Director of Placemaking and Theming

Summary:

Lead the strategic direction and integration of placemaking and theming across assigned Qiddiya, translating city ambition into distinctive identities, compelling experiences and deliverable development outcomes.

The Director will establish district place visions, retain Qiddiya’s creative authorship and lead thematic development from early planning through design and delivery. Working directly with executive stakeholders, district leadership and multidisciplinary teams, the role will align masterplans, assets and public realm around a coherent place ambition, balancing creative quality with commercial value, operational viability and long-term legacy.

Key Responsibilities

District Strategy & Thematic Leadership:

· Lead place vision, narrative, positioning and thematic strategies across assigned districts, establishing clear priorities and experience objectives.

· Direct the development of internal thematic strategies, safeguarding Qiddiya’s authorship while guiding consultant interpretation and design expression.

· Embed placemaking within Master Plans and assets designs, ensuring district identity informs spatial planning, asset relationships, public realm and development decisions.

· Establish a coherent approach to thematic expression across district, masterplan and asset scales, balancing citywide consistency with local distinctiveness.

Planning, Design & Delivery Integration:

· Lead the translation of approved strategies into designs, Place Books, experience frameworks and actionable design guidance.

· Direct integration across planning, architecture, landscape, public realm, arts, culture and infrastructure interfaces.

· Establish design review priorities and guide resolution of issues affecting place quality, thematic integrity and continuity.

· Maintain strategic oversight through design development and early delivery, ensuring changes are assessed against approved place objectives.

Executive Stakeholder Leadership & Governance

· Act as the senior place representative for assigned districts, engaging executive stakeholders and development leaders on strategic direction, priorities and key decisions.

· Build alignment across district teams, asset owners and corporate functions, resolving competing requirements and escalating material risks with clear recommendations.

· Establish governance, review milestones and decision pathways for place and theming within agreed approval structures.

· Present district strategies, investment priorities and delivery implications to leadership, securing alignment on the intended outcomes.

Citywide Alignment, Experience & Value:

· Lead placemaking contributions to the City Framework Plan aligning district strategies with citywide ambition.

· Direct experience planning, activation and meanwhile-use strategies with relevant teams, connecting physical design with programming, marketing and operations.

· Ensure cultural relevance, accessibility, thermal comfort and people-first principles inform place outcomes.

· Establish performance measures linking placemaking to experience quality, commercial objectives, operational sustainability and long-term value.

Resources, Procurement & Team Leadership

· Lead place-related scopes, consultant appointments and procurement inputs, defining deliverables, responsibilities and quality expectations.

· Manage assigned budgets, resources and forecasts, recommending proportionate in-house and consultant delivery models.

· Lead multidisciplinary teams and consultants, developing internal capability and a culture of creative ownership, collaboration and delivery accountability.

Requirements

· 18–20 years of relevant professional experience in placemaking, thematic development, urban design or masterplanning, including substantial senior leadership responsibility.

· Degree in urban design, architecture, landscape architecture, planning or a related discipline.

· Demonstrated leadership of complex mixed-use, cultural, entertainment or destination districts from strategic vision through design and delivery.

· Proven ability to engage executive stakeholders, lead multidisciplinary teams and translate creative ambition into commercially and operationally viable outcomes.

· Strong expertise in district identity, thematic frameworks, public realm, experience planning, governance, procurement and budget management.

· Excellent strategic judgment, negotiation and executive communication skills, with sensitivity to Saudi cultural context.