Associate

Location: US-based with a strong preference for Chicago, with frequent coordination with partners, clients, and other stakeholders in the Middle East. Potential for occasional travel domestically or internationally. Overview We are seeking a highly motivated Associate to join our Advisory team and support the launch and ongoing execution of a large, multi-year initiative in the Middle East aimed at realizing key objectives aligned to a nation’s digitization strategies. This role is ideal for an early-career professional with 2-4 years of experience in consulting, finance, strategy, or program delivery, who is eager to work at the intersection of strategy, operations, and stakeholder coordination on a high-impact international program. The Associate will work closely with senior program leadership and a local partner organization, supporting planning, analysis, coordination, and execution across multiple workstreams. This role offers exceptional exposure to complex, real-world initiatives involving government, academia, industry, and international partners, and provides a strong foundation for long‑term growth in strategy, program management, or advisory roles. Key Responsibilities (Additional responsibilities may be assigned to meet evolving business needs) Program Execution Support Support day-to-day program management activities for a multi-year, multi-stakeholder initiative spanning human capital development, R&D, innovation, and related strategic workstreams Assist senior team members in coordinating activities across local partners, US-based partners, and internal teams Assist in tracking program progress against milestones, KPIs, and deliverables; flag risks, dependencies, and delays for escalation Maintain and update core program artifacts, including workplans, timelines, trackers, and status reports Contribute to the development of program roadmaps, execution plans, and phased delivery schedules Support budget tracking and financial analysis, including translating high-level budgets into detailed trackers and spending summaries Prepare analytical materials, dashboards, and presentations to support internal decision-making and senior-stakeholder updates Conduct research and benchmarking to support strategic planning, partner engagement, and program design decisions Stakeholder Coordination & Communication Support preparation of meeting materials, agendas, notes, and action-item trackers for internal and external stakeholders Help ensure clear communication and follow-through across geographically distributed teams and partners Interface professionally with counterparts at partner organizations, identifying and escalating issues as appropriate to senior team members Knowledge Management & Capacity Building Help document processes, templates, and tools used to manage the program effectively Support knowledge transfer efforts between US-based teams and local partner teams under a Build-Operate-Transfer model Maintain organized repositories of program documentation, analyses, and decision logs Qualifications Experience & Education Bachelor’s degree required (business, economics, finance, engineering, public policy, or related field preferred) 2-4 years of professional experience, preferably in: Management consulting Strategy & operations Finance, investment or transaction support Project management, transformation or large-scale programs Ideal candidate has demonstrated interest in international work, emerging markets and complex multi-stakeholder initiatives Analytical & Technical Skills Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; comfortable working with structured and unstructured data Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and collaboration tools such as Teams, SharePoint, or similar Safe and appropriate use of AI tools (Claude, ChatGPT, etc.) to accelerate one’s own work Comfortable working with trackers, dashboards, financial models, and program documentation Highly organized, detail-oriented, and reliable in execution Ideal candidate has an understanding of fields such as computer science, software engineering, cybersecurity, or IT Communication & Professional Skills Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with senior stakeholders, with guidance Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with senior internal stakeholders, external clients/partners, and stakeholders in cross-cultural settings Arabic language abilities are beneficial but not required Personal Attributes High level of intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurial mindset, and enthusiasm for complex problem-solving Ability to operate in fast-moving, ambiguous environments with dynamic priorities Strong work ethic, discretion, and professionalism Ability to work independently while aligning with remote teams across multiple time zones Why Join Us This is a rare opportunity to be at the forefront of a transformative, high-profile initiative in the Middle East with real national and institutional impact. This role will be initially focused on an individual project with the expectation that the candidate will participate in additional, similar initiatives in the future. This role will provide direct exposure to strategy, program execution, stakeholder management, and international collaboration while working closely with senior leaders and global partners. For the right candidate, this role provides a strong platform for accelerated learning and long-term career growth. #J-18808-Ljbffr