Director - Operations & Event Delivery

Qiddiya is Saudi Arabia’s future capital of entertainment, sports, and culture — a 360 km² mega-project just outside Riyadh. From F1-grade racetracks and theme parks to stadiums and performance venues, we’re creating a destination like no other. This is more than a project — it’s a national transformation. As construction accelerates, we’re hiring ambitious talent to help shape it. If you’re driven by scale, impact, and the chance to build something iconic from the ground up — Qiddiya is calling Role Purpose Lead the planning and execution of all event operations and site-wide delivery at Cultural and Heritage program, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality delivery of cultural programming, guest experience, and large-scale event operations in alignment with asset objectives Key Responsibilities Event Operations Planning & Delivery - Lead end-to-end planning and execution of all event operations across Cultural and Heritage program, including the Festival and year-round programming - Translate programming, marketing, and commercial plans into detailed operational delivery models - Develop and manage event operations plans, schedules, and resource requirements - Ensure seamless execution of all programming and activities in line with operational plans Logistics, Site Readiness & Overlay - Lead planning and execution of logistics, site readiness, and event overlay (temporary infrastructure, structures, utilities, and services) - Ensure readiness of all operational infrastructure prior to opening and across event cycles - Oversee site setup, dismantling, and transition between events or programming phases - Coordinate movement planning including access, transport, parking, and crowd flows Health, Safety & Security (HSE) - Establish and enforce HSE and security frameworks across all operations - Oversee crowd management planning, emergency response, and incident management protocols - Ensure compliance with regulatory and authority requirements - Coordinate with security agencies and government entities to ensure safe delivery Guest Experience & On-Ground Delivery - Ensure delivery of a high-quality, safe, and seamless visitor experience across all touchpoints - Oversee guest flow, queue management, accessibility, and service standards - Monitor on-ground performance and address operational issues in real time Vendor & Operator Management - Oversee management of all operational vendors, contractors, and service providers - Ensure vendor performance meets operational, safety, and service standards - Coordinate with procurement and contract management functions Cross-Functional Integration & Feasibility - Lead operational feasibility assessment of programming, commercial, and marketing initiatives - Ensure alignment between programming requirements and operational capabilities - Work closely with: - Programming → feasibility and scheduling - Commercial → activation requirements - Marketing → campaign-driven demand Asset & Site Coordination - Coordinate closely with Asset & Site Management on facilities, maintenance, and infrastructure readiness - Ensure operational alignment with permanent and temporary asset requirements - Support long-term planning of site usage and capacity Asset Management & Group Alignment - Align operational plans with Asset Management direction and performance expectations - Coordinate with Qiddiya Group functions and external authorities where required - Provide operational input into planning, budgeting, and performance reviews Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement - Define and track operational KPIs including service levels, efficiency, and safety - Monitor performance during events and identify improvement opportunities - Implement continuous improvement initiatives across operations Key Success Metrics - Operational delivery against plan - Visitor experience and satisfaction - Health, safety, and security performance - Efficiency of event execution - Readiness and delivery of major events Required Skills & Competencies - Strong experience in large-scale event operations and delivery - Ability to manage complex logistics and site operations - Strong knowledge of crowd management and HSE standards - Ability to operate in high-pressure, fast-paced environments - Cross-functional coordination and execution capability Requirements - 12–15+ years of experience, with a significant portion in leadership roles overseeing large-scale operations and event delivery - Proven experience in: o Planning and delivering large-scale events, festivals, or destination operations with high visitor volumes o Managing complex, multi-site or multi-zone environments involving diverse activities and stakeholders o Leading end-to-end event operations, including planning, logistics, site readiness, and live delivery -