Senior Director Event Planning

About Jacobs and the Opportunity

Jacobs (KSA) is a key delivery partner for one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship giga-projects, a central pillar of Vision 2030, located approximately 45 km southwest of Riyadh. This landmark development aims to diversify the economy and enhance quality of life through world-class attractions, residential communities, and natural landscapes. We are seeking a Senior Director Event Planning to lead the strategic development and execution of major events within this significant project.

Role Purpose and Scope

The Senior Director, Event Planning will lead the development and execution of integrated planning for major sporting, entertainment, cultural, and civic events. This full-time role translates the strategic event portfolio into coordinated, deliverable plans by overseeing governance, budgets, schedules, operational requirements, stakeholder commitments, and readiness activities. Acting as the City Operations planning lead, the position ensures alignment across districts, venues, delivery partners, and operational functions, with a particular focus on major events in 2028. The role manages citywide planning dependencies and operational integration while maintaining clear accountability boundaries with event owners, venue operators, and asset operators responsible for event delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the major events planning framework, governance, standards, and assurance processes.
• Develop integrated multi-year event portfolio plans, aligning priorities, resources, and operational requirements.
• Oversee end-to-end event planning from concept through delivery, readiness, and post-event evaluation.
• Integrate cross-functional operational plans, including mobility, security, guest experience, logistics, communications, and emergency response.
• Manage citywide operational concepts, service overlays, temporary infrastructure, and venue interfaces.
• Establish readiness, assurance, risk management, testing, rehearsals, and contingency planning programs.
• Support live event operations through planning integration, issue resolution, and operational coordination.
• Lead stakeholder engagement with event owners, operators, government agencies, emergency services, and delivery partners.
• Oversee event planning budgets, procurement strategies, supplier performance, and cost management.
• Build and develop a high-performing event planning team, fostering collaboration, capability development, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Business Administration, Operations, Project Management, Hospitality, Tourism, or a related field. A Master's degree and relevant professional certifications are preferred.
• Minimum of 18 years of experience in major event planning, event operations, or program management, including 8+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Proven track record in delivering and integrating complex sporting, entertainment, cultural, or civic events in high-profile environments.

Required Skills and Expertise

• Strong expertise in operational readiness, scheduling, governance, risk management, procurement, budget control, and executive reporting.
• Demonstrated capabilities in event planning, stakeholder management, operational integration, command and control, contract management, multi-agency coordination, and planning technology tools.
• Preferred experience within Saudi Arabia, the GCC, giga-projects, major destinations, organizing committees, venues, or large-scale event environments.

Location

This full-time position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, supporting a flagship giga-project that is a central pillar of Vision 2030 across all SA Regions. Jacobs is committed to creating thriving cities and resilient environments.