Operations Director

Role SummaryWe are seeking an experienced Operations Director to lead the overall operational delivery of two major festival sites in Saudi Arabia.This is a leadership position for an experienced event operations professional who has successfully managed large-scale sporting events, fan zones, festivals, mega-events, or major public gatherings.The RoleThe Operations Director will have overall responsibility for the safe, efficient, and seamless operation of both event sites, from mobilisation and pre-opening through live event operations and close-out.Working across Riyadh and Jeddah, the role will lead the Operations Managers and coordinate closely with security, production, suppliers, venue teams, authorities, and other key stakeholders.Key ResponsibilitiesProvide overall operational leadership across both festival sites.Lead the planning and delivery of all front-of-house and event operations.Develop and implement operational plans, procedures, schedules, and contingency plans.Own crowd management, guest flow, access, gates, queuing, and visitor experience.Oversee event staffing, workforce planning, deployment, and operational readiness.Lead coordination with security teams and relevant authorities.Manage operational relationships with suppliers, contractors, and service providers.Establish and maintain clear operating procedures for event days and match nights.Lead the Operations Managers and wider operational teams across both locations.Coordinate closely with production, technical, commercial, hospitality, F&B, transport, and health & safety teams.Monitor site readiness and ensure all operational areas are prepared before opening.Lead daily operational briefings, event-day command structures, and post-event debriefs.Anticipate operational risks and ensure effective contingency and emergency response plans are in place.Oversee the smooth operation of multiple high-profile match nights and associated festival activities.Ensure operations comply with agreed health, safety, security, quality, and guest-experience standards.Take senior operational ownership during live event periods and respond decisively to issues as they arise.Required SkillsStrong experience in crowd management, access control, gates, staffing, security coordination, and event-day operations.Strong understanding of event health & safety, risk management, emergency procedures, and operational compliance.Experience managing suppliers, contractors, security providers, and other operational partners.Excellent communication, leadership, decision-making, and crisis-management skills.Comfortable operating in a high-pressure, fast-paced international event environment.Experience Requirement15+ years of experience in live event operations, with significant experience in large-scale events.Proven track record managing mega-events, sporting events, fan festivals, festivals, exhibitions, or major public gatherings.Experience managing high-volume guest environments and complex crowd movements.Proven leadership experience managing senior operations teams and multiple operational workstreams.Previous experience delivering major events in Saudi Arabia or the GCC is highly desirable.Experience with major international sporting events or football fan zones is strongly preferredExperience managing complex event sites with large guest volumes, multiple stakeholders, security interfaces, substantial staffing requirements, and demanding event-day programmes.Experience with World Cup fan zones, F1, Expo, Riyadh Season, Jeddah Season, or comparable international mega-events would be highly relevant.Location / Work ModeSaudi Arabia - Riyadh & JeddahAdditional NotesContract: October 2026 - February 2027