Strategic Partnership and PR Director

Gathern; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality platform in Saudi Arabia is seeking a seasoned professional to drive their partnership strategy. This role involves establishing high-impact relationships with government entities, tourism agencies, and private sector partners. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in business development, particularly in B2B and B2G partnerships. Strong negotiation skills and an understanding of the Middle Eastern market are essential. Join us in shaping the future of tourism in Saudi Arabia.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in business development and partnerships across multiple sectors.
• Proven track record in B2B and B2G partnership development across diverse industries.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience in complex, multi-stakeholder international deals.
• Extensive professional network across government, private sector, and tourism industries.
• Deep understanding of target audience identification and demographic analysis across various industries.
• Experience with Middle Eastern markets, particularly Saudi Arabia, highly preferred.
• Fluency in English required; Arabic language skills highly advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Drive Gathern’s partnership strategy by building and managing high-impact relationships.
• Develop and execute partnership strategies across government, private sector, and strategic tourism.
• Identify and establish partnerships with companies where Gathern's target families are involved.
• Build relationships with tourism ministries and agencies like the Saudi Tourism Authority.
• Lead partnership efforts to expand Gathern's reach through strategic private sector relationships.
• Navigate different business cultures and regulatory environments, especially in Saudi Arabia.
• Lead complex negotiations across diverse industry sectors.

Skills

Strategic Relationship Building

Business Acumen

Cross-Cultural Savvy

Negotiation & Influence

Strategic Execution

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, International Relations, or related field

MBA preferred

Job description

At Gathern, we’re not just a platform, we’re the homegrown Saudi success story that built and leads the alternative hospitality sector across the Kingdom. As the largest peer‑to‑peer vacation rental marketplace in Saudi Arabia, Gathern enables travelers to explore the country through authentic stays hosted by local residents 🏡 while directly supporting Saudi Vision 2030 by boosting tourism, empowering communities, and expanding accommodation supply.

Backed by our SAR 270 million Series B funding round 💸 led by Sanabil Investments (PIF‑owned) and valuing Gathern at over SAR 1 billion! We’re entering an exciting new chapter of growth, innovation, and regional expansion as we prepare for a future Tadawul listing 📈.

With 5M+ users 👥, guests from 150+ nationalities 🌍, a network of 72,000+ hospitality units 🏘️, and more than SAR 2 billion paid to 33,000+ Saudi hosts, Gathern stands as one of the fastest‑growing tech companies in the Kingdom, holding a 44% national market share and 53% in Riyadh!

This is your opportunity to join a company that’s redefining travel and shaping the future of tourism in Saudi Arabia!

Job Purpose

Drive Gathern’s partnership strategy by building and managing high‑impact relationships with government entities, tourism agencies, and private sector partners—such as airlines, hotels, banks, and ticketing platforms—with a strong focus on the Saudi Arabian market.

Key Accountabilities

Multi‑Sector Partnership Strategy: Develop and execute partnership strategies across three key areas.

• Government: Tourism ministries, government agencies, regulatory bodies
• Private Sector: Extensive portfolio including but not limited to airlines, hotels, ticketing platforms, banks, and any companies where our target family demographics are present
• Strategic: Saudi Tourism Authority, Ministry of Tourism, and other strategic tourism entities

Target‑Driven Private Partnerships

Identify and establish partnerships with companies across all industries where Gathern's target families are customers, employees, or community members.

Strategic Tourism Partnerships

Build relationships with tourism ministries and agencies, particularly the Saudi Tourism Authority and Ministry of Tourism.

Market Expansion

Lead partnership efforts to expand Gathern's reach through strategic private sector relationships.

Cross‑Cultural Business Development

Navigate different business cultures and regulatory environments, particularly in the Saudi market.

Strategic Negotiations

Lead complex, high‑value partnership negotiations across diverse industry sectors.

Competencies

• Strategic Relationship Building – Builds and sustains trust with government, private, and tourism partners.
• Business Acumen – Links partnerships to market expansion and revenue goals.
• Cross‑Cultural Savvy – Navigates Saudi market dynamics and regulatory environments effectively.
• Negotiation & Influence – Secures high‑value agreements through persuasion and stakeholder alignment.
• Strategic Execution – Translates vision into actionable plans and delivers measurable results.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in business development and partnerships across multiple sectors.
• Proven track record in B2B and B2G partnership development across diverse industries.
• Strong negotiation skills with experience in complex, multi‑stakeholder international deals.
• Extensive professional network across government, private sector, and tourism industries.
• Deep understanding of target audience identification and demographic analysis across various industries.
• Experience with Middle Eastern markets, particularly Saudi Arabia, highly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, International Relations, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Fluency in English required; Arabic language skills highly advantageous.