Overview
Head of Programming & Activation Jobs in Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia at مجموعة الأصول الثقافية Cultural Assets Group
Title: Head of Programming & Activation
Company: مجموعة الأصول الثقافية Cultural Assets Group
Location: Jeddah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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: an institutional client acts as principal and cultural mandate-holder; the Operating Company delivers all operating functions as one integrated system; and the Operating Company’s parent group provides corporate shared services (HR, IT, procurement, legal, risk & compliance, finance and government relations) as business partners.
Operations alternate between Normal Mode — Operating Company-led, year-round operation — and Festival Mode, in which the Client leads flagship event periods and the Operating Company delivers the venue. Responsibilities below apply across both modes.
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.
