Smart City Director (DEL - 305)

Qiddiya Investment Company; Riyadh; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in Saudi Arabia is seeking a Smart City Director to spearhead the development of innovative urban solutions in the Resort Core District. This role encompasses strategic leadership in smart city initiatives, ensuring the integration of technology and services to enhance sustainability and visitor experiences. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in smart city development and a strong background in project management, along with excellent leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in smart city development or urban technology.
• Proven leadership in government or public-private partnerships.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and strategic partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning and execution of smart city initiatives.
• Oversee project delivery, ensuring quality and budget adherence.
• Facilitate collaboration between public and private sectors.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Innovation

Sustainability

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Technical and business bridging

Expertise in smart city services

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Urban Planning

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Smart Cities

Certifications in Project Management (PMP, PRINCE2)

MBA

Certifications in Digital Transformation

Job description

Job Summary

The Smart City Director will lead the strategic planning, development, and execution of Qiddiya’s Resort Core District smart city initiatives, ensuring the seamless integration of technology, innovation, and urban services. This role oversees smart city governance, technical implementation, and cross-departmental collaboration to deliver Smart City services that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and the visitor experience.

Role and Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Smart City Vision

• Implement smart city use cases, aligning with Qiddiya’s smart city vision and digital transformation goals.
• Develop a smart city roadmap for infrastructure, services, and digital capabilities to drive sustainability and efficiency.
• Lead innovation efforts by integrating emerging technologies, ensuring the future-ready delivery of urban solutions in the Resort Core District.

2. Smart City Governance & Compliance

• Participate actively in smart city governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulatory and Qiddiya-wide standards.
• Oversee data-driven reporting, KPI tracking, and risk management for Resort Core smart city initiatives.
• Align smart city solutions with Qiddiya’s data governance, cybersecurity policies, and sustainability objectives.

3. Project & Program Management

• Oversee and drive the end-to-end delivery of smart city projects, ensuring quality, adherence to timelines, and budget constraints.
• Collaborate with city stakeholders (Smart City, ICT, Utilities) and lead the Resort Core ICT and solution architect teams to enable integrated smart city solutions.
• Manage RFPs, vendor relationships, and contracts with technology providers and service operators.

4. Technical Oversight & Innovation

• Ensure the seamless integration of emerging technologies (e.g., IoT, AI, Digital Twins) within the Resort Core smart city landscape.
• Support and enforce technical standards for smart infrastructure, connectivity, and interoperability.
• Monitor global smart city trends to adopt best-in-class solutions tailored for the Resort Core District.

5. Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Sector Collaboration

• Serve as the primary liaison between the City Smart City team, Resort Core technology partners, and operational teams.
• Facilitate collaboration between the public and private sectors to accelerate smart city adoption when needed.
• Represent Qiddiya’s Resort Core smart city initiatives in industry events, conferences, and strategic forums as required.

Education:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Urban Planning, or Smart Cities.
• Certifications in Project Management (PMP, PRINCE2), MBA, or Digital Transformation are a plus.

Experience:

• 15+ years of experience in smart city development, urban technology, large-scale infrastructure projects, or management consulting.
• Proven leadership in government, mega-projects, or public-private partnerships (PPP) for smart cities.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams, strategic partnerships, and large-scale digital transformations.

Skills & Competencies:

• Stakeholder management and negotiation experience in high-profile urban projects.
• Ability to drive innovation, sustainability, and resilience in urban environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Strong ability to bridge technical and business needs, translating complex technical concepts into clear business insights.
• Expertise in smart city services, IoT deployments, cloud technologies, digital transformation, and digital infrastructure.