Senior Manager, Operational Readiness

Role Overview

The Senior Manager, Operational Readiness will own the planning, integration, testing, validation, and overall readiness program for tournament venues and the related operational setup at the company. This position ensures that every functional area, venue, stakeholder group, system, workforce segment, and service partner is fully prepared to support tournament delivery during the pre-event phase and throughout tournament time.

Acting as the main coordination hub, the role brings together tournament functions, venue operations, government bodies, stadium operators, and external partners to support a smooth move from planning into execution.

Operational Readiness Planning

• Roll out the tournament’s Operational Readiness Framework.
• Carry out the readiness approach, governance model, milestone tracking, and reporting structure.
• Keep the Operational Readiness Master Plan updated and aligned with tournament timelines.
• Oversee readiness work across two competition cities and the related non-competition locations.
• Apply the same readiness standards consistently across Jeddah and Khobar.
• Manage venue integration and transition activities.
• Track venue-specific readiness plans and make sure actions and risks are closed on time.

Cross-Functional Integration and Testing

• Lead coordination across functions to support operational integration.
• Run readiness training and operational planning sessions, including tabletop exercises, functional exercises, venue operational tests, simulation exercises, and test events.
• Spot dependencies and operational risks between different workstreams.
• Ensure lessons learned are recorded and corrective measures are put in place.
• Carry out readiness reviews and audits across venues and functions.
• Monitor progress using defined assessments and reporting tools.

Reporting, Risk, and Stakeholder Management

• Prepare executive-level updates and readiness reports for senior leadership.
• Track key operational risks and the related mitigation actions.
• Build alignment among stakeholders on readiness goals and timelines.
• Support tournament-time operations and issue resolution as needed.
• Coordinate city and venue responsibilities across the team.
• Encourage a collaborative culture focused on delivery.

Qualifications and Experience

A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Event Management, Operations Management, Project Management, or a closely related field is required.

The ideal candidate will bring 8 to 10 years of experience in major events, sports events, venue operations, operational readiness, governance, programme management, or large-scale infrastructure projects.

Background in operational readiness delivery for major international sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup, AFC tournaments, Olympic Games, Expo, Formula 1, or similar mega-events is required; experience in airports, transportation hubs, or large public venues is also relevant.

Strong exposure to multi-stakeholder environments and proven leadership in managing teams and complex projects are essential.

Additional Requirements

• Experience in the relevant domain area was mentioned in the source.
• Working knowledge of venue operations and tournament delivery models.
• Project management certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, MSP, or an equivalent credential.
• Prior experience working in the Middle East region.
• Excellent communication and presentation ability.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Comfort operating in a fast-moving, complex environment.