AI Innovation & Venture Manager

About PwC Middle East

PwC Middle East is a prominent professional services network operating in 152 countries with close to 328,000 professionals. With over four decades of dedication to the Middle East's development, PwC influences the region's advancement by working with governments and businesses to implement sustainable solutions. Over 12,000 team members across Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE actively shape the region's future.

Line of Service Overview

The Internal Firm Services (IFS) unit at PwC serves as the backbone, delivering innovative managed services and operational capabilities to meet evolving client needs. Opportunities in IFS are diverse, covering Human Capital, Finance, Technology, Marketing, Risk, Partner Development, and Managed Services. The team not only supports but also strategically steers growth initiatives across PwC Middle East.

Business Unit Overview

The AI Strategy & Technology group merges strategic insight and digital innovation to expedite transformation. By creating operating models, technology roadmaps, and integrated solutions, this unit drives sustainable growth. Their focus includes exploring emerging technologies, intelligent automation, and leveraging data-driven insights to accelerate innovation and resilience.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the AI idea intake funnel collaboratively with Line of Service teams and internal stakeholders, guiding early concepts into structured proposals.
• Evaluate initial ideas for problem relevance, strategic alignment, demand, duplication avoidance, and feasibility in partnership with technical and compliance teams.
• Create comprehensive business cases for approved ideas, covering problem statements, market demand, risk, commercial models, ROI, scalability, and go-to-market plans.
• Critically challenge assumptions around demand, pricing, risk, and ownership while developing financial models for investment, revenue projections, cost savings, and profitability.
• Support investment committee processes by preparing decision materials and assessing ideas across strategic fit, impact, feasibility, and scalability.
• Maintain visibility of the innovation portfolio by tracking status, dependencies, decisions, ROI, and success metrics.
• Identify thematic patterns, reusable components, and potential cross-Line of Service opportunities within submissions.
• Contribute to governance frameworks, templates, playbooks, and operational procedures for the innovation lifecycle.
• Assist in designing and implementing a PwC-hosted AI startup incubator, including sourcing, assessing, and supporting regional AI startups.
• Coordinate incubator programming such as mentorship, workshops, demo days, and stakeholder engagement, monitoring pilot outcomes and scaling options.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in strategy, innovation, digital transformation, AI, technology consulting, venture creation, corporate innovation, product strategy, or business case formulation.
• Capability to develop investment recommendations, business cases, financial models, and executive communications.
• Strong knowledge of AI technologies, emerging digital products, platforms, and strategies for build, buy, partner, or co-build approaches.
• Skilled at assessing ideas from commercial, technical, risk, operational, and strategic perspectives.
• Excellent stakeholder collaboration skills across business lines, technology, risk, legal, finance, leadership, and external partnerships.
• Desirable experience with startups, venture studios, accelerators, incubators, corporate venture building, or ecosystem partnerships.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and establishing new processes and frameworks.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills to simplify complex topics for senior leadership and decision-makers.
• For the Manager role, typically requires 6 to 8 or more years of relevant professional experience.
• Consulting background and familiarity with the Middle East region are advantages.
• Exposure to AI, data, product development, venture building, or startup ecosystems is highly preferred.

Working at PwC Middle East

PwC Middle East fosters meaningful careers supported by competitive remuneration, comprehensive benefits, and programs encouraging well-being and personal growth. Employees gain access to ongoing learning, upskilling in digital technologies, and an inclusive culture emphasizing innovation and mentorship. This opportunity invites candidates ready to make an impactful difference through applying their talents and diverse perspectives.