Associate Director, Policy Analysis - KAUST Policy Institute

Associate Director, Policy Analysis Department/Division: Strategic Initiative – Policy InstitutePosition SummaryThe Associate Director for Policy Analysis is responsible for leading the policy analysis function within The Policy Institute at KAUST. The role provides senior intellectual and managerial leadership to ensure that policy analysis projects are analytically rigorous, methodologically sound, and directly relevant to public-sector decision-making in Saudi Arabia.The Associate Director oversees a portfolio of policy analysis projects and works closely with KAUST leadership and researchers to translate scientific and technical research into clear, decision-focused policy products. The role requires strong understanding of the Saudi policymaking and government context, as well as demonstrated expertise in applied policy analysis tools and methods.Major ResponsibilitiesLead and oversee the Institute’s policy analysis portfolio, ensuring alignment with The Policy Institute at KAUST’s strategic priorities, sponsor requirements, and delivery timelines.Provide intellectual leadership on policy analysis projects, including policy problem formulation, structuring of decision contexts, development of policy options, and assessment of trade-offs, risks, and uncertainties.Oversee, mentor, and develop any experiential learners, including secondees, from ministries and other public-sector institutions, strengthening capacity in applied policy analysis methods, analytical writing, and decision-oriented communication.Establish and maintain analytical standards and quality-assurance processes for policy briefs, analytical reports, and presentations.Review and provide substantive analytical and editorial guidance to ensure outputs are clear, credible, and useful to senior decision-makers.Coordinate policy analysis work across multiple projects and thematic areas, ensuring consistency in methods, assumptions, and framing.Work closely with KAUST researchers to integrate scientific and technical evidence into policy-relevant analytical frameworks.Support the development of new policy analysis concepts, proposals, and scopes of work in collaboration with Institute leadership and external partners.Engage with internal and external stakeholders, as appropriate, to inform analysis and ensure relevance to government policy processes.Monitor developments in Saudi public policy, governance, and policy analysis methods to continuously strengthen the Institute’s analytical capability.Other duties as assigned.CompetenciesDemonstrated expertise in applied policy analysis and research design, including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches.Strong analytical judgment and ability to guide complex policy work from problem definition through actionable recommendations.Strong understanding of Saudi government institutions, policymaking processes, and decision-making dynamics.Familiarity with policy analysis tools and methods such as stakeholder analysis, comparative policy analysis, scenario analysis, evidence synthesis, and structured policy option assessment.Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex analysis into concise, decision-focused policy products.Proven ability to supervise, mentor, and develop analysts and experiential learners.Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and with senior institutional stakeholders.QualificationsMaster’s degree in Policy Analysis, Public Policy, Economics, Political Science, International Relations, Public Health, or a related field from an accredited and internationally recognized university required.PhD in Policy Analysis or a closely related field strongly preferred; advanced doctoral candidacy considered highly desirable.ExperienceMinimum 8 years of post education experience working with government entities, think tanks, policy institutes, or policy research organizations. Experience conducting policy analysis relevant to public-sector decision-making, including problem definition, policy option development, and assessment of trade-offs and implications.Experience applying policy analysis tools and methods in real-world policy contexts, including qualitative and quantitative approaches.Experience producing analytical reports and decision-support products for government officials or institutional leaders.Experience supervising, mentoring, or providing technical guidance to policy analysts, researchers, or trainees.Experience working with or advising government entities, think tanks, or policy research institutions; experience engaging Saudi or regional public-sector institutions is highly desirable.