Operations Director, Spartan Races KSA

ITP Media Group (ITP) is one of the largest media companies in the Middle East, with a portfolio of more than 80 brands. The company delivers quality up to date content to its readers, viewers, delegates and guests through digital, print, events, awards, video content, social media platforms and social media influencers. These brands include major international and regional names such as Time Out, Arabian Business, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ and Construction Week.

Spartan Race Middle East is a leading organizer of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) events, dedicated to providing thrilling and challenging experiences for athletes of all levels.

One of the largest media and event companies in the Middle East, ITP Media Group, are looking for an Operations Director to join its newly created Obstacle Course Race division, launched under licence from an international leader in the OCR global community and worldwide endurance sports.

The OCR division of ITP Media is ITP's latest business launch; the role involves organising and overseeing a of life-changing outdoor and indoor events, products and content which help people, companies and teams break barriers, compete, build communities and self-belief.

Requirements

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Onsite:

Ensures the production team is set up for success by effectively planning and ensuring the execution of the operations from A-Z on all events:

• Aim to dovetail effectively with Race Director. Handle issues as they arise so as to ensure Race Director and production crew can focus on main goal of executing a quality event.
• Maintain a positive working relationship with the venue. Local municipal departments (permits. police. fire), and vendors to ensure a long-term relationship and successful event.
• Respond to operational problems as well as pro-actively working to prevent problems.
• Co-ordinate support parties for the event e.g. police, medical, parking team, municipality staff etc.
• Manage at a high level the critical relationships around the event - venue owner. Municipality and government members etc.
• Final approval of any 'on the around' changes to parking layout. Festival layout and racecourse layout. Close collaboration with Race Director to ensure delivery of safe and quality product.
• Site visits in support of planning the event, as needed. During site visits make operational assessments of venues. Preparing preliminary planning documentation in order to ensure good venue selections.
  
  

Offsite:

• Establishing government, municipality and venue relationships to ensure all required approvals for the events and good working relationships with all parties.
• Secure all permits and permission letters as required
• Provide guidance and direction with respect to event designs and planning. Working in collaboration with Race Director to make sure RD has all the necessary information and resources to successfully execute the events.
• Working with the Managing Director to determine an operations budget for each event and ensure delivery of the events within this budget.
• Approval of all event related procurement - purchases. Hires. Temporary staffing etc. Secure hired services and vendors as needed (security, parking, all utilities etc)
• Overall responsibility for the material inventory associated with the events - everything from obstacles to tents to tools - working closely with production team to ensure good management of inventory and effective future procurement as required.
• Responsibility for co-ordinating and booking all flights, accommodation and rental vehicles for the production crew. Coordinating with the Managing Director/Sponsorship Manager on any strategic sponsorship partnerships for the event.
• Responsibility for ordering and shipping of all materials to the events (including medals. t-shirts. merchandise and the shipping containers). Manage the relationship with the logistics partner to ensure timely delivery. Responsibility for producing and securing all relevant documentation associated with shipping.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Personal race experience beneficial. Analytical skills. Attention to detail. Good communication skills. Strong leadership skills.
• Outdoor Event production or Project Management expertise.
• Proven leadership experience of multidisciplinary teams under stressful environments
• Experience working as a project manager, operations manager, or in the event space
• Ability to multitask in a fast paced environment
• Able to work productively with minimal direction and oversight yet still meet company standards.
• Familiar with days that require 12+ hour days in outdoor. Adverse conditions for extended periods of time.
• Willingness and ability to travel 10-14 days at a time for multiple events per year.
• Familiarity with outdoor adventuring and/or endurance racing experience (Ultras, Adventure Races. OCRs, Trail Runs, Triathlons, Marathons) an advantage
• Analytical and methodical problem solver
• Attention to detail. Fluent English. Arabic an advantage