Head of Retail Destinations & Public Realm, Urban Core

Qiddiya | القدية

Riyadh

On-site

SAR 900,000 - 1,300,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

Qiddiya | القدية in Riyadh region seeks a Senior Director - Development (Retail Public Realm) to lead end-to-end development across retail, F&B, public realm, and destination components within the Urban Core. You will shape strategy, business planning, design governance, investment readiness, and activation while balancing commercial performance with people-friendly places.

You will drive placemaking quality, tenant experience, and asset value through cross-functional leadership of feasibility,

Qualifications

20+ years of development experience.
Minimum 10 years leading major retail-led, mixed-use, public realm, or destination developments.
Proven client-side experience managing complex retail, food & beverage, public realm, and multi-asset developments.
Strong background in development strategy, feasibility, market positioning, and commercial planning.
Experience leading multidisciplinary consultant, design, commercial, leasing, operations and project delivery teams.
Significant exposure to large-scale destination or mixed-use developments in the GCC preferred.
Experience with giga-projects, sovereign development entities, master developers, or globally recognised retail and public realm destinations highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead the development strategy and business plan for the retail, food and beverage, public realm, and public space portfolio within the Urban Core.
Take accountability for development outcomes, commercial performance, placemaking quality, and integration across the retail and public realm assets.
Establish the development brief, positioning, tenant and customer experience principles, phasing strategy, and investment priorities in alignment with Urban Core and wider organisational objectives.
Direct development activities from feasibility, market assessment, concept and design through procurement, delivery, leasing enablement, activation, and operational readiness.
Drive cross-functional decisions that optimise leasable value, footfall, dwell time, public realm activation, visitor experience, operational efficiency, and long-term asset performance.