Programming & Placemaking Sr. Manager

Riyadh Holding Company is a leading Saudi company with over four decades of experience in designing, developing, and operating integrated, sustainable urban ecosystems. The company delivers innovative real estate solutions for public-benefit projects across the Riyadh region, creating long-term value for communities and stakeholders. Driven by a commitment to enhancing quality of life and enabling thriving cities, Riyadh Holding focuses on service-oriented developments, the activation of public spaces and parks, and the advancement of logistics and mobility solutions, contributing to sustainable urban growth and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. We are currently seeking an experienced Programming & Placemaking Sr. Manager to joining King Abdullah Gardens accountable for destination planning and year-round programming, translating destination strategy, visitor needs and assets into an integrated portfolio of experiences, programs and activations. The role will lead annual and multi-year planning, programming prioritization, destination readiness and performance planning, while coordinating with internal functions and delivery partners to ensure initiatives are commercially viable, operationally executable and aligned with King Abdullah Gardens strategic objectives. 1. Key Responsibilities • Develop and maintain the destination portfolio across products, experiences, programs and activations. • Assess initiatives based on visitor demand, strategic fit, readiness, commercial potential, operational feasibility and expected impact. • Support destination readiness planning and identify gaps affecting visitor experience and program delivery. • Own the annual destination programming framework and calendar across the Gardens and destination assets. • Develop a balanced mix of signature, seasonal, recurring, educational and cultural programming aligned with target visitor segments. • Identify programming opportunities that increase visitation, dwell time, repeat visitation and destination value. • Coordinate programming requirements with Events & Activation, Visitor Experience, Marketing and commercial functions. • Translate destination assets and botanical content into visitor-facing experiences and commercially viable concepts. • Develop business cases, scopes and briefs for priority destination initiatives where required. • Develop scopes and briefs for delivery partners and coordinate implementation with operators. • Assess partnership and private-sector participation opportunities supporting destination programming. • Monitor delivery against approved plans, budgets, timelines and strategic objectives. • Establish KPIs for programming and destination initiatives. • Track visitation, participation, dwell time, satisfaction, repeat visitation and commercial performance. 2. Qualifications & Experience: • Education: Bachelor's degree in Events Management, Arts & Culture, Marketing, or a related field; Master's preferred. • Experience: 6 years of experience in destination planning, tourism development, destination programming, product and experience development, management consulting, placemaking or related fields, ideally within a large-scale destination, public-realm, tourism or leisure environment. • Languages: Fluent Arabic and English. Show more Show less

Bachelor's degree in Events Management, Arts & Culture, Marketing, or a related field; 6 years of experience in destination planning, tourism development, destination programming, product and experience development, management consulting, placemaking or related fields (ideally within a large-scale destination, public-realm, tourism or leisure environment); Fluent in Arabic and English.

Develop and maintain the destination portfolio across products, experiences, programs and activations. Assess initiatives based on visitor demand, strategic fit, readiness, commercial potential, operational feasibility and expected impact. Support destination readiness planning and identify gaps affecting visitor experience and program delivery. Own the annual destination programming framework and calendar across the Gardens and destination assets. Develop a balanced mix of signature, seasonal, recurring, educational and cultural programming aligned with target visitor segments. Identify programming opportunities that increase visitation, dwell time, repeat visitation and destination value. Coordinate programming requirements with Events & Activation, Visitor Experience, Marketing and commercial functions. Translate destination assets and botanical content into visitor-facing experiences and commercially viable concepts. Develop business cases, scopes and briefs for priority destination initiatives where required. Develop scopes and briefs for delivery partners and coordinate implementation with operators. Assess partnership and private-sector participation opportunities supporting destination programming. Monitor delivery against approved plans, budgets, timelines and strategic objectives. Establish KPIs for programming and destination initiatives. Track visitation, participation, dwell time, satisfaction, repeat visitation and commercial performance.