Manager - Partnerships

The Manager - Partnerships at Qiddiya Investment Company will play a critical role in driving the growth and development of Qiddiya DMO's commercial partnership ecosystem. This role is responsible for identifying, securing, and managing strategic partnerships with travel trade organizations, tourism entities, corporate partners, airlines, hospitality brands, and destination co-marketing partners to enhance Qiddiya's visibility, commercial performance, and market reach.The role involves leading partnership strategy and activation initiatives, managing key partner relationships, and delivering joint commercial programs that support bookings, brand equity, and destination growth. The Manager - Partnerships will work closely with internal stakeholders across Marketing, Events, Commercial, and Operations functions while managing and mentoring the Partnerships team.Key ResponsibilitiesLead the development and execution of Qiddiya's partnership strategy across travel trade, tourism boards, airlines, hospitality, corporate, and institutional partners to support overall destination objectivesDevelop and manage structured partnership programs, including tiered partnership models, commercial frameworks, and co-marketing initiatives that enhance partner engagement and commercial valueIdentify, evaluate, and secure new partnership opportunities across domestic and international markets through proactive business development and strategic relationship managementLead end-to-end partnership negotiations including proposal development, commercial structuring, contract execution, and activation planningBuild and maintain a robust partnership pipeline utilizing CRM systems to track opportunities, deal stages, partner performance, and revenue contributionManage strategic relationships with Tier 1 and Tier 2 partners, ensuring alignment on commercial objectives, marketing activations, booking targets, and long-term collaboration opportunitiesCollaborate closely with Marketing and Events teams to execute joint campaigns, destination showcases, co-branded initiatives, and trade activations that drive awareness and bookingsOversee the development and execution of Familiarization (FAM) programs, partner training initiatives, and trade education platforms to strengthen partner advocacy and destination knowledgeRepresent Qiddiya at international travel trade exhibitions, tourism events, and industry forums to strengthen market presence and expand partnership networksMonitor and analyze partnership performance metrics, commercial ROI, and pipeline progress, providing regular reports, insights, and recommendations to senior leadershipDrive continuous improvement initiatives across partnership management processes, governance frameworks, and commercial activation modelsManage, mentor, and develop team members within the Partnerships function to ensure high performance and professional growthRequirementsBachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Tourism, Hospitality, or a related field; MBA or postgraduate qualification preferredAt least 6+ years of relevant experience in commercial partnerships, travel trade sales, business development, or destination marketing within tourism, hospitality, or entertainment sectorsProven experience in sourcing, negotiating, and managing strategic partnerships with travel agencies, tour operators, DMCs, airlines, hospitality partners, or tourism organizationsStrong commercial acumen with demonstrated ability to structure partnership business cases, negotiate commercial agreements, and track performance against revenue and marketing objectivesExperience managing partner engagement programs, trade activations, FAM programs, and co-marketing initiativesStrong stakeholder management, relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levelsDemonstrated leadership capability with experience managing teams and cross-functional collaboration initiativesProficiency in CRM systems and partnership pipeline BenefitsOffering a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.