Head of Operations & Guest Experience📣 Job Ad

About the Role

The Head of Operations & Guest Experience will lead a major new cultural and entertainment destination in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This landmark venue is anchored by cinema and complemented by year-round cultural programming, live events, F&B, retail, and hospitality, situated within a prominent historic district. This is a full-time position with Cultural Assets Group (مجموعة الأصول الثقافية).

Role Purpose and Operational Framework

This executive role holds single-prime operational and commercial accountability for the Venue on behalf of the Operating Company. The Head of Operations & Guest Experience acts as the primary executive interface between the Operating Company, the institutional Client, and the parent Group. The position is responsible for translating 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. Operations alternate between Normal Mode, led by the Operating Company, and Festival Mode, where the Client leads flagship events and the Operating Company delivers the venue.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the 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 cohesive 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 (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.

Qualifications and Experience

• 15+ years of experience in large-venue, cultural, hospitality, or destination leadership, including 5+ years in a General Manager, Director, or CEO role.
• Proven experience leading PPP (Public-Private Partnership), Concession, or Destination Operations.
• Demonstrated single-point accountability for multi-function operations, budgets, and subcontractor ecosystems.
• Experience delivering complex cultural or experiential projects, ideally within the Saudi market or wider region.
• Strong financial governance, stakeholder diplomacy, and P&L ownership.

Reporting Structure and Key Relationships

This position reports to the Operating Company Board and the Client, via the Joint Governance Committee on a quarterly basis. Key direct reports include the Head of Operations & Guest Experience, Head of Programming & Activation, Head of Technical & Venue Operations, Head of Commercial, Marketing & Partnerships, and Head of Finance, Governance & Reporting. The role involves primary executive interface with the institutional Client, investment reporting to the parent Group, and engagement with government authorities, cultural partners, and key subcontractors/approved vendors.

Location and Work Type

The role is permanently based in Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Flexibility and willingness to travel between Riyadh and Jeddah are required as dictated by business operations. This is a full-time position.