Director - Strategic Planning & Economic Development

Qiddiya Investment Company is on the lookout for a visionary Director of Strategic Planning & Economic Development to lead our efforts in shaping and executing strategic initiatives that enhance economic growth within our progressive entertainment and leisure development. This executive role demands a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of economic trends, coupled with the ability to formulate and implement effective strategies that support our ambitious project goals.

The Director will oversee the development of comprehensive economic strategies, coordinate various projects, and ensure alignment with Qiddiya's mission to create a vibrant and sustainable environment for entertainment and tourism. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership skills, exceptional analytical capabilities, and a collaborative mindset.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Strategy & Mandate

• Lead the definition, refresh, and articulation of QCA’s strategy, including mandate clarity, strategic objectives, services portfolio, revenue levers, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Translate national and shareholder priorities into clear strategic choices, trade-offs, and sequencing decisions for QCA leadership.
• Own the development of multi-year strategic roadmaps, ensuring alignment between ambition, capacity, funding, and delivery readiness.

Execution & Performance Governance

• Design, establish, and continuously mature the Authority-wide execution system, including planning cycles, performance reviews, portfolio governance, and escalation mechanisms.
• Own entity KPI architecture and performance management, ensuring insight-led reviews, accountability, and corrective action.
• Oversee the prioritization, sequencing, and active management of strategic initiatives and programs, intervening decisively where delivery is at risk.

Operating Model & Institutional Maturity

• Define, monitor and improve QCA’s target operating model, including decision rights, governance forums, approval pathways, cross-functional interfaces, organization, processes, policies and enablers
• Advise leadership on organizational readiness, capacity constraints, and operating implications of strategic choices.
• Drive institutionalization of strategy through standards, methodologies, and governance discipline

Executive, Board & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead the preparation of Committees and Board materials, including strategy documents, decision memos, performance deep dives, and risk assessments.
• Act as a senior interface with government entities, regulators, and ecosystem stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment, policy coherence, and coordinated delivery.
• Support leadership in high-stakes discussions, framing options, implications, and recommendations with clarity and rigor.

People & Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the Strategy function, setting clear expectations, performance standards, and capability-building pathways.
• Build a high-caliber, motivated team capable of operating at executive and board level.
• Govern external consultants and advisors, ensuring value realization, quality assurance, and effective knowledge transfer to internal teams.

Risk, Opportunity & Value Realization

• Identify strategic risks, dependencies, and opportunities across QCA’s portfolio and operating environment.
• Drive executive-level actions to accelerate readiness, mitigate risks, and unlock value, ensuring momentum toward steady-state sustainability.

Requirements:
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in strategic planning, economic development, or related areas, with a focus on large-scale projects.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex initiatives and engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of achieving strategic outcomes.
• Experience working within the GCC / KSA environment is highly desirable.

Benefits:
Offering a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.