Senior Advisor – Saudi Arabia

Aninver Development Partners SL (www.aninver.com) is looking for a Senior Advisor for a governance, transport, social protection consultancy assignment financed by Islamic Development Bank in Saudi Arabia.

Aninver Development Partners SL is currently preparing a strategic consulting proposal for an initiative in Saudi Arabia financed by the Islamic Development Bank. We are seeking a highly qualified Senior Advisor to join our multidisciplinary team and provide high-level strategic guidance across the governance, transport, and social-protection sectors. This critical advisory role will support national counterparts in shaping sustainable policies and optimizing institutional frameworks to drive long-term developmental impact.

The successful candidate will work closely with key stakeholders in Saudi Arabia to ensure the seamless integration of governance mechanisms, transport infrastructure initiatives, and social-protection programs. As a Senior Advisor, you will leverage your extensive expertise to navigate complex multi-sectoral challenges, align project outputs with international best practices, and deliver robust recommendations that meet the rigorous standards of the Islamic Development Bank and our national partners.

Aninver is preparing a proposal for this assignment. The selected expert will be part of the proposed team; the engagement is conditional on the contract being awarded to Aninver. The full Terms of Reference for the position are shared with shortlisted candidates.

Objectives of the assignment

• Provide high-level strategic advice and technical leadership on governance, transport, and social-protection initiatives.
• Ensure alignment of project strategies with the development goals of Saudi Arabia and the policies of the Islamic Development Bank.
• Facilitate effective stakeholder engagement and coordination across public and private sector entities.
• Enhance institutional capacity and operational efficiency within the targeted sectors.

Scope of work

• Conduct comprehensive sector analyses and reviews of existing governance, transport, and social-protection frameworks.
• Formulate strategic policy recommendations and action plans to address identified operational bottlenecks.
• Design capacity-building programs and workshops for national counterparts and relevant institutional stakeholders.
• Contribute to the drafting of high-quality technical reports, strategic roadmaps, and project deliverables.
• Monitor and evaluate the implementation progress of multi-sectoral interventions against established milestones.

Your role as Senior Advisor

• Act as the primary Senior Advisor on governance, transport, and social-protection matters for the duration of the assignment.
• Provide expert guidance to the project team and national stakeholders on strategic decision-making and implementation methodologies.
• Review and approve technical outputs, reports, and strategic documents prepared under the assignment.
• Liaise directly with the Islamic Development Bank and local authorities to ensure smooth project execution and relationship management.
• Identify potential risks and propose mitigation strategies to safeguard project objectives and timelines.
• Lead high-level consultative meetings, steering committee sessions, and stakeholder workshops.

Requirements

• Master's degree or higher in Economics, Public Administration, Transport Engineering, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 12 years of professional experience in providing senior advisory services for large-scale development projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least two of the following sectors: governance, transport, or social-protection.
• Prior working experience with international financial institutions, specifically the Islamic Development Bank, is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the socio-economic context and institutional landscape of Saudi Arabia or the broader MENA region.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory; proficiency in Arabic is a significant advantage.

Desirable

• Published works or acknowledged thought leadership in governance, transport, or social-protection sectors.
• Experience in managing multidisciplinary advisory teams in culturally diverse environments.

An experienced Senior Advisor with a proven track record in governance, transport, and social-protection sectors, possessing deep familiarity with Islamic Development Bank procedures and the development context of Saudi Arabia.

Assignment details

• Location: Saudi Arabia
• Financed by: Islamic Development Bank
• Sector: Governance, transport, social protection
• Estimated duration: 3 months
• Contract: individual consultancy (conditional on award)

About Aninver Development Partners

Aninver is an international development consulting firm headquartered in Spain. It supports governments, development banks, UN agencies and bilateral donors with feasibility studies, technical assistance, evaluations and capacity building across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Asia-Pacific, working with a network of international and national experts.

Why apply

• Join a multidisciplinary team on a Islamic Development Bank-financed project in Saudi Arabia.
• Individual consultancy: flexible, output-based engagement with an experienced proposal team.
• Your CV stays in Aninver's expert network for future assignments that match your profile.

How to apply

Sign in (or create a free account) and upload your CV in English. Add your LinkedIn profile, indicative daily rate and availability to speed up the assessment. Aninver will contact the shortlisted candidates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the position confirmed? The engagement depends on the contract being awarded to Aninver. Shortlisted experts are included in the proposal with their consent.

Can I apply if I am not based in the country? Yes, unless the requirements say otherwise; relevant regional experience is an asset.

What happens with my CV? It is used to assess your fit for this and future positions and is not shared with third parties without your consent.