Operations Lead DEEP Qatar (m/f/x)

ESMT Berlin is a leading global business school with its campus in the heart of Berlin. Founded by 25 global companies, ESMT offers master, MBA, and PhD programs, as well as executive education on its campus in Berlin, in locations around the world, online, and in online blended format. We strongly believe in cross-team collaboration to achieve our mission to develop entrepreneurial leaders who think globally and act responsibly.

DEEP - Institute for Deep Tech Innovation - is ESMT’s innovation hub dedicated to amplifying our ecosystem’s ability to generate and scale science-based businesses. We empower scientists to commercialize technologies, support deep tech startups to scale internationally and connect leading research organizations to connect with the startup and innovation ecosystem effectively.

DEEP is running targeted and ambitious activities in the fields of Healthcare, Natural Capital, Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence and Compute, currently expanding to Qatar.

Join our DEEP Qatar team on-site as a

Operations Lead DEEP Qatar
(m/f/x, 40 hrs./week, starting in August-September 2026, on-site in Doha)

and help shape the future by bringing your expertise and passion to ESMT.

The Operations Lead is responsible for the operational backbone of DEEP Qatar. They keep the Qatar site running, manage operational tracking of the program budget, and provide operational support across the three flagship programs (DEEP Academy, DEEP Pioneers, and CDL Doha).

They bring local knowledge of business practices and cultural nuances in Qatar and the wider GCC to support the team in navigating the local environment effectively. In year one, this means supporting the establishment of an operation from scratch in a new market. In year two and beyond, it means scaling that operation as the programs mature.

Primarily responsible for keeping the Qatar entity operational. Stay on top of day-to-day compliance obligations such as accounting, HR, legal, IT, and office operations. Support the relationship with the company secretary and external legal counsel. Support the operational management of banking relationships, including account administration, vendor payments, and expense systems. Manage office leases, vendor contracts, and supplier relationships. Lead the operational logistics for local new-hire onboarding.

Manage operational tracking of the various program budgets. Track costs, reconcile spend against budget allocations, and report regularly to the Director. Support the Program Manager with project-level budget management.

Provide operational support across DEEP Academy, DEEP Pioneers, and CDL Doha, including support for Academy curriculum refinement and ecosystem day preparation alongside the Director and Program Manager. Coordinate with the Berlin team on operational alignment, shared services, and reporting.

Set up and maintain the tools and processes that support the Director and the wider team in business development, partnership management, and operational delivery. This includes CRM, pipeline tracking, internal reporting, and operational workflows.

Support the Director with institutional knowledge of local business practices and cultural nuances in Qatar and the GCC region. Provide intelligence and brief the team on the regional entrepreneur and innovation ecosystem, including key accelerators, networks, and communities relevant to Pioneers and CDL scouting. Maintain awareness of local vendors relevant to program delivery and share that intelligence with the team.

Lead local equipment management, including sourcing, maintenance, and inventory of IT hardware, screens, AV equipment, and connectivity. Resolve day-to-day local IT and infrastructure issues so the team can work without disruption.

You are an operator with strong institutional knowledge of how things work in Qatar and the wider GCC. You combine the operational rigor to run an entity, track a budget, and build systems with the local instinct to spot what matters and flag it early. You have direct experience working with or within the Qatari government or sovereign or quasi-government institutions, and you bring that experience to bear in helping the team navigate the local environment effectively. You are comfortable being hands-on across operations, finance, and systems in a small, scaling team without a playbook.

• 5–8 years of professional experience, with meaningful time spent living or working in Qatar or the wider GCC
• Strong working knowledge of local business practices, customs, and how decisions are made in the region
• Operational management experience in an international organization, including budget tracking and financial reporting
• Working proficiency in Arabic
• Experience establishing new operations or expanding into new geographies
• Comfortable operating in a small, scaling team with a limited playbook

• Institutional experience with the Qatari government or sovereign or quasi-government agencies
• Background in a startup, accelerator, university, or innovation ecosystem
• Experience setting up and managing CRM systems, pipeline tracking, or operational systems
• Experience managing IT, vendor, and supplier relationships in a small-team environment

• Existing relationships with QSTP, Qatar Foundation, QRDI, QIA, or major Qatari universities

ESMT offers a collegial and international work environment, with employees representing more than 55 nationalities. We encourage a self-driven mind-set and contributions that create meaningful and lasting impact. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering a fair and inclusive workplace where individuals of all identities and backgrounds are welcomed and valued. Fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion enriches our employees, students, and broader community.

Please submit your application via our online application form, including:

• Your CV (including relevant certificates and references)
• Your salary expectations and earliest possible start date
• A short answer to the following question: What do you love about the act of building operational order out of nothing, and what makes you want to use that energy to fuel a fast-paced startup ecosystem rather than a traditional corporate machine in Qatar?