Manager - Festival Cultural Program Qiddiya Investment Company

Festival Program Planning

Develop, produce, deliver, and manage a high-volume portfolio of festival programming, including coordination of over 1,400 performances, events, and cultural activities

Structure programming across multiple zones and time slots to optimize flow and engagement

Ensure alignment with overall programming strategy and visitor demand, in coordination with Commercial, Cultural Ecosystem, and Marketing teams

Identify, engage, and manage third-party program experts, producers, and cultural partners to develop, produce, and deliver festival programming

Large-Scale Program Delivery

Lead execution of all festival programming, ensuring coordination across multiple venues and activities

Manage daily program operations, schedules, and real-time adjustments

Ensure timely and seamless delivery of all performances and experiences

Performer & Participant Management

Coordinate onboarding, scheduling, and management of performers, artists, and contributors including regional, international, and government-affiliated participants and partners

Ensure readiness of all participants, including rehearsals, technical requirements and performance delivery

Manage high-volume and diverse participant groups, ensuring seamless coordination and consistent quality

Real-Time Operations & Optimization

Monitor program performance during the festival and adjust schedules dynamically

Address operational challenges in real time in coordination with Operations

Ensure continuity and quality under high-pressure conditions

Performance Monitoring

Track attendance, engagement, and program effectiveness across the festival

Identify high-performing and underperforming content

Provide insights to improve future festival programming

Key Success Metrics

Festival attendance and engagement

On-time delivery of programming

Visitor satisfaction

Revenue performance of festival programming against budget targets

Contribution of programming to overall asset financial performance

Required Skills & Competencies

Experience in large-scale event programming

Strong coordination and execution capability

Ability to operate in high-pressure environments

6 10 years of experience, with a strong background in large-scale event programming, festival management, or live event delivery

Proven experience planning and delivering large-scale festivals, cultural events, or entertainment programs

Experience managing multi-day, high-volume events with multiple simultaneous activities

Strong understanding of event lifecycle management, from planning through live delivery

Demonstrated experience in managing live event programming under real-time conditions

Ability to oversee daily schedules, stage programming, and activity coordination

Experience handling last-minute changes, disruptions, and operational challenges during live events

Experience managing large numbers of performers, artists, and cultural contributors

Ability to coordinate rehearsals, technical requirements, and performance schedules

Experience ensuring readiness and smooth delivery across diverse participant groups

Experience managing programming across multiple stages, zones, or venues simultaneously

Ability to coordinate parallel activities while maintaining consistency and quality

Strong understanding of crowd flow, timing, and programming distribution

Experience leading teams, coordinators, and on-ground staff during live events

Experience in major national events, festivals, or large public events

Experience in cultural or entertainment programming environments

Experience in pre-opening or launching large-scale events is an advantage