Executive Director – Institute for Agriculture & AI

Application Open:

Full-Time

MBZUAI is seeking an Executive Director to provide overall vision,
leadership, and strategic direction for the Institute for
Agriculture & AI (IAAI). The Executive Director is responsible
for shaping and executing the Institute’s mission at the
intersection of artificial intelligence, agriculture, and
sustainability. The role oversees strategy development,
institutional management, partnership building, and resource
mobilization, while representing the Institute to funders,
government entities, industry partners, and the global research
community. The Executive Director ensures the Institute’s long-term
impact, relevance, and financial sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Define and lead the Institute’s long-term vision, strategy, and
  priorities at the intersection of artificial intelligence,
  agriculture, and sustainability, in alignment with MBZUAI’s mission
  and global agendas.

• Translate complex agricultural and food-system challenges into
  AI-driven research, innovation programs, and scalable solutions
  with measurable impact.

• Position the Institute as a globally recognized center of
  excellence for responsible and impactful AI applications in
  agriculture.

Institutional Management and Governance

• Provide executive oversight of the Institute’s research,
  infrastructure, partnerships, and operational functions, ensuring
  effective governance, accountability, and performance
  management.

• Establish and oversee planning, budgeting, and reporting
  frameworks to ensure financial sustainability and institutional
  resilience.

• Ensure alignment with policies, governance structures, and
  strategic priorities.

Research Enablement and Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work closely with research leadership, data engineers,
  technical teams, and operations functions to align infrastructure
  capabilities with scientific objectives and emerging research
  needs.

• Provide strategic input into infrastructure roadmaps,
  technology investments, and capacity planning to support the
  Institute’s long-term growth and impact.

Partnerships, Fundraising, and External Engagement

• Act as the primary representative of the Institute to
  governments, donors, industry partners, and international
  organizations.

• Lead resource mobilization efforts, including fundraising,
  grants, and strategic partnerships that support research,
  infrastructure (e.g. HPC), and impact objectives

Academic Qualifications Required

• A minimum of advanced degree in technology, development,
  agriculture, science, economics, public policy, or related
  fields.

• PhD is desirable but not mandatory where equivalent senior
  leadership experience is demonstrated

Professional Experience Required

Essential:

• Proven senior leadership experience at the intersection of
  technology, agriculture, and development, ideally within regional
  or global, multi-country environments.

• Significant experience engaging at senior levels with
  governments, ministers, regulators, private sector leaders, donors,
  and international organizations.

• Strong understanding of cultural, political, and socio-economic
  contexts in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and their
  implications for agricultural innovation and technology
  adoption.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, representation, and
  public speaking

• skills, with the ability to influence across sectors and
  disciplines.

Preferred:

• Proven track record in building, leading, and sustaining
  multi-stakeholder partnerships involving governments, donors,
  research institutions, industry, and civil society.

• Experience managing research-to-impact pipelines, including the
  translation of research outputs into field deployment, policy
  uptake, or scalable solutions.

• Familiarity with cross-cutting themes such as gender inclusion,
  climate resilience, and sustainability within agricultural
  innovation and development programs.