Director, AI for Education & Workforce

Who We Are IREX is a global solutions provider that partners with communities and institutions in the United States and around the world to cultivate leaders, expand access to education, and create economic opportunity. With deep expertise, a forward-looking vision, and world-class practices in AI for Education, Future-Ready Workforce, Higher Education Solutions, Leadership Development, and Online Safety, IREX delivers innovative and proven solutions that help people, institutions, and communities thrive in a rapidly changing world. Job Summary The Director, AI for Education and Workforce will devote the majority of the position’s level of effort to leading AI-in-education strategy for the ASAS program in Jordan. The remaining effort will advance IREX’s broader AI portfolio through technical leadership, partnerships, thought leadership, and business development. This is a strategy and program leadership role, not a software engineering position. The position may be based in Amman, UAE, or Washington, DC. Periodic domestic and international travel may be required. Priorities will evolve with portfolio and organizational needs. Key Responsibilities Serve as ASAS’s senior technical authority on AI in education, advising program leadership and partners on policy, governance, and responsible adoption pathways. Set the strategic vision for AI within ASAS and position the program as Jordan’s flagship reference point for responsible AI in early-grade education, aligned with U.S. Department of State priorities and IREX’s global AI agenda. Serve as principal advisor on AI policy, sequencing, and investment choices, ensuring that decisions reflect program objectives, institutional readiness, available evidence, and long-term sustainability. Define the evidence and learning strategy for AI—what ASAS must demonstrate, to whom, and by when—so that AI activities generate credible, policy-relevant findings rather than isolated pilots. Steer the program’s higher education AI-readiness work with Jordanian universities toward a systems-level agenda for teacher preparation and faculty capability, linked to IREX’s broader AI in education work. Anticipate and manage strategic risks, including regulatory shifts, vendor lock-in, gaps between donor expectations and implementation realities, and reputational exposure from premature or poorly governed AI deployment. Measure the impact of ASAS’s AI work and translate results into use cases and case studies for external communications, marketing, business development, and learning. Represent ASAS and IREX at national, regional, and global AI-in-education forums, contributing to policy dialogue and thought leadership across the Middle East and North Africa. Lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of responsible AI-enabled education and workforce programs. Design and develop AI solutions that make IREX distinct in the marketplace. Advise teams on tools, implementation models, vendors, risk controls, and measures of success. Ensure solutions reflect user needs, local systems, labor-market demand, institutional realities, and IREX quality standards. Shape scalable offerings such as AI readiness assessments, institutional transformation support, training, responsible AI learning products, and advisory services. Monitor technology, policy, funding, and labor-market trends and translate them into recommendations for leadership and program teams. Global Partnerships, Growth, and Thought Leadership Build high-impact partnerships with donors, governments, foundations, companies, universities, employers, and technology organizations. Shape and pursue opportunities through strategic capture, proposal development, and partner engagement. Turn global demand into compelling scopes, delivery models, budgets, value propositions, and collaborations. Serve as IREX’s senior global voice on AI in education and workforce systems. Equip colleagues with practical guidance, tools, training, and opportunities for shared learning. Create thought leadership and advise senior leaders on emerging opportunities, evidence, progress, and risk. Required Qualifications Advanced degree or equivalent experience in education, workforce development, public policy, technology, organizational transformation, or a related field. At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience, including leadership in education, workforce, digital transformation, AI adoption, or a related area. Ability to translate AI concepts into practical strategies, programs, and institutional solutions for nontechnical stakeholders. Experience developing business and partnerships with donors, governments, foundations, companies, universities, or technology organizations. Strong knowledge of responsible AI and its implications for workforce transitions, institutional capacity, and learning. Demonstrated cross-functional leadership and excellent written, oral, facilitation, and public-representation skills across diverse contexts. Preferred Qualifications Experience with international and emerging-market education and workforce systems. Experience leading AI readiness, digital transformation, educator development, workforce-skilling, or institutional-capacity initiatives. Relevant networks and experience producing evidence or thought leadership for senior and external audiences. Deep experience working across the Middle East and North Africa, with particular depth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and a strong understanding of regional education and workforce systems, institutional landscapes, and policy contexts. The base salary ranges for our primary candidate hubs are structured as follows: Washington, D.C., USA: $150,000 to $181,000 USD per year*; United Arab Emirates (UAE): AED 50,190.83 to AED 61,208.33 per month (Equivalent to approximately $164,000 to $200,000 USD annually); Amman, Jordan: JOD 5,553.83 to JOD 6,795.42 per month (Equivalent to approximately, $94,000 to $115,000 USD annually)** Additional Location-Specific Benefits: United States (D.C.): This position includes eligibility for our comprehensive U.S. benefits package, including health/dental insurance, 401(k) matching, and paid time off. To work in Washington DC location - You must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States. UAE & Amman: In addition to the base salary, candidates hired in the MENA region will be eligible for localized allowances (where applicable) and standard statutory benefits including health coverage, annual flight allowances, and end-of-service gratuities in accordance with local labor laws. What We Offer At IREX, you’ll work alongside committed, passionate, and collaborative colleagues who are united by a shared mission—making it a truly rewarding place to work. We offer learning, development, and growth opportunities, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your overall well-being. If you are excited by IREX’s mission and see yourself contributing to this work, we encourage you to apply—even if your experience does not align with every preferred qualification. We value a range of backgrounds and experiences and are especially interested in candidates who bring curiosity, initiative, strong collaboration skills, and a commitment to meaningful global impact. Please note: While we aim to offer competitive compensation, not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Disability Specifications IREX will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments of 2008. Equal Opportunity Employer IREX seeks to attract the best-qualified candidates who support IREX’s mission and who respect and promote excellence through diversity. IREX is committed to equal opportunity and follows recruitment and selection practices that comply with all applicable employment laws. To this end, IREX recruits, hires, trains, an