Senior Manager - Operational Readiness - 50010220- DA3

Provide strategic leadership for operational readiness across assigned major assets and programmes, ensuring an integrated and controlled transition from project delivery into safe, compliant and sustainable operations. Set readiness direction, govern assurance and activation recommendations, and align senior stakeholders on priorities, risks and outcomes to support seamless launches, sustained operations and exceptional guest experiences across Qiddiya’s entertainment and cultural projects.

• Define and implement operational readiness strategy, governance, standards, assurance methodology and activation decision gates for assigned portfolios, aligned with Qiddiya’s strategic objectives.
• Lead integrated readiness planning and delivery across people, process, technology, facilities, safety, security, commercial, regulatory and service workstreams, with sequenced plans and accountable owners.
• Provide senior oversight of milestones, interdependencies, risks, issues, decisions and evidence-based completion status; establish and monitor readiness and operational performance KPIs.
• Collaborate with project delivery, operations, engineering and stakeholder teams to embed operational requirements throughout design, procurement, commissioning, handover, mobilization and opening plans.
• Chair senior readiness reviews, resolve cross-workstream dependencies and direct mitigation and recovery plans for gaps affecting safety, compliance, guest experience or activation dates.
• Advise executive leadership on readiness status, activation options, residual risks, performance findings and required decisions, escalating trade-offs beyond delegated authority.
Specific Responsibilities
• Oversee operating-model, workforce, standard operating procedure (SOP), operating supplies and equipment (OS&E), technology, facilities and service mobilization readiness; ensure staff training and development prepare operational teams to meet defined performance standards.
• Govern readiness for permits, licenses and regulatory interfaces through accountable functions, ensuring clear ownership, timely delivery and visibility of unresolved compliance gaps.
• Lead readiness assessments, assurance reviews, inspections, rehearsals and operational trials; recommend progression through key stage gates based on completion evidence and clearly stated residual risks.
• Oversee consultants, contractors, advisers and operators supporting readiness, ensuring clear scope, deliverable quality, schedule and accountability.
• Build team capability through direction, coaching, performance management and consistent quality standards.
• Champion a guest-focused approach and continuous improvement, applying lessons learned, best practices and industry standards to improve readiness plans and standardize delivery across the function.

• Follow applicable company policies, safety requirements, confidentiality and document-control practices.

• Maintain clear records and perform related duties consistent with the approved role scope.

• Work within approved delegated authorities; recommend activation decisions to authorized decision-makers.

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, engineering, operations management, project management, hospitality or a related discipline. A master’s degree is preferred.

PMP, PRINCE2, facilities management, operational readiness, HSE, risk or programme management certification is preferred.

Multi-workstream programme integration; readiness assurance and recovery planning; operating-model and mobilization oversight; senior stakeholder alignment; executive reporting; dependency resolution; team leadership; consultant oversight and change delivery.

Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in operational management, operational readiness, mobilization, project delivery or asset activation for major or complex programmes, including at least 3 years in a senior leadership role.

Experience leading major or complex readiness and mobilization programmes, integrating multiple workstreams, aligning senior stakeholders and directing assurance and recovery planning, preferably within the entertainment or large-scale infrastructure sectors.