Deputy Director, Art Jameel Saudi Arabia

About the role

Hayy Jameel is Art Jameel’s flagship project in Saudi Arabia. Launched in December 2021 as a dynamic 17,000-square-metre mixed-use hub, Hayy Jameel quickly became known as Jeddah’s home for the arts. The new role of Deputy Director aims to build on this success, in terms of developing Hayy Jameel as a leading independent, multidisciplinary creative hub, enhancing its local impact and international reach while ensuring its financial sustainability, plus exploring the capacity to increase Art Jameel’s impact, such as through Kingdom-wide initiatives.

This new role joins Art Jameel’s well-established leadership team, including the organisation’s Director and two Deputy Directors, who combine their leadership role with overseeing programming, globally. A lead representative in the Kingdom, the Deputy Director delivers on the strategy and organisational objectives set by Art Jameel’s Director and Board. The role embraces fostering a strong network of support for Art Jameel and for Hayy Jameel and its programmes, building relationships with stakeholders and partners across both the private and government sectors. 

The role suits a bilingual, entrepreneurial, charismatic leader with a proven record of nurturing and inspiring teams, galvanizing day-to-day collaboration, and running a forward-looking, community-oriented, public-facing organisation and/or centre. Positioned to play a pioneering role in Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing cultural landscape, the ideal candidate, Saudi or Saudi-based with deep knowledge and strongly established networks in the Kingdom, will bring a deep appreciation of and enthusiasm for culture and the creative industries. While direct experience working in the arts is not strictly necessary, a creative background or sensibility is key to understanding and safeguarding the unique balance at Hayy Jameel and providing strategic support to programme leads. 

The Deputy Director should have a strong track record in leading commercial or social enterprises, consultancies or non-profits, with a sharp focus on executing board goals to drive and deepen impact on the arts and community, across the Kingdom. 

As a primary ambassador for Art Jameel in Saudi Arabia, alongside the Director, the Deputy Director will contribute to high-level partnership building, representing Art Jameel at meetings, events and conferences, and nurturing vital government and private sector relationships. Operationally, and as a key signatory, the Deputy Director must possess a deep awareness and experience of Saudi HR, legal and financial practices, alongside a strong commitment to developing and maintaining new SOPs. 

Role and responsibilities

Hayy Jameel is a dynamic cultural hub encompassing Art Jameel run initiatives (Hayy Arts, Hayy Cinema, Hayy Makers, Hayy Explorers, Hayy Studios and Hayy Library) as well as a variety of tenants (Hayy Residents) ranging from F&B and retail to community and cultural offerings. The 50-strong Hayy Jameel team develops and runs programmes across the complex and beyond, including exhibitions, commissions, learning, youth, making and cinema programmes, as well as a wide range of enterprises, including partnerships, venue hire, third-party events, retail, plus a growing consultancy arm, Art Jameel Labs. 

Working with the Director and alongside Deputy Directors, the Deputy Director (Saudi Arabia) foregrounds holistic leadership and strategic oversight across the complex, plus Kingdom-wide projects, bridging operational excellence with institutional growth.

• Strategic Leadership: Taking forward the long-term vision for Art Jameel in Saudi, including Hayy Jameel, in collaboration with Senior Leadership, ensuring all initiatives align with Art Jameel’s global mission.
• Financial Sustainability: Drive financial resilience by overseeing management of the annual budget, driving development and enterprises locally, including contributing to (local and global) consultancy and development arms, securing diverse revenue streams.
• Human Capital: Lead the People agenda locally and liaise with People head globally to foster an inclusive, nurturing, team-oriented, high-performance culture; champion Kaizen principles and balancing international best practices with Saudi legal and cultural nuances.
• Governance & Compliance: Oversee and manage day-to-day government relations, (from operations and licensing to strategy and partnerships) and compliance; devise and uphold SOPs and ethics in coordination with operations, legal and finance teams to ensure institutional integrity.
• Excellence: Oversee end-to-end operations across the complex, fostering cross-functional synergy, liaising with counterparts at Abdul Latif Jameel and Community Jameel as needed, supporting the Head of Operations in maintaining robust relations with both building landlords and Hayy Residents (tenants)
• Growth & Engagement: Partner with the Audiences and Senior Leadership Team to scale footfall and deepen community impact through a world-class visitor experience, and smooth delivery of programmes and public engagements across Hayy Jameel

Skills and competencies

-Entrepreneurial leadership and financial sustainability 

-Multidisciplinary management

-Stakeholder and government relations 

-Effective people management, with a “global-local” sensitivity 

-Change management

-Decision making

-Strategic planning

-Mentorship 

Accountability

Reports to Antonia Carver, Director, Art Jameel, and on occasions to the board, on all matters related to Hayy Jameel and Art Jameel’s activities and presence in Saudi Arabia 

Conditions of Work

This is a full-time position based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

 Benefits include:

• Full health & dental insurance
• 25 days annual leave
• 2 annual Training Days
• 3 annual Revive Days