General Manager, GCC

ted; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 449,000 - 563,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in live experiences is seeking a General Manager to oversee its operations in the GCC region from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in live entertainment and project management, ensuring high standards of production and client satisfaction. Strong leadership and budgeting skills are essential, along with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in themed entertainment and live events.
• Minimum 3 years in a senior leadership role.
• Experience managing complex, multidisciplinary projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the setup and operation of the GCC office in Riyadh.
• Oversee production of live entertainment experiences.
• Manage project budgets and timelines.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Client Relationship Management

Budgeting

Problem Solving

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Asana

Job description

JOB DETAILS

Job Title: General Manager, GCC

Reports To: EVP, Land Production

Other: Full Time, Relocation to Riyadh KSA Required

About Rws Global

RWS Global is the world leader in groundbreaking live moments across entertainment and sports, creating customized guest experiences spanning theatrical productions, live events, immersive destinations, multimedia, consumer products and more.

RWS Global is headquartered in New York, London, Cincinnati, Shanghai, Orlando and Sydney with dedicated RWS Studios in NYC and the UK to serve its vast talent pipeline and client base. With a focus on entertainment and sports experiences, RWS Global serves major brands and corporations, theaters, cruise lines, sports properties, live venues, parks, resorts and more. Offering end-to-end services from ideation to operations, RWS Global’s team of world-class designers, creators, producers and visionary talent provide unrivaled scale, producing over one million live moments every day and employing over 8,000 individuals and performers worldwide.

The RWS Global roster of clients includes Apple, Azamara, The Coca-Cola Company, Commonwealth Games, Crayola, Europa-Park Resort, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, The FRIENDS Experience by Original X Productions, Hard Rock Resorts, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Holland America Line, Iberostar Hotels & Resorts, International Cricket Council, Invictus Games, Lionsgate, MSC Cruises, Roompot, Rugby World Cup, Six Flags, Space Center Houston, TUI Group, Vera Wang, Warner Bros., Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway, Chicago the Musical, Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes and more. For more information, visit rwsglobal.com.

Summary

RWS Global is seeking a visionary General Manager (GM) to lead the establishment and growth of its operations in the GCC (Middle East) region. This high-impact leadership role is suited for a production-driven executive with deep expertise in live entertainment, large-scale event production, and regional business operations. The GM will ensure that RWS Global’s creative and operational standards are upheld as we expand into the Middle East market. Candidates from the GCC and across the Middle East region are encouraged to apply.

KEY TASKS

General

• Lead the setup, management and ongoing operation of the RWS Global GCC regional office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Oversee production of live entertainment experiences and destination design projects ensuring they meet RWS Global standards
• Direct financial, administrative, and operational procedures for the regional entity
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary team across business operations and production
• Cultivate and manage key client relationships and drive strategic growth in the region
  
  

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Manage multiple themed entertainment and destination design projects simultaneously across the GCC.
• Oversee full project lifecycle: scope definition, budgeting, scheduling, resource planning, execution, and final delivery.
• Lead internal teams and external partners with a hands-on approach to ensure exceptional execution.
• Ensure staff levels and resources are adequately levelled to support the growth trajectory of Production and Operations respectively.
  
  

Operational Management

• Implement project management tools and workflows that ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
• Monitor day-to-day project activities, track milestones, and mitigate risks to avoid delays and cost overruns.
• Ensure adherence to safety, regulatory, and quality standards across all project sites.
  
  

Client & Stakeholder Relations

• Support RWS Global EVP’s in building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners, with specific attention given to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) governing entities and ministries.
• Serve as a key point of contact for GCC regional office communications and escalations.
• Ensure client and stakeholder expectations are met and exceeded throughout the full production and operational life of each project.
  
  

Budget & Reporting

• Produce project budgets and timelines, ensuring accuracy in forecasting and reporting.
• Build and maintain new reporting methodologies required of KSA to ensure compliance and good-standing of the GCC office.
• Provide regular status updates, financial reports, and risk assessments to senior leadership.
  
  

Experience

Qualifications & Skills:

• 10+ years as a production and/or operational leader in themed entertainment, live events, and large-scale experiential projects.
• Minimum 3 years in a senior leadership role supervising leaders at the Director level or above.
• Proven record of international experience in the live and themed entertainment industry managing complex, multi-disciplinary projects across the full production and operational life cycles.
  
  

Knowledge & Capabilities:

• Deep understanding of project management frameworks and tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Asana).
• Strong organizational and leadership skills with a focus on operational excellence.
• Ability to navigate fast-paced, high-pressure environments with composure and professionalism.
• Budgeting and financial reporting skills; comfortable managing multi-million-dollar projects.
• Knowledge of GCC market and local vendor networks is strongly preferred.
  
  

Personal Attributes:

• Highly organized and proactive, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Agile and adaptable in an ever-evolving, extremely fast-paced global organization.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel frequently across the region and internationally.
• Willingness to comply with local KSA laws and work rules, and remain respectful to all cultural norms and expectations required of expatriates working in the region.
  
  

Please Note: While this is intended to be an accurate description of the job, this is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with the position, and may require that other or different tasks be performed as necessary and assigned.

Diversity And Inclusion Statement

DIVERSE IS WHO WE ARE

Way more than a box to check, diversity is core to RWS Global culture. We value it, promote it, protect it and hire it. All differences are welcome here. We know for a fact that each employee’s individual background, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, and capabilities are a contribution to our culture, as well as our reputation and achievements.

So, bring all of who you are, no questions asked.