Role summary
Qiddiya Investment Company is transforming the entertainment landscape in Saudi Arabia. We seek a strategic and commercially driven professional to fill the Director - Development Financial Planning role within our Sports Business Unit. This position shapes development strategy through comprehensive business planning, financial strategy, and commercial analysis for proposed world-class sports assets and facilities with total investment value exceeding several billion dollars. You will lead a high-performing team developing comprehensive business plans, investment strategies, and financial models while serving as a key member of the senior leadership team. Your role is instrumental in driving investment decisions, optimizing capital allocation, and ensuring our projects deliver exceptional returns while aligning with Qiddiya's long-term vision.
Responsibilities
- Establish and oversee the strategic planning function for the Sports Business Unit
- Develop investment strategies, business plans, and financial frameworks for multiple billion-dollar development projects
- Lead capital optimization and investment strategy initiatives
- Ensure sophisticated financial modeling and strategic assessment of all investments
- Maximize shareholder value through investment decisions
- Develop innovative commercial models and revenue strategies for sports assets
- Collaborate with senior leadership teams on commercial model development
- Direct complex feasibility studies and strategic assessments for major development initiatives
- Provide guidance on capital structure, funding options, and risk management strategies
- Foster strategic relationships with key stakeholders, financial institutions, and partners
- Lead business growth initiatives through strategic partnerships
- Spearhead transformation initiatives in financial and commercial strategy
- Ensure executive decision-making is based on best-in-class analysis
- Lead strategic due diligence and valuation of potential investments, partnerships, and development opportunities
- Develop and implement sophisticated financial planning and analysis frameworks
- Drive strategic decision-making at board level
- Guide long-term financial forecasting and scenario planning
- Optimize portfolio performance and returns through forecasting
- Direct the creation of board-level business cases and investment proposals
- Include detailed ROI analysis and risk assessment in proposals
- Establish best practices in business planning and financial strategy across the organization
- Lead change management initiatives to improve financial planning processes
- Drive operational excellence through process improvements
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, real estate, or related field
- Minimum 15-18 years of relevant experience
- Early experience at leading management consultancy preferred but not mandatory
- Proven track record leading financial strategy and business planning for large-scale development projects exceeding $1B
- Experience in financial planning and business strategy for major sporting venues or events highly desirable
- Demonstrated expertise in capital markets, project finance, and investment strategy
- Strong background developing and implementing commercial frameworks and revenue optimization strategies
- Distinguished expertise in business planning, financial modeling, and strategic analysis for complex development projects
Requirements
- Exceptional critical thinking and strategic problem-solving abilities
- Demonstrated capability to drive innovation and challenge conventional approaches
- Outstanding executive presence and communication skills
- Proven ability to influence and engage at board and C-suite levels
- Strong leadership capabilities
- Demonstrated success building and developing high-performing teams
- Advanced proficiency in financial modeling and strategic planning tools
- Advanced proficiency in enterprise-level planning systems
Education
Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, real estate, or related field
Experience
Minimum 15-18 years of relevant experience
Skills
- Advanced financial modeling
- Strategic planning
- Strategic planning tools
- Enterprise-level planning systems
- Critical thinking
- Strategic problem-solving
- Innovation
- Executive presence
- Communication
- Board-level influence
- Leadership
- Team building
- Team development
- Capital markets
- Project finance
- Investment strategy
- Financial planning
- Business strategy
- Commercial modeling
- Revenue optimization
- Strategic due diligence
- Valuation
- Risk management