Director - Operations & Event Delivery
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Posted 25 days ago
About the role
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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Operational delivery against plan
- Visitor experience and satisfaction
- Health, safety, and security performance
- Efficiency of event execution
- Readiness and delivery of major events
- 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
- 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