Government Relations Officer – GRO (Saudi National)
Job Fit Check
Base Career helps you apply smarter for this job.
Key skills for this role
About the Role
Faena Wadi Safar seeks a Saudi National Government Relations Officer to manage government transactions, licensing, and workforce compliance for a pre-opening luxury hotel in Riyadh.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Manage all government related transactions including commercial registration, municipality licenses, and hotel operating permits
- Maintain and renew all company licenses, certificates, and official documents on time
- Liaise with relevant authorities including Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Commerce, and local municipal bodies
- Process and renew work visas, Iqama, and exit/re entry permits for expatriate employees
- Manage all Iqama related transactions including transfers, upgrades, and cancellations
- Ensure full compliance with Nitaqat (Saudization) requirements and monitor hotel's Qiwa classification
- Operate and maintain hotel accounts across all government platforms including Qiwa, Absher, Muqeem, GOSI, Mudad, and Aqar
- Submit mandatory reports and filings across all relevant portals within required deadlines
- Support pre opening team in obtaining all required government approvals, clearances, and permits
- Act as primary point of contact for all colleague government related inquiries
Requirements
- Saudi National with hands on experience in government relations, public relations, or regulatory compliance within hospitality or similar operational environment
- Deeply knowledgeable of Saudi government platforms and processes including Qiwa, Absher, Muqeem, GOSI, Mudad, and Ministry of Tourism requirements
- Experienced in managing large volumes of government transactions with precision and urgency
- Natural relationship builder with established connections across key government bodies
- Discreet, trustworthy, and highly organized
- Proactive and solution oriented with ability to anticipate regulatory changes
- Fluent in Arabic and English
Full Job Posting
Company Description
- Faena creates cultural epicenters—living stages where art, design, and warm, attentive hospitality convene to craft a feast for the senses.
- We are a Cultural Embassy that invites guests to seek the extraordinary, shaping worlds that feel profoundly personal, welcoming, and alive.
- At Wadi Safar, we are shaping a new world where art, architecture, and nature live in harmony.
The Role
- As Government Relations Officer (GRO), you will serve as the vital link between Faena Wadi Safar and the Saudi governmental landscape—ensuring seamless compliance, protecting the hotel's legal standing, and enabling our people to focus on delivering world class hospitality.
- You will manage all government facing processes with precision, discretion, and a deep understanding of the regulatory environment.
- As a Saudi National, you will bring invaluable local expertise and cultural fluency to navigate government entities with confidence—playing a key role in our Saudization journey.
Government Transactions & Licensing
- Manage all government related transactions including commercial registration, municipality licenses, and hotel operating permits.
- Maintain and renew all company licenses, certificates, and official documents on time without exception.
- Liaise with relevant authorities including the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Commerce, and local municipal bodies.
Workforce Compliance & Visas
- Process and renew work visas, Iqama, and exit/re entry permits for all expatriate employees in a timely manner.
- Manage all Iqama related transactions including transfers, upgrades, and cancellations.
- Ensure full compliance with Nitaqat (Saudization) requirements and monitor the hotel's Qiwa classification.
Platform Management
- Operate and maintain hotel accounts across all government platforms including Qiwa, Absher, Muqeem, GOSI, Mudad, and Aqar.
- Submit mandatory reports and filings across all relevant portals within required deadlines.
- Monitor updates to government regulations and proactively communicate changes to the People & Culture team.
Pre Opening Government Readiness
- Support the pre opening team in obtaining all required government approvals, clearances, and permits before opening day.
- Coordinate with contractors, consultants, and government liaisons to ensure readiness across all regulatory fronts.
- Build relationships with key government contacts to facilitate smooth processing and issue resolution.
Colleague Support & Documentation
- Act as the primary point of contact for all colleague government related inquiries with professionalism and care.
- Maintain accurate and confidential records of all government documents, permits, and employee legal files.
- Support the onboarding and offboarding process for expatriate colleagues from a government compliance perspective.
Who You Are
- A Saudi National with hands on experience in government relations, public relations, or a regulatory compliance role within hospitality or a similarly complex operational environment.
- Deeply knowledgeable of Saudi government platforms, processes, and entities — including Qiwa, Absher, Muqeem, GOSI, Mudad, and Ministry of Tourism requirements.
- Experienced in managing large volumes of government transactions with precision, urgency, and zero tolerance for error.
- A natural relationship builder with established connections across key government bodies and a proven ability to navigate bureaucratic processes efficiently.
- Discreet, trustworthy, and highly organized — someone colleagues and leadership can rely on to protect the hotel's compliance standing at all times.
- Proactive and solution oriented, with the ability to anticipate regulatory changes and act before they become issues.
- Fluent in Arabic and English, with the communication skills to bridge government requirements and internal stakeholders seamlessly.
What’s in it for you...
- Lots of opportunity to progress and switch it up as part of a global family of brands.
- Great healthcare, competitive salary, and some nice extra perks across the Ennismore family of brands!
- Learning opportunities to broaden your skillset and development that helps you think, make, and thrive at work.
- The opportunity to be yourself and collaborate with other bright minds in a relaxed, innovative culture.
Apply for this job in 1 click
Skip the repetitive application forms
Install the Base Career Chrome Extension and autofill job applications across major job boards with your profile.
Trusted by over 500,000 job seekers on Base Career
More from this employer
More jobs at Ennismore
Engineering Manager
Al Wadi District, KSA
Faena seeks an Engineering Manager to lead technical operations at an ultra-luxury hotel in Riyadh. The role oversees MEP systems, preventive maintenance, pre-opening readiness, and team leadership. Requires luxury hospi
Engineering Coordinator (Saudi National)
Al Wadi District, KSA
Faena Wadi Safar is seeking an Engineering Coordinator to support technical operations, coordinate projects, and maintain operational rhythm. The role involves daily engineering activities, pre-opening readiness, and cro
Executive Sous Chef
Al Wadi District, KSA
Faena Wadi Safar is seeking an Executive Sous Chef to lead all culinary operations and drive departmental excellence. The role requires 8+ years of hospitality experience with at least 3 years at Director level in Culina
Vice President Design & Technical Services MEAIT
Dubai, UAE
Ennismore is seeking a VP of Design & Technical Services for the MEAIT region to lead design and technical development of hospitality projects. The role involves overseeing projects from concept to opening, managing a re
Vice President Design & Technical Services MEAIT
Dubai, UAE
Ennismore seeks a VP of Design & Technical Services to lead design and technical development across MEAIT. Requires 10+ years in senior hospitality D&T roles, architecture/engineering degree, and experience with owners a
People & Culture Exec
Al Wadi District, KSA
Faena by Ennismore seeks a People & Culture Executive in Riyadh to support recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, and compliance with Saudi Labour Law. Requires 2-3 years of HR experience in luxury hospitality and
Director, Finance
Al Wadi District, KSA
Faena Wadi Safar is seeking a Director of Finance to lead financial operations during pre-opening and beyond. The role involves financial strategy, reporting, compliance, and team leadership in a luxury hospitality setti
Sales Manager Transient
Al Wadi District, KSA
Faena Wadi Safar seeks a Sales Manager Transient to drive individual business performance by managing corporate, leisure, diplomatic, and online travel accounts. This pre-opening role involves prospecting, negotiating LN
Engineering Manager
Al Wadi District, KSA
Engineering Coordinator (Saudi National)
Al Wadi District, KSA
Executive Sous Chef
Al Wadi District, KSA
Vice President Design & Technical Services MEAIT
Dubai, UAE
Vice President Design & Technical Services MEAIT
Dubai, UAE
People & Culture Exec
Al Wadi District, KSA
Director, Finance
Al Wadi District, KSA
Sales Manager Transient
Al Wadi District, KSA