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: • Planning and delivering large-scale events, festivals, or destination operations with high visitor volumes • Managing complex, multi-site or multi-zone environments involving diverse activities and stakeholders • Leading end-to-end event operations, including planning, logistics, site readiness, and live delivery • Strong experience in: • Crowd management, HSE, and security operations within large public events • Operational planning and logistics, including transport, access, and site movement • Vendor and contractor management across multiple service lines • Demonstrated ability to: • Operate in high-pressure, real-time environments with critical decision-making responsibilities • Manage and coordinate with government authorities, regulatory bodies, and security agencies • Lead large, cross-functional operational teams and on-ground workforce • Experience in: • Pre-opening and activation phases of large-scale venues, events, or destinations (preferred) • Transitioning from readiness to live operations and managing ongoing operational cycles Show more Show less

12-15+ years of experience, with a significant portion in leadership roles overseeing large-scale operations and event delivery. Proven experience in: Planning and delivering large-scale events, festivals, or destination operations with high visitor volumes; Managing complex, multi-site or multi-zone environments involving diverse activities and stakeholders; Leading end-to-end event operations, including planning, logistics, site readiness, and live delivery. Strong experience in: Crowd management, HSE, and security operations within large public events; Operational planning and logistics, including transport, access, and site movement; Vendor and contractor management across multiple service lines. Demonstrated ability to: Operate in high-pressure, real-time environments with critical decision-making responsibilities; Manage and coordinate with government authorities, regulatory bodies, and security agencies; Lead large, cross-functional operational teams and on-ground workforce. Experience in: Pre-opening and activation phases of large-scale venues, events, or destinations (preferred); Transitioning from readiness to live operations and managing ongoing operational cycles.

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; 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.