Director - Destination Planning

Red Sea Global; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent development organization in Saudi Arabia seeks an Integrated Operations Center Director to oversee day-to-day operations of the IOC. This leadership role requires strong strategic oversight, cross-functional coordination, and crisis management experience. Candidates should possess a bachelor's degree in business or related field, with at least 12 years of relevant experience, including managerial roles. The position involves ensuring operational excellence, compliance with regulations, and effective budget management, all while fostering innovation and collaboration among teams.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years of experience in a related field, with at least 3 years in a managerial role.
• Experience in establishing and managing integrated centers of large scale.
• Strong technology and system awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Integrated Operations Center team.
• Ensure seamless coordination between IOC and cross-functional departments.
• Monitor real-time operations to identify bottlenecks and risks.
• Develop and maintain dashboards to track IOC performance.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and organizational policies.
• Manage the IOC budget and cultivate stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Leadership and strategic oversight

Crisis response and decision-making

Real-time operations coordination

Cross-functional and multi-agency communication

Governance and compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field

Master’s degree in business administration (MBA) preferred

Tools

Monitoring systems

Data analytics platforms

Job description

The Integrated Operations Center Director is responsible for leading and overseeing the seamless operation of the IOC, ensuring alignment with the strategy and operational excellence. This role drives the execution of the IOC’s operating model, coordinates cross-functional collaboration, and guarantees the delivery of operational targets and mandates. By monitoring performance, mitigating risks, and optimizing workflows, the Director ensures continuity, efficiency, and rapid response during incidents. he foster’s a culture of accountability, innovation, and compliance while managing resources, stakeholders, and technology to maintain the IOC as a hub of operational control center and its strategic value.

Job Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and manage the Integrated Operations Center team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee staffing, training, scheduling, and performance evaluations to ensure a skilled and motivated workforce.
• Act as the primary escalation point for critical operational issues, providing guidance and resolving conflicts.

Operational Coordination & Execution

• Ensure seamless coordination between the IOC and cross-functional departments (e.g., IT, security, logistics, etc…) to maintain operational continuity.
• Monitor real-time operations to identify bottlenecks, risks, or inefficiencies, and implement corrective actions.
• Drive adherence to service-level agreements (SLAs), KPIs, and operational targets.

Strategy & Operating Model Implementation

• Execute the IOC’s strategic vision by translating it into actionable plans and workflows within the IOC.
• Optimize the IOC operating model to align with goals, ensuring scalability and adaptability to changing priorities.
• Regularly review and refine processes, tools, and technologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and metrics to track IOC performance and operational health.
• Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership on operational trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Conduct post-incident reviews and root-cause analyses to prevent recurrence of issues.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with industry regulations, organizational policies, and safety standards.
• Maintain documentation of procedures, protocols, and audit trails for accountability.

Technology & Innovation

• Oversee the implementation and maintenance of IOC tools (e.g., monitoring systems, communication platforms, data analytics).
• Evaluate emerging technologies to enhance IOC capabilities and decision-making.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders (e.g., executives, department heads) and external partners (e.g., vendors, clients).
• Communicate operational updates, challenges, and achievements to key stakeholders transparently.

Budget & Resource Management

• Manage the IOC budget, ensuring cost-effective allocation of resources (e.g., staffing, technology, training).
• Negotiate contracts with vendors and service providers to support IOC operations.

Continuous Improvement

• Champion a culture of innovation by identifying opportunities for process automation, digitization, or workflow optimization.
• Stay updated on industry best practices and trends to keep the IOC at the forefront of operational excellence.

Additionally

• Candidate must have experience in establishing and managing integrated centers of such scale.
• Define the IOC yearly objectives and targets.
• Lead the IOC team in the execution of daily operations and during incident situations.
• Ensure coordination across multiple teams, destinations, and external stakeholders (national government agencies) as needed.
• Provide strategic guidance during crisis management and recovery.
• Represent the RSG IOC in meetings with national and international authorities.
• Oversee the activities and performance of all destination operations teams and report on highlights, findings and areas of improvement.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, operations management, or industrial Engineering (or any related field).
• Master’s degree in business administration (MBA), engineering management, or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in a related field, including at least 3 years in a managerial role.
• Leadership and strategic oversight.
• Real-time operations coordination.
• Crisis response and decision-making.
• Cross-functional and multi-agency communication.
• Technology and system awareness.
• Governance, compliance, and stakeholder engagement.