Startup Program Manager

About Tahaluf

Tahaluf is Saudi Arabia’s biggest organiser of B2B live and on-demand events, measured by space, attendance, headcount, and revenue. It operates as a joint venture involving Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and the Events Investment Fund (EIF).

The company is known for an ambitious, inventive, and collaborative culture where teamwork is central and the work environment is designed to be engaging and enjoyable. Its growth depends on strong local partnerships, and it works closely with leading government and non-government organisations across Saudi Arabia’s large-scale B2B and B2C events landscape.

Its portfolio includes major events such as LEAP and Cityscape, which are the world’s largest events in their respective tech and real estate segments, Black Hat MEA, which holds a Guinness World Record for the largest CTF competition held during an event, and CPHI Middle East, the largest pharma debut event in history.

You will join a driven team that is focused on pushing boundaries and challenging the usual way of doing things. From the start, you will work on large-scale projects with support from leadership that encourages growth and opens up future opportunities.

Role Overview

This opportunity sits within the Investor & Startup Programs team and is for a Startup Program Manager working on a contractor basis. The role suits an experienced programme professional who can run startup programmes independently across several live events at the same time, each with different target audiences, themes, and commercial setups. It requires the ability to switch between sectors, handle several workstreams in parallel, and consistently deliver a strong startup experience. The position combines hands-on delivery with strategic input, so attention to detail and strong execution are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the startup programme team and take ownership of programme features and delivery targets.
• Build the startup pipeline for all assigned events, managing the process from form configuration and outreach through to final selection.
• Assess incoming applications against event-specific standards and work with the startup and competition teams.
• Carry out targeted outreach to startup communities, accelerators, and partner networks to improve both the quality and volume of applications.
• Adapt the curation strategy for each event, support marketing activity, and contribute ideas for social media promotion.
• Own startup onboarding so every selected startup receives timely, accurate information, documents, and logistics guidance.
• Run pre-event training, matchmaking briefings, and sector-specific preparation tailored to each event audience.
• Develop and maintain communication flows and onboarding materials for each event.
• Work with Operations and Production teams on startup zone allocations and pre-event logistics.
• Be on site during events to manage startup zone operations, including matchmaking concierge support and troubleshooting for startups.
• Coordinate any special startup-related programmes taking place on site.
• Work in real time with Operations, Production, and the programme lead to resolve on-ground issues.
• Keep startup records complete and current in internal management systems throughout the programme lifecycle.
• Gather and review post-event feedback from startups, including NPS, meeting quality, and investment interest generated.
• Support the wider programme impact report with event-specific startup data.
• Carry out post-event reviews and share lessons learned along with improvement suggestions.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate will have 5–6 years of experience in startup programme management, event programming, or ecosystem delivery, with a proven record of handling multi-event or multi-market portfolios. Experience in fintech, cybersecurity, or gaming is strongly preferred, and candidates with experience in at least one of these sectors will be prioritised.

You should bring strong project management capability and be able to manage multiple parallel workstreams across events with different schedules. Excellent written and spoken English is required, and Arabic is an advantage. Experience using event management platforms or CRM systems is also needed. You should be highly organised, detail-focused, and comfortable working with internal and external stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. Previous experience in the MENA region is preferred.

Additional Information

You should be educated to degree level or hold an equivalent qualification. The role also calls for substantial project management experience supporting mid- to large-scale trade exhibitions, conferences, sports events, or FMCG launches and events.

You should be capable of handling multiple projects and deliverables at different stages of the project lifecycle, and have experience evaluating and managing inter-departmental processes and milestones. Proficiency in MS Office/Office 365, SmartSheets, and Airtable is expected. Clear communication in both English and Arabic, whether one-to-one or in group settings, is important. Strong interpersonal and customer-facing ability, along with cultural awareness and sensitivity, is essential. You should be proactive, self-driven, and able to manage risk and mitigation planning.

Benefits and Packages

• BUPA medical insurance covering you and your family
• 25 days of annual leave
• Remote working on Sundays
• Ability to work from anywhere for one month each year
• Wellbeing benefits
• Family visa cost coverage for up to three children
• Annual flight allowance for expatriates

International Relocation Package

• Paid flights to Riyadh for you and your family, for up to three children
• 60 days of accommodation or a suitable serviced apartment from your arrival date, or a one-time SAR 5,000 payment
• Reimbursement of up to SAR 2,500 for shipping goods or excess baggage
• Paid return flight home and an end-of-service gratuity when leaving the company

Local Relocation Package

• Paid flights to Riyadh for you and your family, for up to three children
• 30 days of accommodation or a suitable serviced apartment from your arrival date, or a one-time SAR 5,000 payment
• Reimbursement of up to SAR 2,500 for shipping goods or excess baggage
• Package available if eligible