Director - Strategic Planning & Economic Development (MAS157)

Qiddiya Investment Company is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Strategic Planning & Economic Development (MAS157) to lead our strategic planning initiatives and drive sustainable economic development for our groundbreaking entertainment and leisure project. This senior-level role requires a visionary leader who can translate complex data and insights into strategic choices that align with the company's mission and objectives.

The Director will oversee the development and execution of comprehensive economic development strategies, ensuring innovative approaches to attract investments and enhance the local economy. In addition to managing a talented team, the Director will collaborate with key stakeholders across both the public and private sectors.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Strategy & Mandate

• Lead the definition, refresh, and articulation of QCA’s strategy, including mandate clarity, strategic objectives, services portfolio, revenue levers, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Translate national and shareholder priorities into clear strategic choices, trade-offs, and sequencing decisions for QCA leadership.
• Own the development of multi-year strategic roadmaps, ensuring alignment between ambition, capacity, funding, and delivery readiness.

Execution & Performance Governance

• Design, establish, and continuously mature the Authority-wide execution system, including planning cycles, performance reviews, portfolio governance, and escalation mechanisms.
• Own entity KPI architecture and performance management, ensuring insight-led reviews, accountability, and corrective action.
• Oversee the prioritization, sequencing, and active management of strategic initiatives and programs, intervening decisively where delivery is at risk.

Operating Model & Institutional Maturity

• Define, monitor and improve QCA’s target operating model, including decision rights, governance forums, approval pathways, cross-functional interfaces, organization, processes, policies and enablers
• Advise leadership on organizational readiness, capacity constraints, and operating implications of strategic choices.
• Drive institutionalization of strategy through standards, methodologies, and governance discipline

Executive, Board & Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead the preparation of Committees and Board materials, including strategy documents, decision memos, performance deep dives, and risk assessments.
• Act as a senior interface with government entities, regulators, and ecosystem stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment, policy coherence, and coordinated delivery.
• Support leadership in high-stakes discussions, framing options, implications, and recommendations with clarity and rigor.

People & Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop the Strategy function, setting clear expectations, performance standards, and capability-building pathways.
• Build a high-caliber, motivated team capable of operating at executive and board level.
• Govern external consultants and advisors, ensuring value realization, quality assurance, and effective knowledge transfer to internal teams.

Risk, Opportunity & Value Realization

• Identify strategic risks, dependencies, and opportunities across QCA’s portfolio and operating environment.
• Drive executive-level actions to accelerate readiness, mitigate risks, and unlock value, ensuring momentum toward steady-state sustainability.

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, Economics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in strategic planning, economic development, or management consulting, preferably in large-scale and multi-stakeholder environments.
• Proven track record of successful leadership in strategic initiatives and economic development projects.
• Exceptional analytical thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with the GCC / KSA economic landscape and public sector policies is an advantage.

Offering a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.