Placemaking and Activation Manager

Fircroft; Al Khobar; On-site; SAR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic placemaking and community activation organization is seeking a Placemaking and Activation Manager in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. This role is essential in shaping engaging communities by overseeing the design and execution of public spaces and lifestyle initiatives. The ideal candidate should have 7-10 years of experience in placemaking and community programs, with a strong background in events and vendor management. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead community engagement and programming efforts while managing budgets and driving positive resident experiences.

Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years of experience in placemaking, community activation, lifestyle programming, or destination management.
• Experience reviewing designs from a public realm and placemaking perspective.
• Strong background in community events, lifestyle programs, and vendor management.

Responsibilities

• Review master plans and designs to enhance community interaction and usability.
• Develop lifestyle and activation strategies aligned with community objectives.
• Manage calendars of community events and activities across all communities.

Skills

Placemaking and public realm activation

Event planning and execution

Vendor and partner management

Community programming

Budgeting and cost control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Urban Design, Architecture, Planning, Hospitality, Event Management, or a related field

Job description

About the job Placemaking and Activation Manager

Placemaking and Activation Manager

Job Description:

The Placemaking and Activation Manager is vital in shaping and delivering vibrant, engaging, and lifestyle-driven communities across our portfolio. This role ensures that all public spaces, amenities, and shared areas are designed and activated to foster social connection, wellness, culture, and a strong sense of place.

A key responsibility is to review master plans, architectural layouts, landscape designs, and public realm drawings from a placemaking and community activation perspective. The Manager will provide recommendations and enhancements to ensure spaces are functional, engaging, and capable of supporting year-round lifestyle programming. Additionally, the role leads the development and execution of community activation strategies, annual event calendars, and lifestyle initiatives while sourcing, managing, and evaluating service providers and activation partners.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Placemaking Strategy and Design Review

• Review master plans, architectural, landscape, and public realm designs from a placemaking and lifestyle perspective.
• Assess how spaces support community interaction, events, wellness activities, and daily social use.
• Provide recommendations to improve usability, activation potential, safety, inclusivity, and resident experience.
• Coordinate with Development, design consultants, and Operations to embed placemaking principles during design and delivery stages.
• Ensure community spaces are adaptable for multiple uses and year-round activation.

2. Lifestyle and Community Activation Strategy

• Develop a comprehensive lifestyle and activation strategy for each community aligned with the Quality of Life vision.
• Define activation themes, target segments, and community engagement objectives.
• Ensure activation concepts are culturally relevant, family-oriented, and suitable for diverse resident profiles.

3. Annual Events and Activities Calendar

• Create and manage the annual calendar of community events and activities across all communities.
• Plan a balanced mix of wellness, cultural, educational, family, and social programs.
• Coordinate timing, locations, logistics, and operational requirements with Community Operations and FM teams.
• Review the performance of events and refine future programming based on resident feedback and participation.

4. Activation Delivery and Service Provider Management

• Identify, prequalify, and appoint activation partners, event operators, instructors, and lifestyle service providers.
• Manage scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, and quality standards for all activation vendors.
• Ensure all events and activities meet service, safety, and experience standards.
• Monitor vendor performance and recommend renewals or changes as required.

5. Budgeting and Cost Control

• Prepare activation and placemaking budgets in coordination with the Community Director and Operations Manager.
• Control costs while maintaining quality, creativity, and resident engagement.
• Track spending against approved budgets and report variances.

6. Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work closely with Operations, FM, PM, Marketing, Digital, and Customer Service teams to ensure seamless delivery of activations.
• Support community managers with activation execution and on-ground coordination.
• Ensure operational feasibility and compliance for all events and programs.

7. Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Track KPIs related to event participation, resident engagement, satisfaction scores, and activation quality.
• Prepare regular reports highlighting outcomes, insights, and improvement opportunities.
• Use data and feedback to continuously enhance community experience.

8. Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure all events and activities comply with safety, regulatory, and internal policies.
• Coordinate risk assessments, permits, and approvals for community events.
• Ensure emergency and contingency planning for large-scale activations.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelors degree in Urban Design, Architecture, Planning, Hospitality, Event Management, or a related field.
• 7 to 10 years of experience in placemaking, community activation, lifestyle programming, or destination management.
• Proven experience reviewing designs from a public realm and placemaking perspective.
• Strong background in community events, lifestyle programs, and vendor management.
• Experience working in premium residential communities, mixed-use developments, or destination projects is preferred.
• Strong coordination, communication, and creative thinking skills.

Core Competencies:

• Placemaking and public realm activation
• Design review and spatial usability assessment
• Lifestyle strategy and community programming
• Event planning and execution
• Vendor and partner management
• Budgeting and cost control
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Resident experience and engagement focus