Senior Director Event Planning

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

At Jacobs, we push the limits of what’s possible to make the world smarter and more connected. We are a key delivery partner on one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship giga projects and a central pillar of Vision 2030, located approximately 45 km southwest of Riyadh. Designed as the Kingdom’s future capital of entertainment, sports, and culture, this landmark development aims to diversify the economy and enhance quality of life through a mix of world‑class attractions, residential communities, and natural landscapes, while generating significant employment and enabling long‑term, sustainable growth.

The Director, Event Planning leads the development and execution of integrated planning for major sporting, entertainment, cultural, and civic events. The role translates the strategic event portfolio into coordinated, deliverable plans by overseeing governance, budgets, schedules, operational requirements, stakeholder commitments, and readiness activities. Acting as the City Operations planning lead, the position ensures alignment across districts, venues, delivery partners, and operational functions, with a particular focus on major events in 2028.

The role manages citywide planning dependencies and operational integration while maintaining clear accountability boundaries with event owners, venue operators and asset operators responsible for event delivery.

• Lead the major events planning framework, governance, standards, and assurance processes.
• Develop integrated multi-year event portfolio plans, aligning priorities, resources, and operational requirements.
• Oversee end-to-end event planning from concept through delivery, readiness, and post-event evaluation.
• Integrate cross-functional operational plans, including mobility, security, guest experience, logistics, communications, and emergency response.
• Manage citywide operational concepts, service overlays, temporary infrastructure, and venue interfaces.
• Establish readiness, assurance, risk management, testing, rehearsals, and contingency planning programs.
• Support live event operations through planning integration, issue resolution, and operational coordination.
• Lead stakeholder engagement with event owners, operators, government agencies, emergency services, and delivery partners.
• Oversee event planning budgets, procurement strategies, supplier performance, and cost management.
• Build and develop a high-performing event planning team, fostering collaboration, capability development, and continuous improvement.

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Business Administration, Operations, Project Management, Hospitality, Tourism, or a related field;
  Master’s degree and relevant professional certifications are preferred.
• Minimum 18 years of experience in major event planning, event operations, programme management, or related fields, including 8+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Proven track record delivering and integrating complex sporting, entertainment, cultural, or civic events in high-profile environments.
• Strong expertise in operational readiness, scheduling, governance, risk management, procurement, budget control, and executive reporting.
• Preferred experience within Saudi Arabia, the GCC, giga-projects, major destinations, organizing committees, venues, or large-scale event environments.
• Strong capabilities in event planning, stakeholder management, operational integration, command and control, contract management, multi-agency coordination, and planning technology tools.

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