Cultural Oasis Planning & Management Advisor

About Us

The Royal Commission for AlUla

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by Royal decree in 2017 to preserve and develop the 2000-year-old archaeological and historical site of AlUla in north-western Saudi Arabia, and implement a sustainable transformation of the region by reaffirming it as one of the Kingdom’s most important archaeological and cultural destinations for visitors from around the world. The RCU’s development work in AlUla encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education and the arts, reflecting the ambitious commitment to cultivate tourism and entertainment in Saudi Arabia as outlined in Vision 2030. The development plans and infrastructure development that underpins AlUla’s future will be carried out while protecting the region’s natural beauty and historic sites.

Our Mission

The historic city of AlUla occupies an area of around 22,000 square kilometers. The Royal Commission for AlUla has laid out a strategic roadmap (‘The Journey Through Time’ masterplan) for the development of the entire area based on sound social, economic and ecological principles. The objective is to create over 38,000 jobs allowing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to diversify beyond oil and contribute over $32 billion to the national GDP by 2035. The core pillars of the AlUla strategy are: (1) tourism, heritage and nature; (2) local community; and (3) economic diversification. The enabling pillars are physical development, enabling services and institutional excellence.

Institution-building in AlUla’s Cultural Oasis

To achieve the Royal Commission’s strategic objectives, the Cultural Oasis Center (COC) will be established. The COC will be a non-profit organization that guarantees all revenues generated from the Cultural Oasis will be reinvested in the regeneration and development of agriculture and the general welfare of the Cultural Oasis.The COC will sustainably regenerate the Cultural Oasis; it will revive the community through agriculture, education, and training, and it will establish the Cultural Oasis as a cultural landscape which integrates agriculture, culture, heritage, and tourism experiences.

Critical to the founding of the COC will be developing a detailed masterplan (from infrastructure and asset detailing to implementation); developing and implementing a management plan (from land utilization to agricultural restoration); developing inspection plans and protocols to oversee operations and ensure compliance with guidelines; and developing a plan to coordinate municipality operations and safety and security with the Royal Commission.

To undertake these activities, the Royal Commission seeks a Cultural Oasis (CO) Planning & Management Advisor.

Role Purpose:

The Cultural Oasis Planning & Management Advisor will oversee the overall development and design activities for the Cultural Oasis detailed masterplan, a detailed management and infrastructure plan, and comply with COC’s policies, procedures, and standards.

The successful candidate will lead a team that will conduct planning and design management (master planning, infrastructure planning, management planning, and design management and control); operations management (superstructure projects delivery oversight; development and maintenance of public areas, and maintenance of restored assets, especially in regard to the UNESCO World Heritage Site); conduct land site inspections, support agriculture sector plans; and be responsible for end-to-end land rehabilitation management.

The Cultural Oasis Planning & Management Advisor will build on the initial site landscape designs with a detailed masterplan that covers all assets, their design guidelines, technical studies on infrastructure, landscaping and public areas, and develop building codes/guidelines for heritage and non-heritage assets and agricultural land.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy development, planning, procedures, and policies

• Act as a member of the Executive Management Team, participate in the development and refinement of the long-term business and financial plan and the COC’s overall vision, strategy, and objectives.
• In conjunction with the CEO, formulate and direct the implementation of the Divisional Strategy, processes, and policies, in line with COC’s vision, mission, and corporate objectives.
• Ensure that the overall business strategy/objectives are translated into operational business plans and targets for the division and performance is monitored, measured, and reported.

People management

• Provide overall direction for the effective achievement of divisional objectives through effective leadership and by setting individual objectives, managing performance, developing, and motivating team to maximize performance.
• Provide overall direction and guidance to mentor, coach, motivate and challenge the direct reports and their teams, providing opportunities for growth, training, and development.

Hiring and organization structure

• Along with business partners/RCU HR function hire and onboard the required resources according to the manpower plan and requirements of the department.
• Together with business partners/RCU HR function direct the development of the divisional structures so that resources are optimally utilized, and communication can take place in an efficient and effective manner.

Department budget

• Direct the preparation and consolidation of the divisional budget and monitor financial performance versus the budget so that the business is aware of anticipated costs/revenues; areas of unsatisfactory performance are identified, rectified and potential performance improvement opportunities are capitalized upon.

Reporting

• Ensure that all divisional reports are completed timely and comply with COC’s policies, procedures, and standards.
• Direct the preparation of periodic management reports/progress reports to keep senior management informed about the progress of various initiatives and to facilitate decision-making.

Specific Job Responsibilities & Functions

Planning & Management

Master plan/ management plan/ infrastructure plan:

• Oversee, manage, review the development of the CO detailed masterplan, detailed management plan and infrastructure plan.
• Approve concept designs and plans before they are shared with the management and with RCU - ensuring all permits/licenses are applied for.

Design management and control:

• Oversee and ensure design activities are performed within budget and as per schedule.
• Review, provide recommendations, approve design variations and changes during the construction phase, and ensure adherence to guidelines (for all assets).

Delivery oversight:

• Oversee and ensure timely delivery of superstructures projects and adherence to budget, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with contractors, schedule, quality, and sustainability (through inspections).

Public realm and operations:

• Ensure proper coordination between the team and RCU team for security, safety, and other city services – addressing any key areas of concerns.
• Oversee and ensure maintenance of public realm in the CO and adequate inspection – highlighting any risks along with mitigation measures.

Land rehabilitation and restoration:

• Ensure coordination with RCU on the land rehabilitation agenda and oversee the execution according to schedule, including any updates to development schedule, budget, quality.
• Highlight the UNESCO World Heritage Site requirements to the team and ensure adherence with regular checks.

Desired Qualifications

The Cultural Oasis Planning and Management Advisor will join a team to design, establish, and manage an innovative institution devoted to revolutionizing how farmers connect with regenerative and climate-smart agriculture within a heritage landscape that includes hospitality and real estate development, while protecting and preserving valuable environmental and cultural assets.

• Degree in Urban Planning & Development, Regional or Rural Development, Community Development, Business Management/Business Administration or related field.
• 7+ years’ experience working on large-scale masterplans for regeneration, revitalization interventions, with local authorities, landowners, developers, and communities to deliver life-centered places.
• Demonstrated success in previous team/organizational leadership roles; skilled at planning, budgeting, and goal setting.
• Experience with planning and management standards, zoning and building codes, environmental regulations, and related legal issues.
• Experience building and maintaining close/robust relationships with public officials, developers, civil engineers, environmental engineers, architects, lawyers, and real estate developers.
• Proficient in project management of multiple and overlapping projects; understanding what makes best use of budgets, land, buildings, and their management.
• Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic setting.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Ability to analyze information and data from a variety of sources—Site review plans, censuses, environmental impact studies, economic studies, feasibility of proposals, environmental regulations.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong IT skills—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication skills.