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 PurposeLead 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 objectivesKey ResponsibilitiesEvent Operations Planning & DeliveryLead 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 & OverlayLead 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 DeliveryEnsure 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 ManagementOversee 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 & FeasibilityLead 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 CoordinationCoordinate 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 AlignmentAlign 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 ImprovementDefine 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 eventsRequired 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 - 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 - Strong experience in:o Crowd management, HSE, and security operations within large public eventso Operational planning and logistics, including transport, access, and site movemento Vendor and contractor management across multiple service lines- Demonstrated ability to:o Operate in high-pressure, real-time environments with critical decision-making responsibilitieso Manage and coordinate with government authorities, regulatory bodies, and security agencieso Lead large, cross-functional operational teams and on-ground workforce- Experience in:o Pre-opening and activation phases of large-scale venues, events, or destinations (preferred)o Transitioning from readiness to live operations and managing ongoing operational cycles