General Manager of Art & Culture (GGR80)

Role Purpose

Lead this Arts and Culture programme as a flagship cultural destination and operating business, with overall accountability for strategy, performance, governance, stakeholder leadership, and long-term value creation.

The role is responsible for setting the strategic direction and operating model for the asset, leading pre-opening readiness and post-opening performance, and delivering a distinctive cultural proposition, strong commercial outcomes, and operational excellence in line with shareholder objectives and QIC governance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Performance

• Lead the overall strategy, operating model, and business plan of this arts and culture programme
• Own full P&L accountability, including budgeting, forecasting, financial performance, and cost control
• Drive commercial growth and delivery of approved business objectives across key revenue streams

Pre-Opening & Asset Mobilization

• Lead establishment and mobilization of the operating company ahead of opening
• Ensure readiness across people, processes, systems, governance, and operational interfaces
• Lead cross-functional coordination with development and delivery teams to ensure readiness for opening

Operational Leadership

• Lead overall operational performance and delivery of approved operating and financial plans
• Ensure safe, efficient, guest-centric operations and continuous improvement in service quality and performance
• Oversee operational resilience, service standards, and asset-wide readiness across the destination

Cultural Proposition & Overall Experience

• Set the strategic direction for cultural proposition and overall visitor experience
• Ensure cultural programming reflects national heritage, strengthens destination positioning, and supports commercial objectives
• Oversee programming and guest experience performance as key drivers of visitation and asset success

Stakeholder & External Relations

• Lead relationships with government entities, cultural institutions, strategic partners, and other key external stakeholders
• Represent this programme in matters relating to strategic partnerships, external coordination, and destination positioning
• Secure stakeholder alignment and support on matters critical to the asset’s positioning, approvals, and long-term success

Governance, Reporting & Shareholder Interface

• Act as the primary interface to Asset Management and QIC on business performance, strategic matters, and key risks
• Ensure the arts and culture operates in line with shareholder objectives, governance requirements, and delegated authorities
• Coordinate effectively with centralized and shared functions to ensure alignment with QIC priorities and operating requirements

Organizational Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing leadership team across all core functions
• Set a culture of accountability, performance, and cross-functional collaboration across the organization
• Define clear roles, decision rights, and performance expectations to support effective execution
• Drive talent development, succession planning, and organizational capability building

Key Success Metrics

• Successful establishment of the operating company and readiness for opening
• Revenue performance and delivery against approved operating budgets
• Operational excellence across safety, service quality, and overall asset performance
• Visitor satisfaction, visitation, and spend performance
• Effectiveness of cultural programming in supporting destination positioning and commercial outcomes
• Stakeholder confidence and effectiveness of external relationships
• Strength of organizational capability, leadership, and team performance

Requirements

Required Skills & Competencies

• 15+ years of executive leadership experience with full accountability for business performance, commercial outcomes, and operational delivery
• Saudi national with strong cultural relevance and a well-established understanding of the local stakeholder ecosystem
• Demonstrated credibility with the Ministry of Culture, royal entities, and international partners
• Track record of leading a comparable cultural, heritage, or visitor destination
• Experience leading a multi-asset, high-footfall environment with complex stakeholder and operational requirements