Head of Programming & Activation

About the Opportunity

This position is based at a prominent new cultural and entertainment destination situated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The venue is a landmark site centered around cinema and complemented by continuous cultural programming, live entertainment events, food and beverage outlets, retail, and hospitality. It resides within a notable historic district.

The venue's management is structured under a dedicated Operating Company following a single-prime accountability framework. In this arrangement, an institutional client acts as the principal and cultural mandate holder, while the Operating Company assumes responsibility for all operational functions as a cohesive unit. Corporate shared services such as HR, IT, procurement, legal, risk and compliance, finance, and government relations are provided by the Operating Company's parent group as business partners. Operational modes alternate between a Normal Mode led by the Operating Company year-round, and a Festival Mode during which the client leads major event periods while the Operating Company operates the venue.

Location & Travel: The role requires permanent residence in Jeddah and flexibility to travel between Jeddah and Riyadh as needed for business operations.

Position Summary

Reporting to: Operating Company Board and Client via the Joint Governance Committee (quarterly)

Direct reports include: Heads of Operations & Guest Experience, Programming & Activation, Technical & Venue Operations, Commercial Marketing & Partnerships, and Finance Governance & Reporting.

Role Purpose: The role holds full operational and commercial responsibility for the venue on behalf of the Operating Company. It serves as the chief executive liaison between the Operating Company, the Client, and the parent Group. The position entails translating the Client’s cultural objectives and the Group’s investment goals into diligent, year-round venue operations across all modes, ensuring compliance with governance, contracts, and sustainable long-term operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the execution of the complete operational mandate and multi-year strategic plan, including the initial 1–2 year Pilot Period focusing on mobilisation, handover, and stabilisation.
• Serve as the single accountable executive integrating all functions under the Operating Company umbrella as a unified system rather than separate vendors.
• Manage the venue as a Group investment by safeguarding asset value, optimizing utilization and commercial results, and reporting financial returns.
• Lead Operating Company's engagement in the three governance committees (Joint Governance, Programming Marketing & Brand, Commercial & Partnerships) securing necessary Client approvals.
• Oversee transitions between Normal Mode (Operating Company-led) and Festival Mode (Client-led but Operating Company delivery), ensuring readiness at 90 and 30 days with structured post-event recovery.
• Authorize annual operating plans and budgets along with reset mechanisms, and own performance measured by a KPI scorecard.
• Set leadership, cultural, accountability, and safety standards across the senior team and entire organization, and manage relationships with the Group’s shared-service partners.
• Lead enterprise risk management, business continuity, and resilience planning for all operating modes.
• Develop strategic partnerships with government bodies, cultural organizations, and key stakeholders to support long-term venue success.
• Ensure compliance with concession contracts, governance standards, and approved operating frameworks.

Key Relationships & Interfaces

• The Client as principal: primary executive interface and governance committee member.
• The parent Group as investor: responsible for investment reporting and liaison with shared services (HR, IT, procurement, legal, risk, finance, government relations).
• Government authorities, cultural partners, subcontractors, and approved vendors.

Performance Metrics (KPIs)

• Effective Pilot Period mobilisation and operational stabilisation.
• Compliance with governance and positive Client feedback.
• High venue utilization and strong commercial performance.
• Budget adherence and profitability (EBITDA) outcomes.
• Health, safety, and operational resilience.

Qualifications & Experience

• Over 15 years of leadership experience in large cultural venues, hospitality, or destination management, including a minimum of 5 years in senior executive roles such as General Manager, Director, or CEO.
• Demonstrable experience managing Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Concession, or Destination Operations.
• Proven single-point responsibility for multi-functional operations, budget management, and subcontractor ecosystems.
• Record of delivering complex cultural or experiential projects with a preference for experience in the Saudi or regional market.
• Strong expertise in financial governance, stakeholder relations, and profit and loss accountability. A Master’s degree is preferred and proficiency in Arabic is advantageous.