Director of Operations

Job Title: Procurement Operations Director

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sector: Major International Event & Infrastructure Programme

Overview

An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a highly experienced Procurement Operations Director to play a pivotal role on one of the world’s most ambitious international programmes currently being delivered in Riyadh. This landmark initiative will transform the city through the delivery of a vast, state-of-the-art event site and supporting infrastructure designed to welcome millions of visitors from across the globe.

The programme will deliver a large-scale district combining cutting-edge pavilions, cultural venues, public realm, hospitality, mobility infrastructure and legacy developments that will shape the future of the city long after the event concludes. The Procurement Operations Director will be instrumental in establishing and leading procurement strategy and operational delivery across this complex, multi-billion-dollar programme.

This is a rare opportunity to influence procurement at the highest level on a globally significant project while leading large-scale supplier ecosystems and driving world-class procurement performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end procurement operations across multiple workstreams within a large-scale international development programme.
• Develop and implement procurement strategy, governance frameworks, and operational processes to support programme delivery.
• Oversee procurement planning, sourcing, tendering, contract award and supplier management across major construction, infrastructure and services packages.
• Ensure procurement activity aligns with programme timelines, commercial objectives, and regulatory requirements.
• Build and lead a high-performing procurement operations team , establishing clear accountability, reporting and performance metrics.
• Drive value creation, cost optimisation and risk mitigation across complex supply chains.
• Collaborate closely with commercial, delivery, legal and programme leadership teams to ensure seamless integration of procurement activities.
• Establish robust supplier engagement strategies , developing partnerships with regional and international contractors and vendors.
• Implement digital procurement tools, reporting dashboards and performance analytics to improve operational visibility.
• Maintain strong governance and compliance, ensuring procurement processes adhere to best practice and ethical standards.

Programme Highlights

• Delivery of a globally significant international event destination attracting millions of visitors.
• Development of iconic pavilions, cultural venues, hospitality facilities and public realm spaces .
• Large-scale infrastructure and mobility systems connecting the site to the wider city.
• A focus on innovation, sustainability and smart-city technology .
• A long-term legacy district designed to continue serving the city after the event.

Candidate Profile

• Significant leadership experience in procurement operations within large-scale construction, infrastructure or programme environments .
• Proven ability to manage complex procurement portfolios on mega or giga projects .
• Strong knowledge of international procurement standards, contract frameworks and supplier management .
• Experience building and leading large procurement teams within multi-stakeholder environments.
• Strategic mindset combined with strong operational delivery capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience working on major international events, giga projects or large-scale developments is highly advantageous.

Why This Role

• Opportunity to contribute to one of the most high-profile global programmes currently under development .
• Leadership role with significant influence over procurement strategy and operations .
• Exposure to complex, multi-billion-dollar project delivery .
• Work at the forefront of innovation, sustainability and international collaboration .

This role is suited to a dynamic procurement leader who thrives in large-scale, fast-paced environments and wants to leave a lasting mark on a landmark international development.