Senior Associate, ADIB Ventures

Role: Senior Associate, ADIB VenturesLocation: Abu Dhabi   Role Purpose: ADIB is on a journey to build the bank of the future by developing ADIB Ventures, a FinTech & Emerging Technology Partnership Program to become the go-to-bank for entrepreneurs building world class products & services using cutting edge platforms & experiences.  We are seeking a strategic Senior Associate to drive our FinTech partnership and emerging technology evaluation/implementation initiatives.  The Senior Associate, ADIB Ventures will work on the fintech engagement and engagement model within ADIB, working closely with all stakeholders across the Bank: Digital, Technology, Business, Support & Control functions.  This role will contribute to the internal lifecycle of prioritizing and executing strategic partnership opportunities aligned with our innovation roadmap.  This person will also work on partnership agreements (with and without funding) to reach a successful partnership.  This is a pivotal role for contributing and optimizing the program's lifecycle engagement model efficiency with internal ADIB stakeholders and accelerating our ability to identify, test and implement cutting-edge FinTech and emerging tech solutions in partnership with innovative companies.  The ideal candidate will have experience in VC / fund management, or leading Fintech engagement for accelerators/enterprises.Key Accountabilities of the role:DISCOVER: Partnership Sourcing & Evaluation (20%) Proactively source and build relationships with startups, founders, and venture capital networks to identify investment opportunities aligned with the bank’s strategic goals. Perform comprehensive market research and analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and potential risks within fintech, Insurtech, and adjacent verticals. Conduct due diligence, including financial modeling, market sizing, competitor analysis, and evaluation of business models and management teams.DEFINE: Collaboration and Facilitation (50%) Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment between venture capital activities and the bank’s broader strategic objectives. Identify and facilitate opportunities for partnerships, co-innovation, and pilot projects between portfolio companies and the bank’s business units. Implement and optimize a structured operating model with business teams to funnel opportunities, problem statements, needs and proposing right potential partners. Develop an objective scoring system to prioritize potential partners based on strategic alignment, solution relevance, market fit, and risk assessment, prioritizing high impact opportunities. Facilitate internal discussions and information sharing to ensure a coordinated approach to evaluating and potentially onboarding fintech partners. Build trusted relationships with internal teams and external partners to ensure successful delivery.DELIVER: Product & Program Management (30%) Act as the primary point of contact for assigned partnership companies, fostering strong relationships with founders and executive teams. Monitor portfolio company performance through regular updates, financial reviews, and board meeting participation. Support portfolio companies with strategic guidance, operational expertise, and introductions to the bank’s broader network. Develop and maintain the strategic roadmap and backlog for partnership prospects in the Fintech portfolio, accountable for program implementation, budget and resource allocation. Track and document partnership progress throughout the evaluation and status of onboarding process, including defining success metrics, measuring results and report on status, risks, and issues to executive leadership. Coordinate communication and schedule meetings between our team and relevant internal stakeholders (e.g., Product Teams, Risk Management, Legal) based on potential partner alignment. Prepare pre-meeting materials and agendas to ensure productive discussions with internal stakeholders.          Skills required for this role:Communication & People Skills Leadership qualities as a people’s person, managing their passion, continuously motivating and empowering colleagues to come forward and develop out of the box thinking. Excellent at building and maintaining relationships with external partners/vendors and internal stakeholders, working cross-functionally with in an agile environment. Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to effectively influence people of all levels. Attitude & Technical Skills Strong problem-solving skills (analytical skills, creativity, and logical thinking) to tackle complex issues; will at times go beyond application of existing know-how.  Self-driven, Energy, enthusiasm, commitment, courage, and entrepreneurial excitement, with a desire for ownership Strong work ethic and a proactive approach, with the ability to think critically and strategically while challenging mindset, pushing boundaries beyond status quo and comfort zone. Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.Industry & Market Knowledge Passionate about innovation and the potential of fintech solutions. Strong understanding of the fintech landscape, latest emerging technologies, financial regulatory policies, and business trends in the FinTech space (highly desirable).Previous experience:    3+ years of experience in customer facing digital business and / or technology. 1+ years’ experience in agile delivery, product management or partnership program management, or a related field. Hands-on experience managing technology innovation initiatives, product integrations or ecosystem partnerships. Experience in VC / fund management, or leading Fintech engagement for accelerators/enterprises Proven ability to work across multiple business units, geographies and with external partners/vendors with a strong business acumen with ability to understand technical concepts and communicate clearly to all levels.