About ATÖLYE

ATÖLYE is a strategic design and innovation studio working at the intersection of strategy, design, learning and spatial experience.

Our work spans Learning Design, Service & Experience Design, Innovation Strategy, Organisational Transformation and Spatial / Architectural Design, delivered through a unique studio model that combines permanent teams and a global collaborator network.

As our Middle East presence continues to grow, we are now seeking a
Director of Academy to lead the next chapter of our learning practice and help build long-term client partnerships and regional impact across the GCC and EMEA.

Director of Academy

Lead ATÖLYE Academys next chapter evolving from a learning-focused vertical into a strategic driver of ATÖLYEs impact across learning consultancy, program delivery, and capability building. This senior role will deliver near-term wins through high-quality learning program design and facilitation in the GCC, while establishing strategic partnerships, revenue growth models and laying the groundwork for regional expansion into EMEA and longer-term scalable offerings.

The Director will represent ATÖLYE Academy at a senior level with clients, partners, translating organizational goals into a sustainable, regionally recognized learning business

Main Responsibilities

• Set the Vision and Business Strategy: Define and own the Academys strategy in alignment with ATÖLYEs 3-year growth priorities, focusing first on GCC markets, then EMEA.
• Deliver Horizon 1 Impact: Design, develop, and deliver learning programs as a consultancy, ensuring measurable outcomes for clients.
• Drive Growth Beyond the Academy: Contribute to ATÖLYEs broader market expansion through integrated offerings and cross-practice collaboration.
• Strengthen Community Links: Align Academy initiatives with ATÖLYEs community strategy to cultivate partnerships, foster networks, and embed learning in community engagement.
• Build and Lead High-Performing Teams:
  Oversee the Academy team, mentor emerging leaders, and steward a growing collaborator network. Shape team structure and capabilities to support future scalability across EMEA.
• Innovate for the Future: Begin shaping scalable products and platforms for longer-term market expansion.
  
  

Required Skills & Experience

• Strategic Leadership & Expansion – Focus growth efforts on GCC in the short term, building presence and credibility before expanding into wider EMEA markets.
• Business Development – Lead pitches, proposals, and partnership cultivation for Academy and cross-practice opportunities.
• Team Leadership – Mentor, manage, and coach a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, high-impact work, including pooling, recruiting, and onboarding both full-time and collaborator talent.
• Learning Program Consultancy – Lead end-to-end design, development, and delivery of bespoke learning engagements for clients, drawing on ATÖLYEs design ethos and interdisciplinary talent.
• Growth Role Beyond Academy – Collaborate with other practice leads to package integrated offerings that position ATÖLYE as a regional leader in design-led innovation.
• Community Strategy Adjacency – Build connections between Academy programs and ATÖLYEs community initiatives, ensuring both feed into business development and client impact.