Venue Manager - Sporting Event

Position: Venue Manager 

Location: Jeddah/Riyadh

Duration: June 2026 - March 2027

The  Manager - Venue Management will lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of all venue operations for the international football tournament. This role is responsible for ensuring each competition and non-competition venue is fully operational, compliant with the requirements, and delivered to international event standards.

The position will oversee Venue Managers, coordinate functional area integration, and act as the primary interface between the  stadium authorities, host cities, and key stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Venue Readiness

• Lead venue operational planning in line with the requirements and tournament regulations

• Develop and implement venue master plans, zoning layouts, and operational overlays

• Ensure all venues meet safety, security, accessibility, and broadcast standards

• Oversee testing & commissioning, including test events and simulation exercises

Operational Delivery

• Manage end-to-end venue operations during tournament time

• Supervise Venue Managers across all official sites (stadiums, training sites, team hotels, etc.)

• Ensure seamless coordination of all functional areas (Security, Accreditation, Transport, Broadcast, Commercial, Medical, Protocol, etc.)

• Monitor daily venue performance and resolve escalated operational issues

Stakeholder Management

• Act as primary liaison with stadium owners, host city authorities, and government entities

• Coordinate with AFC Venue Operations representatives

• Ensure contractual obligations with venue owners and service providers are met

Budget & Resource Management

• Develop and manage venue operations budgets

• Optimize resource allocation including workforce, contractors, and suppliers

• Ensure cost control while maintaining service excellence

Workforce & Leadership

• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and training of Venue Managers and venue teams

• Develop operational manuals, SOPs, and workforce plans

• Promote a high-performance, solution-oriented culture across venues

Risk & Compliance

• Identify operational risks and develop mitigation plans

• Ensure compliance with health & safety regulations and tournament policies

• Lead crisis response planning at venue level

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 10-12 years of experience in large-scale event or stadium operations

• Proven experience in international sporting events 

• Experience working within an Organizing Committee structure preferred

• Strong knowledge of venue zoning, overlays, and tournament-time operations

• Demonstrated leadership experience managing multi-functional teams

• Financial and contract management experience

• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills

Competencies

• Strategic thinking with strong operational execution

• Crisis management and decision-making under pressure

• Strong communication and diplomacy skills

• High level of integrity and professionalism

• Ability to work in a multicultural and fast-paced environment