Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
The Community You Will Join:
- The Chief Business Officer organization drives company-wide growth and global expansion. Teammates work to commercialize both Airbnb’s existing offerings and its new ventures worldwide. This includes recruiting and supporting high-quality Stays, Experiences, and Services, alongside executing Airbnb’s global market strategy. Shaping business approaches, quality supply sourcing, and international growth efforts are integral to the team’s success in connecting millions more hosts and guests to Airbnb's platform.
Key areas of responsibility
As our first hire on the ground in Saudi Arabia, you will play a pivotal role in executing Airbnb’s local go-to-market strategy, helping to build and scale the business in alignment with regional priorities. You'll be hands-on across key areas, from supporting early strategic partnerships to driving host engagement and navigating regulatory dynamics, laying the foundation for long-term success in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Business Strategy:
- Develop clear and actionable strategic plans to enhance business growth in Saudi Arabia aligned with Airbnb’s global objectives, coordinating with key internal stakeholders across functions and levels.
- Lead critical operational initiatives, including supply acquisition and activation campaigns, to ensure consistent market growth.
- Monitor market trends and opportunities, proactively proposing new growth initiatives to enhance Airbnb's presence in Saudi Arabia.
Business Development & Community Engagement:
- Identify strategic partnerships to fuel market expansion and position Airbnb effectively within the region.
- Support initiatives aimed at deepening community connections and enriching the hosting experience on the platform.
- Manage and adapt recruitment strategies to align with local dynamics.
Relationship Building:
- In partnership with the Policy and Comms team, is the face / spokesperson of Airbnb in the territory, including Press, local authorities, government regulators, etc.
- Establish strong ties with governmental entities, regulatory bodies, and local industry leaders to navigate Saudi Arabia’s ecosystem effectively and secure lasting support for Airbnb’s mission.
- Adapt operational plans based on Saudi Arabia’s cultural, legal, governmental, and marketplace realities, working closely with internal teams to align on capabilities and regulations.
Operational Oversight:
- Serve as a signatory on essential documents and oversee country-specific operational requirements like banking, leasing applications, workforce strategies, and compliance regulations.
Your Expertise
To deliver in this role, Airbnb is seeking candidates with:
- 15+ years of experience in consulting, strategy, operations, or business leadership.
- Proven industry experience within Saudi Arabia and/or GCC markets (mandatory).
- Experience working in the US or in Europe will be beneficial.
- Entrepreneurial go-to-market experience.
- A Master's in Business Administration (MBA) preferred.
- Strong organizational and strategic thinking capabilities.
- Effective prioritization under tight deadlines and bold decision leadership balancing short-term plans and long-term strategies.
- Fluency in both Arabic and English to maintain seamless communication across teams and stakeholders.
- Saudi nationality, given localized regulatory and cultural requirements.
Our Commitment To Inclusion & Belonging:
Airbnb is committed to working with the broadest talent pool possible. We believe diverse ideas foster innovation and engagement, and allow us to attract creatively-led people, and to develop the best products, services and solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.
