Role PurposeLead this Arts and Culture programme as a flagship cultural destination and operating business, with overall accountability for strategy, performance, governance, stakeholder leadership, and long-term value creation. The role is responsible for setting the strategic direction and operating model for the asset, leading pre-opening readiness and post-opening performance, and delivering a distinctive cultural proposition, strong commercial outcomes, and operational excellence in line with shareholder objectives and QIC governance requirements.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Leadership & Business Performance- Lead the overall strategy, operating model, and business plan of this arts and culture programme- Own full P&L accountability, including budgeting, forecasting, financial performance, and cost control- Drive commercial growth and delivery of approved business objectives across key revenue streamsPre-Opening & Asset Mobilization• Lead establishment and mobilization of the operating company ahead of opening• Ensure readiness across people, processes, systems, governance, and operational interfaces• Lead cross-functional coordination with development and delivery teams to ensure readiness for openingOperational Leadership• Lead overall operational performance and delivery of approved operating and financial plans• Ensure safe, efficient, guest-centric operations and continuous improvement in service quality and performance• Oversee operational resilience, service standards, and asset-wide readiness across the destinationCultural Proposition & Overall Experience• Set the strategic direction for cultural proposition and overall visitor experience• Ensure cultural programming reflects national heritage, strengthens destination positioning, and supports commercial objectives• Oversee programming and guest experience performance as key drivers of visitation and asset successStakeholder & External Relations• Lead relationships with government entities, cultural institutions, strategic partners, and other key external stakeholders• Represent this programme in matters relating to strategic partnerships, external coordination, and destination positioning• Secure stakeholder alignment and support on matters critical to the asset’s positioning, approvals, and long-term successGovernance, Reporting & Shareholder Interface• Act as the primary interface to Asset Management and QIC on business performance, strategic matters, and key risks• Ensure the arts and culture operates in line with shareholder objectives, governance requirements, and delegated authorities• Coordinate effectively with centralized and shared functions to ensure alignment with QIC priorities and operating requirementsOrganizational Leadership• Build and lead a high-performing leadership team across all core functions• Set a culture of accountability, performance, and cross-functional collaboration across the organization• Define clear roles, decision rights, and performance expectations to support effective execution• Drive talent development, succession planning, and organizational capability buildingKey Success Metrics- Successful establishment of the operating company and readiness for opening- Revenue performance and delivery against approved operating budgets- Operational excellence across safety, service quality, and overall asset performance- Visitor satisfaction, visitation, and spend performance- Effectiveness of cultural programming in supporting destination positioning and commercial outcomes- Stakeholder confidence and effectiveness of external relationships- Strength of organizational capability, leadership, and team performanceRequirementsRequired Skills & Competencies15+ years of executive leadership experience with full accountability for business performance, commercial outcomes, and operational deliverySaudi national with strong cultural relevance and a well-established understanding of the local stakeholder ecosystemDemonstrated credibility with the Ministry of Culture, royal entities, and international partnersTrack record of leading a comparable cultural, heritage, or visitor destinationExperience leading a multi-asset, high-footfall environment with complex stakeholder and operational requirements
Role Purpose
Lead this Arts and Culture programme as a flagship cultural destination and operating business, with overall accountability for strategy, performance, governance, stakeholder leadership, and long-term value creation.
The role is responsible for setting the strategic direction and operating model for the asset, leading pre-opening readiness and post-opening performance, and delivering a distinctive cultural proposition, strong commercial outcomes, and operational excellence in line with shareholder objectives and QIC governance requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Business Performance
- Lead the overall strategy, operating model, and business plan of this arts and culture programme
- Own full P&L accountability, including budgeting, forecasting, financial performance, and cost control
- Drive commercial growth and delivery of approved business objectives across key revenue streams
Pre-Opening & Asset Mobilization
• Lead establishment and mobilization of the operating company ahead of opening
• Ensure readiness across people, processes, systems, governance, and operational interfaces
• Lead cross-functional coordination with development and delivery teams to ensure readiness for opening
Operational Leadership
• Lead overall operational performance and delivery of approved operating and financial plans
• Ensure safe, efficient, guest-centric operations and continuous improvement in service quality and performance
• Oversee operational resilience, service standards, and asset-wide readiness across the destination
Cultural Proposition & Overall Experience
• Set the strategic direction for cultural proposition and overall visitor experience
• Ensure cultural programming reflects national heritage, strengthens destination positioning, and supports commercial objectives
• Oversee programming and guest experience performance as key drivers of visitation and asset success
Stakeholder & External Relations
• Lead relationships with government entities, cultural institutions, strategic partners, and other key external stakeholders
• Represent this programme in matters relating to strategic partnerships, external coordination, and destination positioning
• Secure stakeholder alignment and support on matters critical to the asset’s positioning, approvals, and long-term success
Governance, Reporting & Shareholder Interface
• Act as the primary interface to Asset Management and QIC on business performance, strategic matters, and key risks
• Ensure the arts and culture operates in line with shareholder objectives, governance requirements, and delegated authorities
• Coordinate effectively with centralized and shared functions to ensure alignment with QIC priorities and operating requirements
Organizational Leadership
• Build and lead a high-performing leadership team across all core functions
• Set a culture of accountability, performance, and cross-functional collaboration across the organization
• Define clear roles, decision rights, and performance expectations to support effective execution
• Drive talent development, succession planning, and organizational capability building
Key Success Metrics
- Successful establishment of the operating company and readiness for opening
- Revenue performance and delivery against approved operating budgets
- Operational excellence across safety, service quality, and overall asset performance
- Visitor satisfaction, visitation, and spend performance
- Effectiveness of cultural programming in supporting destination positioning and commercial outcomes
- Stakeholder confidence and effectiveness of external relationships
- Strength of organizational capability, leadership, and team performance
Requirements
Required Skills & Competencies
- 15+ years of executive leadership experience with full accountability for business performance, commercial outcomes, and operational delivery
- Saudi national with strong cultural relevance and a well-established understanding of the local stakeholder ecosystem
- Demonstrated credibility with the Ministry of Culture, royal entities, and international partners
- Track record of leading a comparable cultural, heritage, or visitor destination
- Experience leading a multi-asset, high-footfall environment with complex stakeholder and operational requirements
The Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) is the holding company that contains all the for-profit investments of the enterprise (including Qiddiya City and its offerings as well as Saudi Entertainment Ventures) and the overall strategic direction of the collective company. As a global leader in entertainment and the developer of the concept of play, QIC, along with its subsidiaries, is driving the development of the Entertainment, Sports and Culture sector in Saudi Arabia.
The Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) is the holding company that contains all the for-profit investments of the enterprise (including Qiddiya City and its offerings as well as Saudi Entertainment Ventures) and the overall strategic direction of the collective company. As a global leader in entertainment and the developer of the concept of play, QIC, along with its subsidiaries, is driving the development of the Entertainment, Sports and Culture sector in Saudi Arabia.
