Director of Sales and Government Relations

About Faena

Faena creates cultural epicenters—living stages where art, design, and warm, attentive hospitality convene to craft a feast for the senses. We are a Cultural Embassy that invites guests to seek the extraordinary, shaping worlds that feel profoundly personal, welcoming, and alive.

“At Wadi Safar, we are shaping a new world where art, architecture, and nature live in harmony. Guided by a shared respect for culture and craft, this collaboration with Diriyah Company reflects our belief that beauty can elevate everyday life and inspire a new way of living.”

— Alan Faena

The Role

As Director of Sales and Government Relations, you will be the commercial architect and government-facing leader of Faena Wadi Safar — driving revenue, building strategic partnerships, and positioning the hotel as the destination of choice for luxury travelers, corporate clients, and government entities across the Kingdom and beyond.

This is a dual-mandate role that demands both a hunter's instinct for commercial growth and a diplomat's skill in navigating Saudi Arabia's government landscape. You will lead the hotel's pre-opening commercial strategy, build the sales infrastructure from the ground up, and establish the high-profile relationships that will define Faena Wadi Safar's market position from day one.

As a senior leader reporting to the General Manager, you will shape the hotel's revenue trajectory, represent Faena at the highest levels of government and industry, and build a team that delivers results aligned with our vision and Saudi Vision 2030.

What You Will Create

Sales Strategy & Revenue Generation

• Develop and execute a comprehensive pre-opening sales strategy covering all segments: corporate, MICE, government, leisure, travel trade, and diplomatic accounts.
• Set and deliver ambitious revenue targets across rooms, F&B, events, and ancillary services.
• Build and manage the hotel's rate strategy, account portfolio, and sales pipeline from the ground up.
• Lead contract negotiations with key accounts, agencies, and government bodies, ensuring commercially sound and mutually beneficial agreements.
• Represent Faena Wadi Safar at industry events, road shows, and trade fairs locally and internationally.

Government & Institutional Sales

• Develop and manage strategic relationships with government ministries, royal court entities, embassies, and quasi-government institutions.
• Position Faena Wadi Safar as the venue of choice for official state functions, VIP delegations, ministerial meetings, and government-hosted events.
• Identify and secure government room block agreements, long-stay contracts, and event partnerships.
• Collaborate with the General Manager to respond to government RFPs and official invitations for proposals.
• Stay current on Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives and identify commercial opportunities that align with national priorities.

Government Relations & Compliance Oversight

• Serve as the hotel's senior representative in engagements with key government entities including the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Commerce, and regional authorities.
• Oversee the hotel's regulatory compliance and licensing requirements in partnership with the People & Culture and Finance teams.
• Build and maintain relationships with government contacts to facilitate smooth processing, issue resolution, and proactive communication.
• Monitor the regulatory landscape and brief leadership on changes with operational or commercial implications.

Team Leadership & Commercial Excellence

• Build, lead, and mentor the Sales & Government Relations team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and commercial ambition.
• Develop the department's tools, systems, and processes including CRM management, account planning, and performance tracking.
• Work closely with Revenue Management, Marketing, and Events teams to align commercial activity with pricing strategy and brand positioning.
• Produce regular sales performance reports, forecasts, and market intelligence for the General Manager and ownership.

Who You Are

• A seasoned commercial leader with 8+ years of progressive sales experience in luxury hospitality, with a proven track record of driving significant revenue growth in pre-opening or repositioning environments.
• Deeply networked within Saudi Arabia's corporate, government, and diplomatic landscape — with existing relationships that translate directly into commercial opportunity.
• Experienced in managing both high-volume transient accounts and complex, relationship-driven government and institutional business.
• A natural leader who builds and inspires high-performing teams, sets clear expectations, and holds people — including yourself — to ambitious standards.
• Strategically minded and data-driven, with the ability to translate market intelligence and performance data into actionable commercial decisions.
• Fluent in Arabic and English, with exceptional communication and presentation skills that are equally at home in a boardroom, a government ministry, or a corporate sales call.
• Deeply familiar with Saudi Arabia's government systems, regulatory requirements, and the cultural fluency to navigate both the public and private sectors with confidence and discretion.
• Aligned with Faena's brand vision — passionate about luxury, design, and delivering extraordinary experiences that go beyond hospitality.

What’s in it for you...

• Lots of opportunity to progress and switch it up as part of a global family of brands.
• Great healthcare, competitive salary, and some nice extra perks across the Ennismore family of brands!
• Learning opportunities to broaden your skillset and development that helps you think, make, and thrive at work
• The opportunity to be yourself and collaborate with other bright minds in a relaxed, innovative culture