Events & Organized Play Lead

About Cardz Con

Cardz Con is AOC's flagship trading card, collectibles, gaming, and pop-culture convention. Designed as a GCC-level platform, it brings together collectors, players, exhibitors, retailers, content creators, international guests, and leading brands through large-scale exhibitions, tournaments, live entertainment, and exclusive experiences.

About the Role

We are seeking an entrepreneurial and commercially driven Events & Organized Play Lead to take full ownership of Cardz Con.

Operating as the Head of the events, the successful candidate will lead Cardz Con from strategy and commercial planning through to execution and regional expansion. The role carries responsibility for the event's revenue, profitability, partnerships, exhibitor experience, organized play programs, operations, marketing coordination, and overall visitor experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Cardz Con's overall strategy, business plan, budget, and GCC growth roadmap.
• Own the event's commercial performance, including revenue, profitability, sponsorships, ticketing, exhibitor sales, and strategic partnerships.
• Build relationships with international and regional TCG brands, distributors, vendors, collectors, creators, celebrities, judges, and tournament organizers.
• Lead the planning and delivery of exhibitions, tournaments, trade nights, product launches, meet-and-greets, live-streaming activities, and VIP experiences.
• Develop a professional organized play program covering tournament formats, schedules, rules, registration, judging, prizes, and player experience.
• Manage all event workstreams, including venue coordination, production, permits, security, insurance, logistics, travel, hospitality, vendors, and crowd management.
• Work closely with Marketing and Content teams to build event awareness, drive ticket sales, attract exhibitors, and deliver high-quality campaign content.
• Recruit, brief, and manage event employees, contractors, volunteers, agencies, and operational partners.
• Establish event policies, operating procedures, risk controls, contingency plans, and service standards.
• Monitor event performance through attendance, revenue, sponsorship value, exhibitor satisfaction, player participation, customer feedback, and profitability.
• Prepare post-event reports and improvement plans for future editions.
• Position Cardz Con as a leading trading card and collectibles convention across the GCC.

Candidate Profile

Minimum 7 years of experience in large-scale events, exhibitions, conventions, entertainment, gaming, sports, or organized play. At least 3 years in a senior event leadership or general management role. Proven experience managing event budgets, commercial partnerships, sponsorships, exhibitors, and cross-functional teams. Strong knowledge of trading card games, collectibles, gaming, or fan-based communities is highly preferred. Experience delivering regional or international events with large visitor numbers. Strong commercial judgment, negotiation skills, and operational discipline. Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and make effective decisions in a fast-moving event environment. Willingness to travel across the GCC and work outside standard hours during event periods. Excellent English communication skills; Arabic is an advantage.

What Success Looks Like

Cardz Con is delivered safely, professionally, on time, and within budget. Revenue, sponsorship, ticketing, and exhibitor targets are achieved. Strong participation from regional and international brands, vendors, players, and creators. High visitor, exhibitor, sponsor, and community satisfaction. Cardz Con develops into a recognized and commercially sustainable GCC event platform.