Head of Cultural Assets Development

Job Description

Head of Cultural Asset Development

NEOM require a Head of Cultural Asset Development to lead on the development of all cultural assets at NEOM including, but not limited to, museums, public art, and performance spaces.

Candidates should have extensive experience leading teams in the development of landmark cultural projects in high profile locations across the world.

The main purpose of the role is to oversee the development and interpretation of all cultural asset briefs issued by NEOM’s Culture department.

The role will lead the personnel responsible for the strategic development of museums and visual arts, major museums, galleries, performance spaces and concert halls.

The role will also ensure alignment with the vision for culture at NEOM and the placemaking ambitions for NEOM.

The role will report to the Director of Culture and will be central to the development of a world leading, programmatic and technically innovative cultural sector at NEOM.

Team Management

• Leading the Asset and Master Planning team to deliver multiple major cultural infrastructure projects. Ensure the alignment of the team’s work with NEOM’s overall goals and plans.
• Build a team capable of developing the PIDs, PEPs, schedules, procurement and resourcing plans for the different types of cultural construction projects required at NEOM. In addition, being responsible for the resource allocation, budget management and effective delivery of all projects within these constraints and notifying the relevant team members to resource/time conflicts.
• Develop procedures, policies and strategies specific to the program and geographic area while ensuring alignment with NEOM’s internal procedural guidance for asset development by collaborating with internal and external project management leads at NEOM. In particular, the positioning, concept design, technical specifications, and asset development briefs.
• Prepare detailed specifications for tendering to external contractors and briefing documents for external consultants.
• Undertake project planning with colleagues to develop a shared understanding of stakeholder interests specific to the programme, and work effectively in cross-departmental teams. Manage interdependencies with other projects and with day-to-day operations.
• Ensure meeting their objectives by following best practice and promote the continued development of quality standards.
• The role, with the Director of Culture, will engage with industry to ensure NEOM’s cultural asset spaces are future-proof and investor ready. This will include engaging with industry nationally and internationally to ensure NEOM’s cultural assets meet with the expectation of potential partners and investors.

Advisory Support

• The role will be the lead point of contact to support internal stakeholders at NEOM develop cultural assets beyond The Line, including reviewing and advising on concept and operational design briefs, recommending suppliers and potential partners. Providing ongoing support to regions and departments at NEOM intending to and in the process of developing any type of cultural asset including specific aspects such as user experience, strategic alignment, technical development and business models.
• The role will produce guidance documentation to support the concept and operational design of performing arts venues across NEOM and that supports alignment with the vision for culture at NEOM.
• The role must support the strategic development of the cultural offer at NEOM more broadly with a focus on asset development, business models, cultural placemaking and master planning.

Knowledge Skills & Experience

• 7+ years industry experience working in the management, development, and delivery of construction projects, ideally related to the cultural sector specifically:

• Significant experience of leading a team in a project management role and having responsibility for all aspects of delivering a complex project, including procurement and contract management, in a multidisciplinary environment, ideally within a large public sector organisation or in building services, engineering, architectural, or construction businesses working on cultural sector projects.

• Capacity to plan and deliver complex and demanding projects to agreed time and quality while managing resources effectively, including significant experience of site management with the ability to identify, resolve and make recommendations to rectify issues.

• Demonstrable experience of providing a high quality of service to clients.

• Solid knowledge or commitment to develop an in depth understanding of relevant local legislation and regulations applicable to construction project management.

• Knowledge and experience of environmental considerations in the delivery of energy efficient building and infrastructure refurbishment projects, with awareness of current thinking on sustainability and carbon reduction.

• Ability and confidence to communicate and manage effectively at all levels, both verbally and in writing, with experience of listening, influencing, presenting, and negotiating in an astute and productive way.

• Demonstrable competency and working experience of using software programs including Excel, Word, PowerPoint and MS Project or equivalent scheduling and programming systems. AutoCAD would be advantageous.

• Comfortable working in a high pressured multi-cultural and international business environment.