Head of Programming & Activation

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.

Permanently based in Jeddah, with the flexibility and willingness to travel between Riyadh and Jeddah as required by the business operations.

Executive Director

Scheduling & venue-setup team, Production support, Event coordination, Cultural & entertainment programming

Leads the planning and delivery of year-round cultural programming, venue activation and operating calendar across Client-controlled, Operator-controlled and transition periods, ensuring programming excellence, operational readiness and alignment with the Client’s cultural mandate.

• Own the cultural and entertainment programme (cinema as anchor, plus music, performance, exhibitions and community events), aligned to national cultural-development objectives and the Client’s direction.
• Engineer the calendar and operating rhythm, distinguishing Client-controlled, operator-controlled and transition periods.
• Plan space-by-space activation (auditorium, cinemas, foyers, lounges, circulation, hospitality) with a clear operating role for each zone.
• Forge programming partnerships with global and regional cultural / entertainment partners.
• Coordinate internal events, subcontractor readiness and production support across modes.
• Manage Festival Mode venue delivery: planning brief, mode-transition sign-off, daily briefing / debrief and post-event reset.

• Executive Director;
  Head of Commercial, Marketing & Partnerships (audience & campaigns);
  Head of Technical & Venue Operations (setup & readiness).
• The Client’s programming and brand teams, especially in Festival Mode.
• Cultural, film and entertainment partners and producers.

• Calendar utilisation and activation effectiveness.
• Programme quality and audience engagement.
• Event delivery and operational readiness.
• Programming partnerships and cultural impact.

• 10+ years in cultural / entertainment programming, venue development, live events or production, with senior responsibility.
• Experience in cultural destinations, performing arts, cinema or entertainment venues is preferred.
• Track record of large-scale, culturally significant programming, ideally in the Gulf / KSA.
• Strong partnership, curation and cross-functional coordination skills;
  Arabic an advantage.