About the Role
This role supports the Venue Operations Director by translating venue strategies, policies, standards, and operational requirements into effective event delivery plans and execution. The position is within the Event Operations team and will manage the Event Coordinators, and works collaboratively with internal departments responsible for Safety, Security, Facilities Management, Guest Experience, Commercial Operations, Hospitality, Technology. The Event Operations Leader is responsible for the planning, management, coordination, and delivery of event operations across a world-class 47,000-capacity stadium hosting football matches, FIFA competitions, international sporting events, concerts, entertainment events, and other major gatherings. The Event Operations Leader oversees event budgets, event management personnel, operational readiness, venue presentation, service partner performance, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder coordination to ensure consistently exceptional guest, client, and spectator experience.
This role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, public holidays, and extended hours during major sporting events, FIFA tournaments, concerts, and other large-scale stadium events. The Event Operations Leader is expected to be present during critical event periods and act as the senior operational representative for the venue. The Event Operations Leader is responsible for the successful operational delivery of all events and acts as the venue's event operations representative, ensuring alignment between event requirements and venue operational capabilities.
Responsibilities
Stakeholder Management
Internal Stakeholder Coordination
- Support the Venue Operations Director in coordinating all operational stakeholders involved in event delivery.
- Act as the primary event operations interface between Event Operations and stadium functional departments.
- Coordinate operational planning and readiness activities across:
- Safety & Security
- Facilities Management & Engineering
- Guest Experience
- Hospitality & Premium Services
- Commercial & Sponsorship
- Ticketing Operations
- IT & Technology
- Broadcast & Media Operations
- Finance
- Procurement
- Human Resources
- Marketing & Communications
- Ensure all functional areas understand and execute their event-related responsibilities in accordance with stadium operating standards and event requirements.
Stadium Mobilization & Operational Readiness
- Support the mobilization and operational readiness programme for all stadium events, ensuring venue infrastructure, people, systems, and service partners are prepared for event delivery.
- Develop and manage event mobilization plans, including workforce deployment, operational timelines, venue activation schedules, and resource allocation.
- Coordinate cross-functional mobilization activities across Safety & Security, Facilities Management, Guest Experience, Hospitality, Technology, Broadcast, and Commercial teams.
- Manage and support stadium opening, activation, event-time operations, and demobilization processes to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant event delivery.
- Monitor readiness milestones and conduct operational readiness reviews, venue inspections, tabletop exercises, rehearsals, and test events to validate event preparedness.
- Manage command and coordination activities during mobilization periods, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned and operational risks are identified, mitigated, and escalated where necessary.
- Support major event and tournament mobilization programmers, including FIFA competitions, international sporting events, concerts, and other large-scale events, ensuring compliance with governing body requirements and venue standards.
- Coordinate contractor, supplier, and service partner mobilization activities, ensuring adequate staffing, equipment, logistics, and operational support are in place.
- Establish and maintain mobilization documentation, operational procedures, readiness dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to track progress and performance.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives by capturing lessons learned from mobilization activities and implementing enhancements to future event readiness programmes.
External Stakeholder Coordination
- Act as the primary operational contact for event organizers, promoters, production companies, teams, broadcasters, and rights holders throughout the event lifecycle.
- Coordinate with FIFA, leagues, federations, and governing bodies regarding event operational requirements, venue readiness, competition standards, and tournament delivery obligations.
- Support the Venue Operations Director in managing strategic relationships with FIFA and other governing bodies during major tournaments and events.
- Liaise with the Ministry of Sport, Ministry of Culture, local authorities, emergency services, civil defense, police, transport agencies, and other regulatory stakeholders to ensure all event requirements and approvals are achieved.
- Coordinate operational activities with Aramco Stadium stakeholders to ensure events align with stadium policies, operational standards, and strategic objectives.
- Collaborate with Aramco corporate stakeholders, including Sponsorship, Corporate Affairs, Protocol, Communications, Security, Hospitality, and Executive Leadership teams to ensure corporate requirements are incorporated into event delivery plans.
Event Budget Management
- Prepare detailed event cost estimates and operational budget forecasts to support event planning and approval processes.
- Manage approved event operational expenditure, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and in accordance with financial controls and procurement policies.
- Monitor event costs against budget throughout the planning and delivery lifecycle, identifying risks, variances, and opportunities for cost optimization.
- Review and approve event-related operational spending within delegated authority levels and escalate exceptions to the Venue Operations Director as required.
- Work with the Finance Department and Venue Operations Director to ensure event budgets align with overall venue financial objectives.
- Validate staffing, contractor, security, cleaning, stewarding, logistics, temporary infrastructure, and event services costs associated with event delivery.
- Support the development of annual Event Operations departmental budgets, workforce plans, and operating forecasts.
- Ensure all event delivery activities achieve agreed operational objectives while maintaining budgetary discipline, contractual compliance, safety requirements, and guest experience standards.
