Director of Operations

Our client is a fast-growing live communication, events and brand experience agency based in Riyadh. They deliver large-scale events and experiences for leading corporate and government clients across Saudi Arabia and the GCC. As the business scales, they are looking for an experienced Director of Operations to join their Leadership Team and act as the operational backbone of the company. This is a senior leadership position with full ownership of end-to-end project delivery, the supplier ecosystem, production management and financial control at project level. The mandate is clear: every project the company wins must be delivered safely, on time, and at or above target margin. You will build the operational infrastructure the business needs to grow. That includes processes, playbooks, supplier frameworks and financial controls. You will also lead a delivery team of project and production managers. Working alongside the CEO and fellow Leadership Team members, you will bring an honest, practical view of what it takes to deliver every project well. Key Responsibilities Project Delivery and Operations • Own the full project delivery lifecycle on all active mandates, from formal kick-off through to client sign-off • Lead and manage the Project Manager and Production Manager day to day: set priorities, remove obstacles and review outputs • Make sure every project runs with a formal kick-off meeting, a live project tracker, weekly internal check-ins and a formal closure process • Build and continuously improve the company's operational playbook, including processes, templates and checklists aligned with company SOPs • Flag any resource, capacity or delivery risk to the CEO straight away • Make sure no supplier begins work without a signed Purchase Order linked to the correct job number Production and Supplier Management • Build and own a vetted supplier registry for the Kingdom, categorised by type and rated, with standard commercial terms • Lead all supplier relationships, negotiations, performance reviews and preferred supplier agreements • Carry out an internal capability review on every project, with in-house delivery as the default position • Use your existing GCC supplier, venue and production network to secure better terms and reduce project costs • Onboard all new suppliers through a structured registry process, with no ad hoc supplier engagement Financial Control at Project Level • Own budget-versus-actuals tracking on every active project and flag significant variances immediately • Make sure all expenses are logged against the correct job number and cost centre as they occur • Work with the Finance Director to produce margin calculations before any proposal goes to a client • Oversee weekly timesheet submission across the team and report to Finance monthly • Produce a final margin report at project closure, with actuals compared to budget and a full variance analysis • Challenge supplier quotes and find cost efficiencies on every project, without compromising delivery quality Pitch and Proposal Support • Provide operational and production input on all client proposals, covering realistic timelines, delivery methodology, supplier capability and risk assessment • Brief and manage freelance 3D/2D designers and production resources for pitch visualisations • Take part in client-facing pitch presentations where operational credibility makes the difference • Give an honest Go/No-Go assessment on new opportunities, covering delivery feasibility, resource requirements and risk • Refer commercial opportunities that come from your industry network to the Sales and Business Development team Leadership and Governance • Attend and contribute to weekly Leadership Team meetings, representing the operational reality of every project • Give the CEO a weekly operational status update covering all active projects, risks and resources • Escalate operational, financial or delivery risks immediately rather than holding them for the next scheduled meeting • Support the CEO in assessing organisational capacity before new mandates are accepted Requirements Experience • At least 15 years of experience in events, experiential or live production, with demonstrated large-scale delivery in the GCC • Experience on major national or international events, such as large cultural festivals, international sporting events or world expos, is highly desirable • A proven track record of managing projects worth SAR 10M+ from brief to delivery, with full margin accountability • Extensive operational experience in Saudi Arabia, including permits, Civil Defense, General Entertainment Authority (GEA) requirements and the Saudi contractor landscape Experience building and developing a delivery team in a start-up or growth environment. Network An active, established GCC network of suppliers, venues and production partners that can be used to secure better terms from day one. Languages • Fluent English is required • Arabic is an advantage Location • Must be full-time and based in Riyadh, with a consistent on-site presence Benefits Benefits • Competitive compensation package • Annual leave in line with Saudi Labour Law • Medical insurance • A senior leadership role with direct access to the CEO and real influence over the company's direction • The chance to build operational infrastructure from the ground up in a fast-growing agency • High-profile, large-scale events and brand experiences for leading organisations in Saudi Arabia • A clear progression path linked to performance • A collaborative, ambitious leadership team environment Show more Show less