Head of Commercial

As the Commercial Director, you will lead and establish Riyadh Development Company’s commercial function for its emerging portfolio of mixed-use and lifestyle developments. You will be responsible for shaping and executing the company’s commercial strategy across leasing, tenant curation, pricing strategy, commercial partnerships, and revenue optimization, while building the commercial organization, processes, and governance framework from the ground up.

Working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams, you will drive the positioning and commercial success of the company’s real estate destinations, ensuring alignment with the company’s long-term growth strategy and the Kingdom’s urban transformation ambitions.

Commercial Strategy & Planning

• Develop and execute the commercial strategy for the company’s mixed-use developments and associated asset classes in alignment with corporate objectives and long-term growth plans.
• Lead the end-to-end commercial planning and commercialization strategy for destination-led developments and emerging real estate assets.
• Define revenue mix targets across leasing, sales, operational, and ancillary revenue streams to support portfolio performance and long-term value creation.
• Establish pricing frameworks, lease benchmarks, and unit allocation strategies across retail, F&B, office, lifestyle, and community-focused asset categories.
• Ensure commercial requirements are integrated upstream into development planning, design, and delivery decisions.

Leasing & Tenant Strategy

• Lead all leasing activities for new developments across retail, F&B, office, co-working, lifestyle, and community service categories.
• Develop and manage a curated tenant pipeline consisting of local, regional, and international brands aligned with the destination strategy and customer experience vision.
• Design and implement place-based leasing strategies that preserve the identity, positioning, and customer experience of each development.
• Negotiate and execute commercial lease and sales agreements with anchor tenants, operators, and strategic retail partners.
• Oversee tenant mix optimization to maximize commercial performance, customer engagement, and long-term asset value.

Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary commercial interface with strategic partners, investors, operators, and development stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with Development, Delivery, Finance, Legal, and Strategy teams to ensure alignment between commercial objectives and project execution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with retailers, operators, brokers, investors, and commercial partners to support business growth and market positioning.

Commercial Operations & Governance

• Establish the commercial operating model, including leasing SOPs, tenant management frameworks, incentive structures, and commercial governance processes.
• Develop commercial performance dashboards and reporting frameworks to support executive decision-making and portfolio monitoring.
• Drive continuous improvement across commercial systems, processes, and reporting standards to enhance operational efficiency and commercial performance.
• Ensure all commercial activities comply with corporate governance requirements, contractual obligations, and regulatory standards.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Finance, Architecture, Urban Planning, or a related field required.
• MBA, MRICS, or other relevant professional certifications preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in commercial real estate, leasing, asset commercialization, or mixed-use development management, including at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven experience leading commercial strategy and leasing activities for large-scale mixed-use or lifestyle destinations within KSA or the GCC.
• Demonstrated success in tenant curation, leasing negotiations, and establishing commercial functions or operating models.
• Experience working within joint venture, SPV, or institutional investment structures is highly preferred.

Core Competencies

• Strong expertise in commercial real estate strategy, leasing, pricing, and portfolio commercialization.
• Exceptional negotiation and stakeholder management capabilities with proven success closing complex commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of mixed-use development economics, retail trends, and destination positioning.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build systems, teams, and processes in evolving environments.
• Advanced communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence executive stakeholders, investors, and strategic partners.
• Bilingual proficiency in Arabic and English preferred.

Working at Riyadh Development Company

Riyadh Development Company is committed to driving economic diversification and urban transformation in alignment with the Kingdom’s strategic vision. Our people are central to our success, empowered by a leadership team that fosters transparency, trust, and accountability.

We offer a dynamic environment where professionals contribute to pioneering developments that redefine urban experiences and shape the future of real estate, lifestyle, and infrastructure across the Kingdom. Our focus is on enabling our people to thrive in an environment that encourages innovation, collaboration, and meaningful impact.