Events Director
Job Description
A major Saudi group is hiring an Events Director to lead a global events portfolio from Dubai. This is a senior role for someone who can build a world-class events strategy, deliver flawless execution across multiple markets, and turn events into measurable commercial outcomes (brand, partnerships, pipeline, and reputation).
Requirements
- 10–15+ years events experience with 5+ years leading global / multi-market portfolios at Head/Director level
- Based in Dubai (or GCC) with strong regional fluency and global delivery experience (Europe/Asia/US or multi-region)
- Commercial operator: treats events as a growth channel (pipeline, partnerships, distributor enablement, brand trust), not “brand theatre”
Industry fit (strong preference)
- FMCG / Food / Global Trade experience:
- Trade shows and exhibitions (buyer meetings, distributor engagement, category showcases)
- Product launches, customer conferences, retail/distributor conventions
- Government/industry forums and high-protocol stakeholder environments
Core capabilities (must-have)
- Strategy + calendar ownership:
- Builds annual global events strategy, prioritises by impact, and aligns to commercial objectives
- End-to-end delivery excellence:
- Concept ? budgeting ? vendor selection ? production ? on-site execution ? post-event reporting
- Creates repeatable playbooks: SOPs, run-of-show, brand standards, stakeholder comms, approvals
- Budget ownership and negotiation:
- Manages multi-million AED budgets (or equivalent), tight cost control, strong vendor negotiation
- Clear ROI reporting beyond vanity metrics (leads, meetings, partner outcomes, revenue influence)
- Stakeholder management:
- Confident with C-suite, VIPs, and matrix organisations
- Can say “no” diplomatically, manage expectations, and keep decisions moving
- Vendor/agency leadership:
- Runs agencies hard with clear briefs, SLAs, timelines, and quality control
- Strong production knowledge: AV, staging, fabrication, venue operations, logistics, travel
Operational strength (what separates top candidates)
- Risk and contingency planning is second nature (site safety, crowd flow, comms plans, backup suppliers)
- Calm under pressure on-site; decisive when things go wrong
- Strong governance: approvals, procurement, contracts, and compliance in large organisations
Team leadership
- Has built and led teams (in-house + contractors), sets standards, coaches, and holds people accountable
- Can scale delivery through systems, not heroics
Nice-to-have “accelerators”
- GCC cultural fluency and Arabic language capability
- Experience delivering major exhibitions at Gulfood / World Expo / large trade fair scale
- Experience with Saudi stakeholders and high-governance environments (matrix approvals, protocol, brand protection)
Responsibilities Duties:
You’ll be the person who brings structure, standards, and momentum — while still being hands-on enough to get the job done when the pressure is on.
What you’ll do
- Own the global events strategy and calendar (flagship events, trade shows, partner activations, VIP/hospitality, internal leadership events)
- Lead end-to-end delivery: concept ? budgeting ? vendor selection ? production ? on-site execution ? post-event reporting
- Manage agencies and suppliers across regions (production, creative, AV, staging, venues, logistics, travel)
- Build event frameworks and playbooks: brand standards, SOPs, risk plans, run-of-show, stakeholder comms, approvals
- Partner with commercial teams to align events to growth goals (FMCG/Food/Trade): lead gen, distributor engagement, buyer meetings, government/industry relationships
- Own budgets and ROI: negotiate hard, track spend, and report outcomes clearly (not vanity metrics)
- Lead and develop an events team (and cross-functional stakeholders), setting a high bar for quality and accountability
What we’re looking for
- Proven global events leadership experience (Director level), managing multi-country portfolios
- Strong preference for FMCG / Food / Global Trade exposure (trade shows, buyer events, distributor conferences, industry forums)
- Track record of delivering complex events with senior stakeholders and VIP protocols
- Commercial mindset: understands how events drive revenue, partnerships, and brand trust
- Strong operational discipline: timelines, budgets, vendor management, risk and contingency planning
- Dubai-based (or ready to relocate) with flexibility to travel internationally
Nice to have (not required)
- Experience delivering major trade exhibitions (e.g., Gulfood-style scale), global roadshows, or multi-market product launches
- Arabic language capability and GCC cultural fluency
- Experience working in large groups with matrix stakeholders and high governance/approval standards