Company Overview
NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a new future might look like. A region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea, NEOM is being built from the ground up to include hyperconnected, cognitive cities, ports, next-generation infrastructure and industries, enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations.
As a destination, it will be a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation.
As a workplace, it is a place for people who share our core values of care, curiosity, diversity, passion, respect, and becoming a catalyst for change.
Are you ready to help NEOM find solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges? Are you prepared to create a lasting legacy that benefits generations to come? Then we want to hear from you!
Role Overview
The Planning & Municipal Affairs Department (DPMA) is seeking an experienced
regulator with strong legal and regulatory experience and skills to lead the Regulation
and Policy function within DPMA. The Regulation and Policy Manager will lead the
identification, development and implementation of comprehensive regulations and
policies that guide the sustainable and innovative growth of NEOM Authorities. The
position will report directly to the Strategy, Transformation and Regulatory Affairs
Director and work collaboratively with all offices within the department. The job
holder will be responsible for leading all legal exercises including the identification
and development of policies, guidelines and rules pertaining to DPMA. This will
include for example license & permitting issuance, inspection, and enforcement to
ensure proper regulations of how different Authorities provide their different services
and deliver their Mandate.
Role Competencies & Activities
Strategic Leadership:
• Develop a long-term vision for DPMA's regulatory framework, ensuring alignment
with NEOM's overall goals and objectives.
• Lead the department in conducting research and analysis to identify emerging trends
in planning, development, and regulation.
• Advocate for best practices in municipal governance and ensure compliance with
relevant national and international regulations.
• Set DPMA Regulatory performance objectives, KPIs & Targets and continuously
monitor progress towards achieving them.
• Advise ST&RA as well as Head of DPMA on related issues that strategically impact
NEOM Authority.
Regulatory Framework Development & Activation for all tiers including (Policy,
Guidelines and Rules):
• Oversee the creation and implementation of effective regulations and policies
related to all DPMA offices including planning, development, construction
permitting, land use, registry, spatial data, codes and standards, municipal affairs,
compliance and enforcement, and real estate and housing.
• Manage the review and revision of existing regulations and policies to ensure they
remain current and address evolving needs.
• Collaborate with legal counsel to ensure all regulations and policies are legally
sound and enforceable.
• Collect and assess latest developments/ amendments in laws and regulations and
coordinate with the NEOM legal department to ensure that legal opinions are up to
date with regulatory compliance.
• Conduct research and benchmarking activities to gather best practices, international
standards, and relevant policies, laws, and regulations regarding all DPMA offices.
• Conduct workshops and awareness sessions to raise awareness on the proposed
policy structure and regulatory framework with DPMA internal and external
stakeholders.
• Identify, develop, and update needed policies pertaining to license & permit
issuance, registration, Inspection & enforcement, to ensure alignment with Authority
regulator only strategy and authority services.
• Develop policies, guidelines, and rules, that will regulate how different authority
operators operate in the market and enable DPMA Offices to deliver their mandate.
• Measure the impact of implementing the proposed policies and revise accordingly to
ensure alignment with NEOM & DPMA Vision.
• This must be done in line with any law, regulation, rules, and all relevant
requirements that have already been set out.
Stakeholder Engagement:
• Foster strong relationships with internal stakeholders across all DPMA offices, as
well as external stakeholders such as developers, investors, and the public.
• Lead public consultations and engagement processes related to proposed regulations
and policies.
• Ensure clear and transparent communication of DPMA's regulations and policies to
all stakeholders.
Regulatory Innovation:
• Explore and implement innovative regulatory approaches such as sandboxes and
pilot programs to facilitate experimentation and encourage new ideas in all matters
related to DPMA such as urban planning, development, and Municipal Affairs.
• Develop frameworks for managing potential risks associated with new technologies
and approaches.
• Champion the use of data and technology to enhance the efficiency and
effectiveness of DPMA's regulatory functions.
Team Management:
• Provide leadership and direction to a team of professionals responsible for policy
development, regulatory analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
• Foster a culture of professionalism, collaboration, and continuous learning within
the team.
• Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned.
Experience & Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• Strong understanding of Planning and Municipal Affairs governance
principles and best practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build
strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, including the ability to motivate and inspire a
team.
• Commitment to innovation and a passion for shaping the future of urban
planning, development, and municipal affairs.
• Skills in a government regulatory environment, ideally in municipalities,
coupled with the ability to develop and deliver regulatory frameworks which
will underpin the successful startup and build out of a regulatory framework
for Planning and Municipal Affairs.
• The ideal candidate should possess strong regulatory and legal skills, ideally
understand the global and domestic regulatory frameworks for Planning and
Municipality, demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to
prepare and present clear, concise, compelling regulatory documentation.
• Preferably previous employer of ministries and government institutions or
member of Municipal Affairs organization/ institution.
• Expertise in tracking record of successful end-to-end delivery of policies from
ideation and design through to implementation and evaluation.
• Purpose-driven and pioneering mindset – drives change and introduces
innovative solutions.
• Highly collaborative, flexible, and spontaneous.
• Resilient, Decisive, Pragmatic, and capable of adapting rapidly to changes.
• Values diversity, practice lean thinking and is an inclusive leader.
Qualifications
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience such as in urban planning,
development, or public policy, with a proven track record of success in
regulatory development and implementation.
• Master’s degree in law, Public Administration, Policy, Urban Planning, or a
related field (PhD preferred)