Studio 152 is a new world-class exhibition space and gallery created by ITP Media Group and Al-Futtaim. We re seeking a Curator & Studio Director to be the day-to-day leader and single point of contact for everything that happens in the space owning the calendar curating the programme running venue operations and front-of-house and delivering white-glove client service. The operating model is hybrid : ITP-hosted cultural programming and venue-hire activations for third-party brands and partners. With activities ranging from editorial photo shoots to blue-chip brand galas the role blends curatorial vision with operational excellence and hospitality.
Requirements
1) Calendar Ownership & Programming
- Own the master calendar and year plan; schedule curated exhibitions brand experiences/pop-ups talks/panels/salons screenings/performances education/workshops/school tours and private events .
- Develop concepts themes and curatorial narratives that position Studio 152 as a cultural destination while supporting ITP brands and partner needs.
- Balance public-facing moments with private/closed activations; coordinate holds options and confirmations with Sales and Events.
2) Venue Management & Operations
- Lead day-to-day venue operations (load-in/out timing floor plans AV/lighting needs furniture/configuration cleaning/turnarounds) with an Ops/Facility Manager as a direct report.
- Build and manage front-of-house (welcoming ushering guest services ticketing/check-in when applicable); ensure accessibility and an elevated guest experience.
- Maintain venue readiness standards (HSE checks incident reporting daily walk-throughs handover/strike protocols).
- Create and enforce house rules technical specs and production guidelines for visiting clients and vendors.
3) Client Services & Sales Enablement
- Run full client-service workflows for venue-hire and partnerships: brief-taking proposals rate cards contracts production schedules on-site show management and post-event reporting .
- Partner with Sales Leads (who own commercial targets) to upsell services refine packages and support pitches with space layouts mood boards and programme ideas.
- Serve as the primary client point of contact from client introductions through booking to wrap ensuring expectations are met and exceeded.
4) Communications/PR & Brand Stewardship
- Position Studio 152 as a standalone cultural brand : maintain the brand voice programming pillars and quality bar.
- Partner with ITP s central Marketing & Events teams on comms plans listings social roll-outs eDMs and media relations.
- Own all documentation: media kits tech specs floor plans press notes photo/video documentation and the Studio 152 archive .
5) Cross-Functional Liaison
- Coordinate with ITP editorial brands (e.g. Harper s Bazaar Esquire T Magazine MENA Arabian Business) and external event owners to align creative scheduling and operational needs.
- Build working relationships with Al-Futtaim stakeholders mall/estate management security and facilities teams.
6) Budgeting Vendors & Procurement
- Manage programme and event-level budgets (estimates POs reconciliations) and ensure cost control without compromising experience.
- Source and manage approved vendors (AV fabrication rigging logistics d cor staffing FOH equipment); oversee tenders when required.
7) Governance Compliance & Risk
- In collaboration with the Ops/Facility Manager and central ITP teams ensure compliance with all permits insurance requirements and relevant local approvals.
- Implement HSE policies safeguarding and incident-response procedures; maintain risk assessments and method statements for higher-risk builds.
8) Audience Insights & Measurement
- Establish a measurement framework with central Marketing/Analytics: footfall dwell time audience profiles/first-party data capture (where appropriate) NPS/CSAT .
- Produce concise post-event and quarterly impact reports; translate insights into programming choices and client pitch narratives.
9) Team Leadership
- Line-manage the Ops/Facility Manager ; matrix-lead FOH and temporary staff.
- Run interfacing with central events and marketing teams to ensure successful delivery of events.
- Set clear objectives SOPs and training for service standards; foster a culture of hospitality inclusion and calm solution-oriented delivery.
Qualifications
- 8 years in gallery/museum/experiential programming cultural venue management or premium brand activations ideally mixing curatorial work with operations.
- Demonstrated ability to curate and deliver a fast diverse calendar (multiple events per week) while maintaining quality and guest experience.
- Strong client-service pedigree; comfortable with luxury partners and high-profile stakeholders.
- Solid grasp of event production basics (AV/lighting vernacular fabrication timelines floor plans access/logistics).
- Excellent planning budgeting vendor management and stakeholder communication skills.
- Comfortable partnering with central Marketing/PR teams; confident in media walk-throughs and on-site hosting.
- Bilingual Arabic/English strongly preferred; additional languages a plus.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Primary KPIs
- Audience data & insight quality: footfall dwell profile depth newsletter sign-ups/registrations (where applicable).
- Client service & retention: CSAT/NPS repeat bookings testimonial quality.
Additional KPIs
- Utilisation rate: % of programmed/occupied days and prime-time slots.
- Operational excellence: on-time load-ins/outs incident-free delivery turnaround speed.
- Budget adherence: variance vs. forecast per activation/quarter.
Cultural impact: press mentions partnerships community participation
Key Skills Sales Experience,Customer Service,Google Docs,Management Experience,Millennium,Retail Sales,Data Management,Salon Software,MINDBODY,Sales Management,Leadership Experience,Yoga
Employment Type : Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1