Director - Parking

The Director, Parking is the asset owner and accountable business lead for all municipal parking assets across Qiddiya. The role establishes the commercial and operating model, governance and performance framework to secure sustainable commercial returns while ensuring parking assets are safe, well maintained, customer-focused and operationally ready for business-as-usual and major-event demand. The position leads parking operator procurement and oversight, revenue and yield optimisation, lifecycle planning, asset assurance and stakeholder integration. It requires a strategic and commercially astute parking leader with substantial operating experience in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ability to build and lead a high-performing team.

Key Responsabilities

Asset Ownership and Strategy

• Act as the accountable asset owner for Qiddiya municipal parking, including applicable on-street, off-street, structured, surface, remote, park-and-ride and shared parking assets.

• Develop and implement the city-wide parking strategy, operating model, governance framework, service standards and investment priorities aligned with Qiddiya’s growth and visitor proposition.

• Assess and recommend the optimal delivery model for the parking portfolio, including in-house operations, commercial partnerships with proven operators and future design, develop, build and operate arrangements.

• Maintain clear ownership, operating and commercial boundaries between City Asset Management, Transportation Operations, O&M, districts, venues, developers and contracted parking operators.

• Provide strategic advice and concise executive reporting on portfolio performance, risks, commercial opportunities, investment requirements and key decisions.

Commercial Performance and Revenue Optimisation

• Own the parking business plan, revenue strategy, pricing principles, demand assumptions, budgets, forecasts and approved commercial targets.

• Optimise sustainable returns through appropriate tariff structures, yield management, permits, subscriptions, validations, event pricing, partnerships and ancillary revenue opportunities.

• Evaluate and recommend management, concession, revenue-share and hybrid operating models, protecting revenue integrity and whole-life asset value.

• Monitor income, operating costs, leakage, utilisation, margin and return on investment, and lead corrective action where performance is below plan.

• Work with Finance & Controls, Legal and Procurement to establish transparent commercial controls, audit requirements, contractual protections and reporting.

Operator Procurement and Performance

• Lead the definition of operator requirements, procurement scopes, evaluation criteria, mobilisation plans and performance specifications for parking operations and associated services.

• Manage senior relationships with parking operators and commercial partners, ensuring clear accountability for safety, service, revenue, compliance and continuous improvement.

• Set and govern contractual KPIs, service levels, incentives, deductions, audit rights and escalation arrangements.

• Ensure operators maintain capable leadership, trained resources, robust operating procedures and effective Saudi workforce development plans.

Asset Lifecycle, Maintenance and Assurance

• Set asset standards and lifecycle plans covering condition, availability, maintenance, cleanliness, lighting, signage, equipment, systems, accessibility and customer facilities.

• Assure operability, maintainability and commercial functionality through design reviews, stage gates, testing, commissioning, handover and operational acceptance.

• Coordinate with O&M and specialist service functions to ensure maintenance delivery meets approved standards, while retaining asset-owner oversight rather than day-to-day contractor management.

• Prioritise renewals and capital investment using asset condition, operational risk, customer impact, revenue potential and whole-life cost.

BAU and Event Operations Readiness

• Ensure the parking portfolio supports reliable daily operations and can scale safely and efficiently for major events, peak periods and special activations.

• Coordinate event parking requirements with Transportation Operations, Public Realm Major Events, Security, FLS, Medical, Logistics, ICT, districts, venues and event organisers.

• Require operators to maintain approved event operating plans, staffing and traffic-interface arrangements, incident procedures, business continuity and service-recovery plans.

• Use post-event reviews and performance data to improve capacity planning, commercial outcomes, customer experience and future readiness.

Customer Experience, Technology and Compliance

• Establish consistent customer standards for access, wayfinding, payment, assistance, complaints, accessibility and service recovery across the portfolio.

• Define business requirements for parking technology, revenue-control systems, data, dashboards and system integration in coordination with QTech and relevant City Operations functions.

• Ensure compliance with applicable Saudi legislation, municipal requirements, permits, safety standards, contractual obligations and Qiddiya governance.

• Use reliable operational and commercial data to support forecasting, pricing, asset planning, performance management and executive decisions.

Leadership and Capability Building

• Build and lead a high-performing parking asset management team with clear accountabilities, objectives and succession plans.

• Develop Saudi parking capability through recruitment, mentoring, structured knowledge transfer, professional development and progressive leadership opportunities.

• Promote a culture of commercial discipline, customer focus, safety, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Requirements

·   Bachelor's degree in business, finance, property, asset management, transport, engineering, operations management or a related discipline.

·   Relevant postgraduate qualification or professional certification in parking, asset management, property, commercial management or operations is advantageous.

·   Substantial senior leadership experience in the parking industry, including direct experience operating and commercially managing significant parking portfolios.

·   Detailed knowledge of the parking market, regulatory environment, customer expectations and operator landscape in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

·   Demonstrated accountability for parking revenue, pricing, yield, budgets, commercial models, revenue control and portfolio profitability.

·   Proven experience procuring, mobilising and managing parking operators or service partners through robust contracts and performance frameworks.

·   Strong experience in asset lifecycle planning, maintenance assurance, operational readiness and handover of new or upgraded parking facilities.

·   Experience supporting large events, high-volume destinations, mixed-use developments, municipal environments, airports or major visitor attractions is strongly preferred.

·   Proven people leadership, executive reporting and stakeholder management across government, developers, operators and corporate functions.