General Manager of Art and Culture
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