Solutions Lead, Programs

Role summary

Reports to: Director of Programs and Customer Success Location: Cairo, Egypt (hybrid), with regular travel across the GCC Works closely with: Commercial team, Program Managers, Costing and Pricing, Strategic Partnerships

The role. The Solutions Lead is the bridge between what partners need and what Manara can deliver. You will research ecosystems and prospective partners, build a deep working knowledge of our delivery capabilities, and turn that into proposals and concept notes that win. You will pitch alongside the commercial team as the owner of the solution, then hand over cleanly to Programs for delivery.

What you will do

Ecosystem and partner research

• Map target ecosystems across MENA (governments, foundations, tech companies, development organizations), with priority on KSA, UAE, Qatar, and Egypt.
• Build partner briefs covering strategic priorities, funding cycles, workforce agendas, and decision makers.
• Track national strategies, labor market data, and policy shifts, and turn them into the evidence base for each proposal.

Delivery capability mastery

• Learn Manara's program models, curricula, delivery partners, certification pathways, outcomes data, and operational constraints in detail.
• Own a living capability library: case studies, program archetypes, impact metrics, and reusable proposal modules.
• Work with Program Managers to keep the library accurate and grounded in what we can actually deliver.

Proposal and concept note design

• Lead concept notes, proposals, and pitch decks from first brief to final submission.
• Design program architecture: target cohorts, learning journeys, delivery model, timelines, KPIs, and MEL frameworks.
• Build realistic delivery budgets with Costing, and align on pricing and terms with the commercial team.
• Run feasibility checks before we commit, and flag delivery risks early.

Pitching and stakeholder engagement

• Co-present with the commercial team, owning the solution narrative and answering technical and design questions.
• Lead discovery conversations to sharpen requirements and tailor the offer.
• Manage revisions and follow-ups through to contracting.

Handover and continuous improvement

• Produce structured handover packs so Programs can launch without re-scoping.
• Run win/loss reviews and feed lessons into templates, positioning, and the capability library.

What success looks like in the first 6 months

• Owns end-to-end pre-sales on at least 5 active opportunities with minimal Director involvement.
• Capability library and proposal template set are live and used by the commercial team.
• Average proposal turnaround is shorter, and every submission passes a feasibility and costing check.
• No major re-scoping after handover on newly won programs.

What we are looking for

Must have

• 5+ years in pre-sales, solution design, proposal development, or program design, ideally in education, workforce development, consulting, or tech.
• A track record of winning proposals or concept notes for government, foundation, or corporate funders.
• Strong research and synthesis: you can turn a national strategy and a labor market report into a sharp program rationale.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Confidence presenting to senior stakeholders and defending design choices.
• Commercial awareness: you understand margins, cost drivers, and how scope shapes price.

Nice to have

• Experience with GCC government entities or development organizations.
• Familiarity with cloud, AI, or digital skills ecosystems (AWS, Google, Microsoft, Adobe).
• Background in MEL or outcomes-based program design.
• Strong deck-building and visual storytelling skills.

What this role is not

This is not a sales quota role and not a delivery role. You will not own long-term partner relationships or run programs. You will own the quality, feasibility, and persuasiveness of everything we propose.