Head of Marketing - LIONS Riyadh - Arabic Speaker

About Tahaluf

About LIONS Riyadh

Role overview

Leadership

• Recommend team structures and delivery solutions based on requirements.
• Line manage senior marketers and specialists working across a range of events.
• Work with Group Director to ensure the right structure, specialisms, and resources to meet agreed KPIs.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and inspiration to line reports.
• Build a high-performing, creatively ambitious marketing team capable of delivering to LIONS brand standards.
• Champion adoption and optimisation of marketing technology solutions and digital marketing.
• Create strong collaboration across Marketing, Content, Creative, PR, Commercial, and the LIONS team.

Analysis and insight

• Monitor campaign performance by supervising timely reports and recommend changes based on data insights.
• Share relevant insights with sales, event team, and senior management to drive revenues or pursue new opportunities.
• Analyse and report trends over time and use insights to build more effective campaigns.
• Ensure relevant and timely data is captured, including onsite and post-show surveys, registration forms, and industry research.
• Ensure delivery and accuracy of pre-agreed reports during and post campaign to monitor channel effectiveness and ROI.
• Develop deep understanding of LIONS Riyadh audience segments, motivations, and behaviours across Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and priority international markets.
• Track brand awareness, consideration, and perception in the market.
• Monitor cultural, creative, and industry trends to identify opportunities for the brand.

Planning and campaign management

• Plan product marketing campaigns to meet strategic objectives for exhibitions and virtual/hybrid events.
• Monitor operational implementation plans and ensure adherence to deadlines, including Gantt charts, Time & Action Plans, Content Calendars, and Budget Trackers.
• Develop and oversee the annual marketing calendar for LIONS Riyadh across launch, speaker announcements, content reveals, partnerships, ticketing, and Festival moments.
• Build integrated campaign plans across paid, owned, earned, social, CRM, partnerships, and community channels.
• Assist marketing managers with development of marketing budgets and keep budget trackers up to date.
• Recommend external suppliers and ensure adherence to contractual terms and delivery.
• Ensure campaigns are tailored by audience segment and market with clear messaging for Saudi, regional, and international audiences.
• Ensure campaign planning protects the premium positioning and creative integrity of the LIONS brand.

Marketing execution

• Guide the team in developing personas, value propositions, and messaging for key segments.
• Ensure timely, relevant communications through the full mix of channels and optimise channel effectiveness.
• Monitor and recommend adjustments to digital marketing activity based on performance metrics.
• Input into the content calendar and PR plan and liaise with the event manager/event director.
• Establish relationships with and manage strategically important partners to maximise exposure at lowest cost.
• Ensure maintenance of active social media channels, monitor engagement, and maximise conversion.
• Oversee design and production of all marketing collateral.
• Ensure all marketing collateral, email marketing, website content, and digital marketing adheres to brand guidelines and agreed Informa standards.
• Translate Festival content, speakers, and partnerships into compelling campaigns that build excitement, relevance, and demand.
• Develop audience-specific messaging for CMOs, creative leaders, agencies, brands, creators, and emerging talent.
• Ensure strong localisation for Saudi and regional audiences while maintaining international appeal.

Qualifications and experience

• Degree or professional background in marketing, communications, media, business, creative industries, or a related field is advantageous.
• Relevant senior-level marketing experience may be considered in place of formal qualifications.
• Significant senior-level marketing experience within major events, media, creative industries, entertainment, culture, or premium global brands.
• Proven track record of launching, repositioning, or scaling brands in competitive markets.
• Experience developing and delivering integrated marketing campaigns across paid, owned, earned, digital, social, and CRM channels.
• Experience building brand awareness, audience demand, and commercial growth across multiple audience segments.
• Strong experience managing agencies, partners, budgets, and cross-functional marketing teams.
• Experience in a start-up environment and/or scaling a new business is desirable.
• Experience marketing to international as well as regional audiences is highly desirable.
• Experience within the creative, advertising, marketing, media, or cultural sectors would be a strong advantage.
• Middle East experience, particularly Saudi Arabia or the GCC, is desirable.

Skills and qualities

• Good written and oral communication skills in both Arabic and English is essential.
• Excellent quantitative skills.
• Excellent Excel, PowerPoint, and financial modelling skills.
• Strong analytical and presentation skills.
• Good attention to detail and accuracy.
• Self-starter with proactive nature and ability to work autonomously.
• Experience using SAP, TM1 (IBM), and/or Oracle would be advantageous.
• Highly collaborative and thrives on constant change.
• Strong creative judgement with the ability to recognise and develop standout brand ideas.
• Excellent understanding of brand positioning, audience development, and premium marketing.
• Ability to balance creativity with commercial performance and measurable results.
• Strong understanding of digital, social, CRM, and data-led marketing.

Core benefits

• Medical insurance for individual and family.
• 28 days annual leave.
• Remote working on Sundays.
• Working anywhere for 2 months every year.
• School fees contribution of 40,000 SAR per child per year, up to a maximum of three children.
• Wellbeing benefits.
• Residency visa including yearly dependent fees.
• Individual annual flight allowance for expats.