The Role

The VP of Events will own the full lifecycle of Orbis Global's events portfolio — from initial concept and business case through planning, production, execution and post-event evaluation. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who has both strategic range (positioning, format design, commercial structuring) and operational depth (vendor management, production, on-ground execution). You will be a founding pillar of the events organization, building the team, systems and playbooks as the company scales its calendar.

Your Roles and Responsibilities

Conceptualization & Strategy

·       Develop original event concepts, formats and IP across expos, summits, live entertainment and sports verticals, aligned with Orbis Global's brand and commercial goals.

·       Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify white space and audience demand across target industries and geographies.

·       Define the annual events calendar, prioritizing markets, formats and timing for maximum commercial and brand impact.

·       Build business cases and P&Ls for new events, including revenue models (sponsorship, ticketing, exhibition, licensing)

Organization & Planning

·       Translate concepts into detailed production plans: venue strategy, program design, speaker/talent curation, sponsor packaging and audience acquisition.

·       Own end-to-end project timelines across multiple concurrent events, managing cross-functional dependencies (marketing, sales, production, finance).

·       Negotiate and manage relationships with venues, production houses, talent agencies, contractors and technology vendors.

·       Establish scalable processes, budgeting frameworks and governance for the events function as the portfolio grows.

Execution & Delivery

·       Lead on-site execution for flagship events, acting as the final point of accountability for show quality, safety and audience experience.

·       Manage production budgets tightly, tracking spend against forecast and driving cost efficiency without compromising quality.

·       Oversee risk management, contingency planning and crisis response for live events.

·       Ensure compliance with UAE event regulations, permits, licensing and health & safety standards.

Leadership & Team Building

·       Build, mentor and lead a high-performing events team (production, operations, logistics, on-site staff) as the department scales.

·       Act as a senior voice in leadership discussions, representing the events function in strategic and commercial planning.

·       Cultivate relationships with sponsors, partners, government entities and industry stakeholders in the UAE and internationally.

Post-Event & Continuous Improvement

·       Drive post-event analysis: attendee satisfaction, commercial performance, sponsor ROI and lessons learned.

·       Continuously refine formats and playbooks based on data and stakeholder feedback.

Desired Candidate Profile

Experience

• 12+ years in the events industry, with at least 4–5 years in a senior leadership role (VP, Head of Events, Director of Events or equivalent).

• Demonstrated track record of conceptualizing and delivering large-scale events — expos, summits, conferences, festivals, concerts or sports properties.

• Experience managing multi-million-dirham event budgets and P&L accountability.

• Prior experience in the UAE/GCC market strongly preferred; regional network of venues, vendors and government/licensing contacts is a strong plus.

• Experience building an events function or team from an early stage is highly valued, given the founding nature of this role.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong commercial acumen — able to think in terms of sponsorship revenue, ticketing models and brand partnerships, not just logistics.

• Exceptional stakeholder management — comfortable in the room with C-suite sponsors, government officials and talent, as well as on the ground with production crews.

• Hands-on execution mindset; willing to be in the weeds during build and show days.

• Strong crisis management and decision-making under pressure.

• Excellent negotiation, vendor management and budget control skills.

• Familiarity with fintech, technology/AI, entertainment or sports industry ecosystems is an advantage given Orbis Global's focus areas.

Education

• Bachelors. relevant certifications (e.g., CMP, event/project management) are a plus