Astrotourism Manager

Devision: Sports and Entertainment

Department: AKUN

Compnay: Sports and Entertainment Compnay

About Red Sea Sport & Entertainment

Red Sea Sports & Entertainment (RSSE) is a dedicated subsidiary of Red Sea Global (RSG), responsible for designing and delivering outstanding land and marine experiences at The Red Sea destination. RSSE manages and operates a diverse portfolio of sports, adventure, and leisure offerings, including water sports through Galaxea, adventure activities via Akun, and leisure experiences delivered by WAMA.

RSSE plays a key strategic role in the partnership between Red Sea Global and the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, united by a shared ambition to promote inclusive, accessible, and world-class sports and recreational experiences.

Guided by a purpose-driven approach and a strong commitment to people and the planet, RSSE delivers innovative programs aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, supporting the Kingdom's ambition to become a global leader in regenerative tourism.

Job Purpose

The Astrotourism Manager is a destination-based leadership role responsible for the strategic development, operational management, and delivery excellence of all astronomy and astrotourism experiences across The Red Sea destination.

This role oversees the end-to-end guest journey for astronomy programming, including stargazing experiences, observatory operations, astronomy events, festivals, and educational initiatives. The Astrotourism Manager ensures world-class guest experiences by combining scientific accuracy, immersive storytelling, cultural interpretation, and operational excellence.

The role is accountable for building and scaling a globally competitive astrotourism product, aligned with RSSE standards, regenerative tourism principles, and destination development objectives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Define and implement the strategic vision for astrotourism experiences across The Red Sea destination.
• Design and evolve a world-class astronomy and night-sky experience portfolio aligned with destination positioning.
• Develop long-term programming strategies including events, festivals, observatories, and seasonal experiences.
• Identify innovation opportunities in astronomy tourism, technology integration, and guest engagement models.
• Collaborate with destination leadership to integrate astrotourism into broader guest experience ecosystems.

2. Operational Management

• Oversee all daily astrotourism operations across multiple observation sites and astronomy assets.
• Ensure seamless delivery of stargazing programs, telescope sessions, guided astronomy tours, and special events.
• Establish and enforce SOPs, operational frameworks, and service standards across all astronomy experiences.
• Monitor operational readiness of observatories, equipment, and guest experience infrastructure.
• Act as the escalation point for operational challenges, guest issues, and technical requirements.

3. Guest Experience & Product Excellence

• Ensure delivery of immersive, high-quality astronomy experiences combining science, storytelling, and cultural heritage.
• Elevate guest engagement through interactive, educational, and emotionally impactful programs.
• Oversee guest journey design from arrival to departure across all astronomy touchpoints.
• Manage guest feedback systems and implement continuous improvements to enhance satisfaction.
• Ensure experiences meet luxury hospitality standards and exceed guest expectations.

4. Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of astronomy guides, senior guides, and operational staff.
• Build structured training programs covering astronomy knowledge, storytelling, guest engagement, and technical skills.
• Develop performance frameworks and career progression pathways within the astronomy team.
• Foster a culture of excellence, curiosity, safety, and continuous learning.

5. Observatory & Equipment Management

• Oversee the development, readiness, and maintenance of observatories and astronomy infrastructure.
• Ensure all telescopes, optical systems, and astronomy tools are maintained to operational standards.
• Manage procurement, inventory, and lifecycle planning for astronomy assets.
• Coordinate with technical teams to ensure equipment calibration, upgrades, and functionality.

6. Events, Festivals & Experience Expansion

• Lead the planning and execution of astronomy events, festivals, and seasonal programming.
• Develop partnerships with scientific institutions, astronomy communities, and cultural organizations.
• Expand astrotourism offerings through new experiences, workshops, and educational initiatives.
• Support destination-wide programming integration with other RSSE experience pillars.

7. Safety, Compliance & Environmental Stewardship

• Ensure full compliance with safety standards for night-time outdoor operations.
• Implement risk management frameworks for astronomy activities across all sites.
• Champion dark-sky preservation, environmental conservation, and sustainable tourism practices.
• Ensure adherence to RSSE policies, local regulations, and international best practices.

8. Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with internal teams including Operations, Sustainability, Destination Development, and Marketing.
• Engage with external stakeholders such as astronomy institutions, tourism authorities, and scientific partners.
• Represent RSSE astrotourism initiatives in strategic partnerships and industry engagements.

9. Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and report on operational performance, guest satisfaction, and program KPIs.
• Provide strategic insights to senior leadership for continuous enhancement of astrotourism offerings.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency improvements, cost optimization, and experience innovation.
• Ensure data-driven decision-making across all astronomy operations.

Job Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Astronomy, Physics, Tourism, Hospitality, Environmental Science, or related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in tourism operations, experiential programming, or astronomy-related fields.
• Proven experience managing teams in high-end hospitality, tourism, or destination environments.
• Strong background in astronomy education, observatory operations, or stargazing programs.
• Experience in large-scale event planning or experience development is an advantage.
• Knowledge of telescope systems, astronomy tools, and night-sky interpretation.

Core Competencies

• Strong strategic leadership and program development capabilities.
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and public engagement skills.
• High attention to detail with strong operational discipline.
• Strong cultural awareness and ability to engage diverse international audiences.
• Guest-centric mindset with experience delivering luxury-level experiences.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams in dynamic environments.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making under pressure.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and operational reporting systems.
• Ability to work independently and across cross-functional teams.

Desirable Skills

• Advanced astronomy knowledge or certifications.
• Experience in astrophotography or observatory management.
• Additional languages (Arabic is highly desirable).
• Background in science communication or educational programming.
• Experience in desert or remote destination operations.

Job Context

• Multi-site leadership role across The Red Sea astronomy and astrotourism assets.
• Requires flexibility to work nights, weekends, and peak seasonal periods.
• Involves extensive outdoor operational oversight in remote environments.
• Plays a key role in positioning The Red Sea as a global leader in luxury astrotourism and night-sky experiences.