Esports Foundation is Hiring: Senior Manager Festival Ceremonies Operations in Riyadh

Esports Foundation is seeking a Senior Manager Festival Ceremonies Operations to lead the operational planning and execution of the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) opening and closing ceremonies.

Job Purpose

As the Senior Manager Festival Ceremonies Operations, you will ensure the delivery of world-class productions that combine esports, music, culture, and entertainment while meeting the highest standards of safety, protocol, and creative excellence. You will collaborate closely with creative agencies, production partners, and internal teams to translate artistic concepts into seamless live experiences that celebrate players, nations, and fans from around the world.

Job Details

Team: Ceremonies · Activity: Full-time · Role Grade: Senior Manager (7) · Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · Reporting to: Chief Product Officer

Key Responsibilities

• Lead operational planning, coordination, and delivery of opening and closing ceremonies for EWC and ENC
• Oversee all logistics, technical production, and event operations related to ceremony execution
• Collaborate with creative directors, agencies, and production vendors to translate creative concepts into detailed operational plans
• Manage timelines, budgets, and milestones for all ceremony-related deliverables
• Coordinate with internal departments — including Broadcast, Security, Protocol, Marketing, and Government Relations — to ensure all requirements are met
• Oversee rehearsals, technical runs, and live execution, ensuring synchronization between stage management, talent, and production crews
• Manage relationships with external show producers, music acts, dance troupes, and other performance vendors
• Ensure all high-profile guests, performers, and delegations are managed according to protocol, security, and hospitality standards
• Collaborate with the Masterplan team to integrate ceremony spaces within the overall event layout and flow
• Supervise show logistics, including stage design, lighting, pyrotechnics, AV, and live direction
• Ensure all necessary permits, safety clearances, and technical approvals are secured
• Lead coordination with media and broadcast teams to ensure ceremony coverage meets storytelling and visual objectives
• Prepare and maintain detailed documentation, including production schedules, call sheets, and show books
• Conduct post-event evaluations to capture lessons learned and develop best practices for future ceremonies

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Production, Performing Arts, or a related field
• 8+ years of experience in large-scale live event production, ceremonies management, or entertainment operations, preferably in sports, esports, or cultural mega-events

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Proven experience managing high-profile live ceremonies or entertainment productions, strong understanding of event production workflows (lighting, sound, staging, rehearsals, and safety), excellent stakeholder management, leadership, and vendor coordination skills, ability to translate creative visions into actionable operational plans, experience managing international performers, artists, and production crews, exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills with calmness under pressure, strong budget management and project tracking abilities, knowledge of safety and risk management for live events, strong prior experience in the KSA market and understanding of the local market, and strong communication skills with fluency in English and Arabic.

Benefits

Relocation support, transportation allowance, competitive compensation, housing allowance, VIP medical insurance, and the opportunity to work on a new exciting project with a group of passionate professionals.

Job Details: Full-time · On-site · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Job link: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/4446143723/