Manager - Regional Cultural Program

About Qiddiya

Qiddiya is set to become Saudi Arabia's foremost destination for entertainment, sports, and culture, spanning 360 square kilometers on the outskirts of Riyadh. This expansive mega-project features Formula 1-level racetracks, theme parks, stadiums, and performance venues, representing a transformative national initiative. As the project progresses rapidly, Qiddiya seeks motivated professionals eager to contribute to building a signature landmark from the ground up.

Role Purpose

This role entails leading the strategic planning, organization, and execution of regional cultural programming that authentically showcases the diverse heritage of Saudi Arabia’s regions. The objective is to deliver compelling, high-quality cultural experiences aligned with the overarching programming vision.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement comprehensive programming plans for all regional pavilions aligned with the global program calendar.
• Structure daily and seasonal activity schedules ensuring diversity, balance, and consistent engagement for visitors.
• Oversee coordination of performances, demonstrations, and cultural experiences throughout all regional zones.
• Collaborate with regional entities and cultural stakeholders to curate authentic content representing each region.
• Maintain uniformity in quality, storytelling, and visitor experience at every regional pavilion.
• Define program requirements, thematic focuses, and cultural narratives for each area.
• Foster and manage relationships with regional representatives, governmental bodies, and cultural institutions to ensure cohesive participation.
• Handle logistics, stakeholder coordination, and readiness for regional contributors’ involvement.
• Work closely with Operations, Facility Management, and Asset teams to guarantee operational readiness of cultural spaces.
• Assess program feasibility through scheduling, capacity management, and support rehearsal and live delivery efforts.
• Monitor visitor metrics and engagement levels, identifying and addressing areas needing enhancement.
• Ensure consistent high standards across regional cultural experiences and drive financial sustainability by collaborating with Commercial teams to uncover revenue opportunities.
• Maintain strong ties with regional and international cultural organizations to enrich program offerings.

Success Indicators

• Engagement and participation from regional stakeholders.
• Robust visitor interaction across cultural pavilions.
• Authentic and high-quality representation of regional cultures.
• Adherence to budgetary targets for regional programming.

Skills and Competencies

• Deep knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s regional cultures and heritage.
• Expertise in stakeholder engagement and multi-party relationship management.
• Strong event and program management capabilities.
• High cultural sensitivity with attention to detail.
• Effective cross-department collaboration skills involving programming, commercial, marketing, and ecosystem teams.
• Aptitude for balancing cultural authenticity with commercial goals.

Qualifications and Experience

• 6 to 10 years of professional experience in cultural programming, event management, or heritage-related roles.
• Documented work with regional cultural initiatives, heritage projects, or community arts activities.
• Comprehensive understanding of Saudi’s regional traditions and cultural diversity.
• Track record in ensuring accurate and authentic cultural representation among multiple participants.
• Proven ability to coordinate with diverse stakeholders including government agencies, regional authorities, and cultural organizations.
• Preferred experience within structured or governmental contexts.
• Capability to plan and deliver complex, multi-activity or geographically distributed programs.
• Competency in converting high-level programming frameworks into detailed operational schedules.
• Experience liaising with operations teams for program feasibility and onsite delivery.
• Awareness of site logistics, capacity constraints, and event requirements.
• Competency supporting live-event environments characterized by fast pace and dynamic changes.
• Exposure to large-scale cultural festivals, national celebrations, or destination programming is advantageous.
• Familiarity with pre-opening phases or activation projects is a plus.