Director Procurement

Team: Procurement

Activity: Full-time

Role grade: Director (8)

Direct reports: 4

Indirect reports: 0

Reporting to: EVP Finance & Business Services

Role location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Job Purpose: As the Director of Procurement, you will lead the procurement function for the Esports World Cup Foundation. This is a hands-on leadership role in a dynamic, startup-like environment where you will be building processes and structures. You will oversee the strategic planning, implementation, and management of all purchasing activities to ensure the timely acquisition of goods and services at the best value. Collaborates cross-functionally to align procurement objectives with the overall business strategy and drive continuous improvement in the procurement process. Beyond cost savings, you will act as a business partner to other teams, enabling them to deliver world-class events and initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end festival planning, execution, and onsite operations, including concerts, venues, interactive zones, and ceremonies.

• Manage master festival planning and timelines across multiple functions, including operations, creative, production, and partner coordination.

• Oversee partnerships with international and local IPs, driving integration of owned and third-party properties into the overall festival experience.

• Oversee all government relations regarding event approvals, permits, and ongoing stakeholder alignment.

• Develop and manage a strategy for integrated influencer activations that align with the festival’s creative vision.

• Curate cutting-edge tech and gaming experiences, ensuring interactivity, accessibility, and wow-factor.

• Facilitate amateur esports tournaments to encourage community participation. Ensure smooth operation and high standards of these community-focused activities

• Lead creation of key zones, including fan zones, sponsor activations, and VIP lounges with immersive programming.

• Create a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere to enhance the fan experience

• Develop new content formats and festival concepts that reinforce EWC’s position as a global entertainment and gaming leader.

• Oversee budget, governance, operational tracking, and reporting to senior leadership.

• Manage the festival team and collaborate across departments and external vendors to deliver execution at scale.

• Revise and evolve the festival blueprint annually, including benchmarking and innovation research from global festivals.

• Define and monitor strategic key performance indicators to measure the success and impact of the festival to drive decision-making and continuous improvement

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Marketing, Business, or related field.

• 10+ years supply chain, procurement or similar role.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep understanding of procurement principles, sourcing strategies, contract negotiation, and vendor management.

• Understanding of procurement laws, regulations, and ethical standards applicable to the foundation.

• Proven experience in building procurement functions, policies, and systems from scratch in fast-paced or startup environments.

• Ability to develop and implement comprehensive procurement strategies aligned with budgets and timelines

• Ability to manage procurement projects, including vendor selection, contract negotiation, and delivery tracking.

• Skilled negotiator to secure the best value for the foundation in contracts with vendors.

• Multinational or large-scale organizational experience is a plus.

• Prior experience of working in KSA.

• Strong understanding of the local market and regulations.

• Fluent in English and Arabic.

Our Perks:

• Relocation support

• Transportation allowance

• Competitive compensation

• Housing allowance

• VIP medical insurance

• Opportunity to work on a new exciting project with a group of passionate professionals. You will get the freedom to excel and make a real impact

Diversity disclaimer

Our mission is to build a diverse organization where our members, regardless of background or identity, have a sense of belonging. We genuinely believe that thanks to creating a collaborative environment where different perspectives are valued, we can achieve more. Together, we want to reshape the boundaries of what is achievable in the esports domain.