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Head of Operations & Guest Experience
مجموعة الأصول الثقافية Cultural Assets Group
Jeddah, KSA
Full Time
Director
Onsite
4 days ago
Venue OperationsGuest Experience ManagementFinancial GovernanceStakeholder ManagementRisk ManagementBusiness Continuity
Free
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Venue OperationsGuest Experience ManagementFinancial Governance
About the Role
The Head of Operations & Guest Experience will lead the full operating mandate for a major cultural and entertainment destination in Jeddah, acting as the primary executive interface between the Operating Company, the Client, and the parent Group.
Key Skills for This Role
Venue OperationsGuest Experience ManagementFinancial GovernanceStakeholder ManagementRisk ManagementBusiness Continuity
Responsibilities
- Own delivery of the full operating mandate and the multi year term strategy, including the Years 1–2 Pilot Period mobilisation, handover and stabilisation plan.
- Act as the single accountable executive across the four operating layers, integrating all functions through the Operating Company as one system.
- Steward the Venue as a Group investment — protecting asset value, driving utilisation and commercial performance, and reporting returns to the Group.
- Lead the Operating Company’s participation in the three governance committees and secure all required Client approvals.
- Direct transitions between Normal Mode and Festival Mode, ensuring readiness at 90/30 days and structured post event reset.
- Approve annual operating plans, budgets and the annual reset mechanism; own performance against the KPI scorecard.
- Set leadership, culture, accountability and safety standards for the senior team and wider organisation.
- Lead enterprise risk management, business continuity and organisational resilience across all operating modes.
- Build strategic relationships with government entities, cultural institutions and key stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with concession obligations, governance requirements and approved operating frameworks.
Requirements
- 15+ years in large venue, cultural, hospitality or destination leadership
- 5+ years in a GM / Director / CEO role
- Experience leading PPP / Concession / Destination Operations
- Proven single point accountability for multi function operations, budgets and subcontractor ecosystems
- Experience delivering complex cultural or experiential projects, ideally in the region / Saudi market
- Strong financial governance, stakeholder diplomacy and P&L ownership
- Master's degree preferred
- Arabic an advantage
Full Job Posting
About the Opportunity
- This role is based at a major new cultural and entertainment destination in Saudi Arabia Jeddah — a landmark venue anchored by cinema and complemented by year round cultural programming, live events, F&B, retail and hospitality, set within a prominent historic district.
- The Venue is run by a dedicated Operating Company under a single prime accountability model.
- Operations alternate between Normal Mode and Festival Mode.
Location & Travel
- Permanently based in Jeddah, with the flexibility and willingness to travel between Riyadh and Jeddah as required by the business operations.
Position Summary
- Reports to: Operating Company Board / the Client, via the Joint Governance Committee (quarterly)
- Direct reports: Head of Operations & Guest Experience; Head of Programming & Activation; Head of Technical & Venue Operations; Head of Commercial, Marketing & Partnerships; Head of Finance, Governance & Reporting
- Operating model area: Single prime accountability across all four operating layers (Operating Company platform)
Role Purpose
- Holds single prime operational and commercial accountability for the Venue on behalf of the Operating Company, and acts as the primary executive interface between the Operating Company, the Client and the parent Group.
- Translates the Client’s cultural mandate and the Group’s investment objectives into disciplined, year round venue operations across all operating modes, while ensuring compliance with governance requirements, contractual obligations and long term operational sustainability.
Key Responsibilities
- Own delivery of the full operating mandate and the multi year term strategy, including the Years 1–2 Pilot Period mobilisation, handover and stabilisation plan.
- Act as the single accountable executive across the four operating layers, integrating all functions through the Operating Company as one system rather than disconnected vendors.
- Steward the Venue as a Group investment — protecting asset value, driving utilisation and commercial performance, and reporting returns to the Group.
- Lead the Operating Company’s participation in the three governance committees (Joint Governance; Programming, Marketing & Brand; Commercial & Partnerships) and secure all required Client approvals.
- Direct transitions between Normal Mode (Operating Company authority) and Festival Mode (Client led, Operating Company delivery), ensuring readiness at 90/30 days and structured post event reset.
- Approve annual operating plans, budgets and the annual reset mechanism; own performance against the KPI scorecard.
- Set leadership, culture, accountability and safety standards for the senior team and wider organisation, and manage engagement of the Group’s shared service business partners.
- Lead enterprise risk management, business continuity and organisational resilience across all operating modes.
- Build strategic relationships with government entities, cultural institutions and key stakeholders to support the long term success of the Venue.
- Ensure compliance with concession obligations, governance requirements and approved operating frameworks.
Key Relationships & Interfaces
- The Client — institutional principal: primary executive interface and committee member.
- The parent Group — investor: investment reporting and access to shared service business partners (HR, IT, procurement, legal, risk, finance, government relations).
- Government authorities, cultural partners and key subcontractors / approved vendors.
Performance Measures (KPIs)
- Pilot Period mobilisation and operational stabilisation.
- Governance compliance and Client satisfaction.
- Venue utilisation and commercial performance.
- Budget delivery and EBITDA performance.
- Health, safety and operational resilience.
Qualifications & Experience
- 15+ years in large venue, cultural, hospitality or destination leadership, including 5+ in a GM / Director / CEO role.
- Experience leading PPP / Concession / Destination Operations.
- Proven single point accountability for multi function operations, budgets and subcontractor ecosystems.
- Experience delivering complex cultural or experiential projects, ideally in the region / Saudi market.
- Strong financial governance, stakeholder diplomacy and P&L ownership; Master’s degree preferred; Arabic an advantage.
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