City Operations Director

People Group; Jeddah; On-site; SAR 700,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

People Group seeks a seasoned City Operations Director to build and lead the operational backbone of a landmark Jeddah destination. Reporting to the CEO, you will shape the city operations strategy, operating models and standards, coordinating across utilities, smart city tech and services to deliver a world-class resident and visitor experience.

This role requires a proven track record in large-scale urban/system integration, district cooling, mobility and infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in managing large-scale urban/infrastructure environments.
• Proven ability to establish an operating function, governance and standards.
• Strong exposure to district cooling, utilities, smart city tech and integrated platforms.
• Experience overseeing mobility, parking, traffic management and public realm operations.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement with government entities and private partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the City Operations strategy, operating model and governance framework.
• Oversee district cooling, utilities management and energy infrastructure operations.
• Lead Smart City initiatives: IoT, digital platforms and city-wide operational tech.
• Manage mobility, traffic, parking and public realm operations.
• Coordinate service delivery across internal teams, contractors and third-party operators.
• Ensure readiness and transition from construction to live operations; establish handover procedures.
• Develop KPIs, SLAs and performance frameworks; drive cost efficiency and service excellence.

Skills

Strategic leadership

City operations

Urban infrastructure

District cooling

Smart city / IoT

Mobility & traffic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Governance & compliance

Education

Master's degree in Engineering/Urban planning

MBA or similar (preferred)

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

SCADA systems

GIS software

Energy management systems

BMS / BAS

Job description

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The Opportunity

We are supporting a major new PIF-backed development in Jeddah and are seeking an exceptional City Operations Director to establish, lead and shape the operational framework for a landmark new destination.

This is a pivotal executive appointment, offering the opportunity to build the City Operations function from the ground up and define how the development will operate as a fully integrated, smart, sustainable and high-performing urban destination.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing the overall city operations strategy, establishing operating models, implementing operational systems and standards, and ensuring the seamless coordination of all city-wide services and infrastructure.

The role will play a critical part in transitioning the development from construction and delivery into fully operational status, ensuring long-term efficiency, sustainability, commercial performance and an exceptional experience for residents, visitors, businesses and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

City Operations Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and implement the overarching City Operations strategy, vision and operating model.
• Establish the City Operations department, organisational structure, governance frameworks, policies and operational standards.
• Define the long-term operational strategy to support the development's growth, functionality and commercial objectives.
• Establish operational budgets, business plans, performance frameworks and service delivery standards.
• Provide strategic advice to the CEO on city operations, infrastructure performance, operational risks and long-term asset sustainability.

District Cooling & Utilities Management

• Establish and oversee the operational strategy for district cooling systems and associated energy infrastructure.
• Ensure efficient, reliable and sustainable cooling operations across the development.
• Oversee utility coordination, infrastructure performance, energy efficiency and resource optimisation.
• Establish service-level agreements, operational performance standards and monitoring frameworks with relevant utility operators and service providers.

Smart City & Technology Integration

• Lead the development and implementation of the Smart City operations strategy.
• Oversee the integration of smart infrastructure, IoT, intelligent building systems, digital platforms and city-wide operational technologies.
• Establish centralised monitoring, control and command centre capabilities to provide real-time visibility of city operations.
• Drive the use of data analytics, automation and predictive technologies to improve operational efficiency, sustainability and service delivery.
• Ensure effective integration between city infrastructure, technology platforms and operational service providers.

Mobility, Traffic & Parking Management

• Develop and implement the integrated city mobility and transportation operations strategy.
• Establish and oversee parking operations, including smart parking technologies, access management, pricing strategies and enforcement frameworks.
• Oversee traffic management, pedestrian movement, public transport interfaces and mobility services.
• Ensure efficient movement of residents, visitors, employees and commercial traffic throughout the development.
• Implement intelligent mobility solutions to support accessibility, convenience and overall destination experience.

Integrated City Services & Infrastructure Operations

• Establish and oversee the delivery of all city-wide operational services, including:Public realm and landscape operations.
• Roads, streets and public infrastructure maintenance.
• Waste management and environmental services.
• Cleaning and urban maintenance.
• Security, safety and emergency response coordination.
• Street lighting and public utilities.
• Community services and destination operations.
• Ensure consistent operational standards across all districts and assets.
• Develop integrated service delivery models and ensure effective coordination between internal teams, contractors and third-party operators.

Operational Readiness & Mobilisation

• Lead the development of the operational readiness and mobilisation strategy.
• Establish operational requirements, systems, processes and resources ahead of phased development handovers.
• Ensure infrastructure, technology, facilities and services are fully commissioned and operationally ready.
• Develop transition plans from construction and project delivery into live operations.
• Establish operational testing, commissioning, acceptance and handover procedures.

Commercial & Performance Management

• Establish operational budgets, cost management strategies and commercial performance frameworks.
• Lead procurement, contracting and management of city-wide operations and service providers.
• Develop KPIs, SLAs and performance management systems to drive service excellence and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for operational optimisation, cost reduction and revenue generation.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, health and safety standards and environmental objectives.

Stakeholder & Government Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with government entities, regulators, utility providers, infrastructure operators and strategic partners.
• Coordinate with developers, master planners, infrastructure teams and asset owners to ensure operational requirements are embedded throughout the development lifecycle.
• Represent the organisation in senior-level stakeholder discussions relating to city operations and infrastructure.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking an accomplished senior operations leader with a proven track record of establishing and managing complex, large-scale urban environments, integrated infrastructure or major destination operations.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in city operations, urban operations, integrated infrastructure management or large-scale destination operations.
• Experience establishing an operational function, operating model and governance framework from inception.
• Strong exposure to district cooling, utilities, smart city infrastructure and integrated technology platforms.
• Experience overseeing parking, mobility, traffic management and public realm operations.
• A strong understanding of integrated service delivery and the management of multiple operational