Job Title
Operations Manager- Riyadh, KSA
Location
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Department
Expansion & Growth
Reports to
CEO & COO
About the Role
We are looking for a highly driven, entrepreneurial Operations Manager to lead our ongoing expansion into the Riyadh, KSA market. You will be responsible for owning the entire go-to-market strategy from 0 1: validating product-market fit, building key partnerships, navigating regulatory requirements, and scaling operations to drive sustainable growth.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, can move fast with limited resources, and has a strong mix of commercial, operational, and strategic skills.
Key Responsibilities
Go-to-Market & Strategy
- Develop and execute the full market expansion plan for Riyadh, KSA (market sizing, segmentation, pricing, localisation, launch roadmap).
- Build and test launch hypotheses, iterate quickly, and adapt based on customer and partner feedback.
- Own all early metrics (activation, acquisition, retention, revenue) to prove viability.
Partnerships & Business Development
- Identify, negotiate, and onboard strategic partners (banks, brokers, real estate agencies, payment providers, regulators, etc.).
- Build long-term commercial relationships to accelerate distribution and credibility in-market.
Regulatory & Compliance
- Map the legal and regulatory landscape and secure required licenses/approvals if applicable.
- Work closely with legal/compliance to localise contracts, processes, and customer communications.
Operations & Localisation
- Set up local processes (onboarding, payments, SLAs, support) that align with global standards but fit Riyadh, KSA regulations and customer behaviour.
- Recruit and lead the first wave of local hires (sales, ops, customer success, etc.) as the market scales.
Ownership & Leadership
- Act as the mini-COO of Riyadh, KSA: fully accountable for P&L, unit economics, and performance.
- Report on KPIs, insights, risks, and opportunities to central leadership.
What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months)
- Product-market fit validated with real users & revenue.
- Strong partnerships secured with key ecosystem players.
- Regulatory / licensing path confirmed and underway (if required).
- Early go-to-market funnel operational and scaling.
- Riyadh, KSA positioned as a model market for regional expansion.
Requirements
- 58+ years of experience in startups, consulting, fintech, proptech, marketplace, or similar high-growth sectors.
- Proven track record of launching or scaling products/markets from scratch.
- Strong understanding of Saudi business culture, regulatory environment, and commercial networks.
- Fluent in Arabic and strong command of English.
- Hands-on experience working within SAMA-regulated environments.
- Data-driven, scrappy, resourceful, and comfortable operating without playbooks.
- Exceptional negotiation, stakeholder management, and communication skills.
Nice to Have
- Experience in real estate, financial services, digital lending, or embedded finance.
- Existing network with Saudi banks, regulators, or real estate developers.
- Prior experience working directly with SAMA or licensed financial institutions.
- Prior experience in a hyper-growth startup or marketplace.
Why Join Us
- Be the founding force behind a high-impact product in a fast-growing market.
- Full ownership with the freedom to build, test, and scale.
- Competitive compensation
