Manager - Regional Cultural Program

Qiddiya | القدية; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Qiddiya | القدية is looking for a Cultural Programming Lead in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role involves leading the planning and delivery of regional cultural programming, ensuring authentic representation of Saudi regions through high-quality experiences. Candidates should have 6–10 years of experience in cultural programming or event management and strong understanding of Saudi cultural diversity. Successful candidates will work with multiple stakeholders and ensure program feasibility and engagement across various regional pavilions.

Qualifications

• 6–10 years of experience in cultural programming or event management.
• Proven experience in managing regional cultural programs.
• Strong understanding of Saudi cultural diversity.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and delivery of regional cultural programming.
• Curate authentic regional content with cultural stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with regional representatives and government entities.

Skills

Strong understanding of Saudi regional culture and heritage

Stakeholder coordination and relationship management

Event/program delivery capability

Cultural sensitivity and attention to detail

Strong cross-functional collaboration skills

Job description

Qiddiya is Saudi Arabia's future capital of entertainment, sports, and culture — a 360 km² mega-project just outside Riyadh. From F1‑grade racetracks and theme parks to stadiums and performance venues, we’re creating a destination like no other. This is more than a project — it’s a national transformation. As construction accelerates, we’re hiring ambitious talent to help shape it. If you’re driven by scale, impact, and the chance to build something iconic from the ground up — Qiddiya is calling.

Role Purpose

Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of regional cultural programming, ensuring representation of Saudi regions through authentic, engaging, and high‑quality cultural experiences aligned with overall programming objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Program Planning & Delivery

• Develop, produce, deliver, and manage detailed programming plans for all regional pavilions, aligned with the overall programming calendar
• Structure daily and seasonal schedules across regions to ensure diversity, balance, and continuous visitor engagement
• Coordinate delivery of performances, demonstrations, and experiences across regional zones

Cultural Representation & Content Development

• Curate authentic regional content in collaboration with regional entities and cultural stakeholders
• Ensure consistency in quality, storytelling, and visitor experience across all regional pavilions
• Define program requirements, themes, and cultural narratives for each region

Stakeholder & Government Coordination

• Manage relationships with regional representatives, government entities, and cultural institutions
• Coordinate participation, logistics, and readiness of all regional contributors
• Ensure alignment with stakeholder expectations and cultural objectives

Operational Integration & Readiness

• Coordinate with Operations, FM, and Asset teams to ensure readiness of all regional spaces
• Ensure program feasibility, scheduling, and capacity planning across pavilions
• Support setup, rehearsals, and live delivery across all regions

Performance & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor visitor engagement and attendance across regional programs
• Identify underperforming areas and implement improvements
• Ensure consistent delivery standards across all regional experiences
• Drive financial performance of regional programs through program planning, development, and delivery
• Work with Commercial to identify and develop revenue opportunities that support program financial sustainability
• Maintain strong knowledge of and relationships with regional cultural organizations and stakeholders
• Establish and manage relationships with relevant regional and international cultural entities and aligned programs/events

Key Success Metrics

• Participation of regional stakeholders
• Visitor engagement across regional pavilions
• Quality and authenticity of representation
• Delivery of regional program budget in line with approved targets

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of Saudi regional culture and heritage
• Stakeholder coordination and relationship management
• Event/program delivery capability
• Cultural sensitivity and attention to detail
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills across programming, commercial, marketing, and ecosystem teams
• Ability to balance cultural integrity with commercial objectives and outcomes

Requirements

• 6–10 years of experience, with a strong background in cultural programming, event management, or heritage‑related initiatives
• Proven experience working with regional cultural programs, heritage initiatives, or community‑based cultural activities
• Strong understanding of Saudi regional cultures, traditions, and heritage diversity
• Experience ensuring authentic representation and cultural accuracy across multiple contributors
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple stakeholders, including: government entities; regional representatives; cultural institutions
• Ability to coordinate and align diverse stakeholders with varying expectations and requirements
• Experience working within structured or government‑led environments is preferred
• Proven experience in planning and delivering multi‑activity or multi‑location programs
• Ability to manage parallel program streams across different zones or locations
• Experience translating high‑level programming plans into detailed schedules and execution plans
• Experience working closely with operations teams to ensure program feasibility and delivery
• Understanding of site logistics, capacity management, and event constraints
• Ability to support delivery in live, fast‑paced environments
• Experience in large‑scale cultural festivals, national events, or destination programming
• Exposure to multi‑regional or multi‑cultural program environments
• Experience in pre‑opening or activation phases is an advantage