation practices in family enterprises.
• Proven experience managing client-facing projects with multiple stakeholders.

Competencies:

• Strong project management skills
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building abilities, with sensitivity to family dynamics.
• Multi-tasking multiple, complex projects with different stakeholders
• Partnership development and collaborations with different service providers
• High professional maturity for all levels and types of stakeholder management
• Professional communication skills (written and verbal)
• Strong facilitation and presentation capabilities.
• Meticulous with great attention to detail
• Flexible with a growth mindset and can-do attitude
• Strong interest, affinity, and capabilities for digital and tech adoption