Overview
Policy Lead (12-Month Contract) Jobs in Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates at Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)
Title: Policy Lead (12-Month Contract)
Company: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)
Location: Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
We are currently looking for a Policy Lead to support a key initiative within the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) on a 12-month freelance contract.
DCT Abu Dhabi is the government entity responsible for driving the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors, playing a central role in positioning the emirate as a global hub for culture, creativity, and tourism.
This role sits within a high-impact program aimed at strengthening Abu Dhabi’s creative ecosystem, focusing on the development of robust policy frameworks, incentive structures, and regulatory models across key creative industries.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Design & Development
- Translate sector strategies into practical, implementable policy frameworks across creative industries (Film & TV, Gaming, Digital Publishing)
- Define and structure IP-related policy frameworks and registration regimes
- Tailor policy instruments to different company profiles and investment cases
Incentive Policy Design
- Design and manage government incentive and subsidy programs
- Define eligibility criteria, benefit structures, compliance requirements, and governance workflows
- Benchmark global best practices and adapt them to the local context
- Ensure custom incentive packages remain within approved policy frameworks
Policy Governance & Review
- Own the end-to-end policy lifecycle, including periodic reviews and updates
- Conduct impact assessments and recommend policy enhancements
- Maintain a policy register and version control framework
Agreement Oversight
- Oversee compliance of active incentive agreements
- Monitor milestone delivery, reporting obligations, and performance
- Manage amendments, renewals, and escalations
Regulatory Coordination
- Act as the internal authority on regulatory and legal aspects of policy
- Liaise with internal legal teams and external stakeholders across the ecosystem
- Monitor regulatory developments and translate them into actionable policy implications
Policy Function Incubation
- Lead the setup and implementation of a Policy function
- Define organization structure, roles, and governance frameworks
- Establish processes, operating models, and scalable ways of working
Governance & Committees
- Act as secretariat for external regulatory committees
- Ensure structured cadence, governance, and effective decision-making
Requirements
- 7–10 years of experience in top-tier management consulting (e.g., McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Strategy&, Kearney, Oliver Wyman, Roland Berger, ADL)
- Demonstrated career progression (minimum 1–2 promotions) within the same firm
- Strong experience in policy design, regulatory frameworks, or incentive programs
Core Capabilities
- Strong structured thinking and problem-solving
- Excellent policy drafting and analytical skills
- Ability to translate complex regulation into practical, implementable frameworks
- Strong stakeholder management across government and private sector entities
- High attention to detail with a strong governance and compliance mindset
- Ability to operate in ambiguous, evolving environments
- Strong communication and presentation skills for senior leadership audiences
Experience & Exposure
- Experience in policy development and governance (creative industries preferred, not mandatory)
- Exposure to subsidy/grant program design and administration
- Experience working within regulatory environments and compliance frameworks
- Familiarity with IP-related policy or legal frameworks
- Experience engaging with government entities and cross-sector stakeholders
- Experience in the GCC is preferred
- Familiarity with AI and emerging technologies is an advantage
📍 Location: Abu Dhabi
📅 Contract: 12 months
If this sounds relevant to your background, please apply and submit your updated CV.