Lead, Programme & Activation (Events & Experiences)

Lead, Programme & Activation (Events & Experiences) We usually respond within two weeks This role is hired under Mandai X , the growth accelerator and venture building arm of Mandai Wildlife Group.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ We live in a world where the delicate balance with nature has been disrupted. Reversing this trend will require a global effort of unprecedented speed and scale. An impossible task alone. Which is why we challenge ourselves to reach 1 billion consumers, as potential for change can only happen when many come together. And this is where Mandai X can make a difference. Working to influence changes in attitudes, decisions and behaviours. Leveraging over 50 years of experience in inspiring people to value and protect nature as part of the Mandai Wildlife Group, our efforts will spark, catalyse and accelerate innovative ventures in completely new domains to drive growth and impact beyond boundaries. Eliminating the well-entrenched trade-offs faced between commercial, human and the planet’s wellbeing; and blending everything together so that these usual conflicts faced are aligned. We will redefine what a better life means; and unleash humanity’s collective power to make this change through impactful ventures that enable and empower individuals and companies with everyday choices that not only help them, but also make the world a better place at the same time. Welcome to Mandai X. Role Purpose The Lead, Programme & Activation is responsible for the end-to-end development and delivery of Mandai X's edutainment programmes across physical, digital and hybrid formats. The portfolio includes large-scale, digitally enabled missions, recurring partner-led programmes, flagship Ranger Buddies experiences, seasonal campaigns, mall activations, roadshows, pop-ups and community events. The role translates an approved business plan or proposition into an integrated experience that can operate across multiple locations and partners, supported by the required digital product, content, technology, operations and customer journey. As the single point of accountability, the role ensures each programme is delivered on time, within budget and to the expected quality, safety and brand standards, while achieving agreed participation, engagement, commercial and strategic outcomes. Job Duties and Responsibilities: Programme Strategy & Portfolio Leadership Own the end-to-end delivery of physical, digital and hybrid programmes, from approved proposition and business plan through design, build, launch, ongoing operations and post-programme review. Translate strategic and commercial objectives into a clear programme architecture, delivery roadmap, scope, milestones, governance model, resource plan and success measures. Manage a portfolio of concurrent initiatives, balancing priorities, dependencies, resources and delivery risk across workstreams. Design programmes for scale and repeatability, including frameworks that can be extended across locations, partner categories, markets or campaign periods. Serve as the primary point of accountability for programme outcomes and provide clear recommendations and decisions to senior management. Digital Missions & Integrated Experience Delivery Lead large-scale, digitally enabled missions, integrating gameplay, content, partner touchpoints, physical locations and participant journeys into one coherent programme. Work with Product, Technology and Content teams to define user journeys, functional requirements, delivery priorities, testing plans, launch readiness and operational support for digital mission components. Ensure the digital and physical experience works as one system, including discovery, registration where applicable, participation, progress, rewards, redemption and re-engagement. Coordinate pilots, user testing and phased roll-outs; use findings to refine the experience before scaling. Plan for programme continuity beyond launch, including content refreshes, partner onboarding, issue resolution, participant communications and ongoing optimisation. Experiential Activation & Operational Delivery Lead the planning and execution of flagship experiences, mall campaigns, roadshows, exhibitions, community events, partner activations and other physical programme touchpoints. Coordinate venue readiness, logistics, manpower, technology, merchandising, rewards, customer service and on-ground experience. Establish operating playbooks, service standards and partner guidelines to ensure consistent delivery across multiple sites and operators. Ensure operational readiness across all stakeholders before launch, including rehearsals, testing, training, escalation protocols and contingency planning. Identify and mitigate delivery, safety, customer experience and reputational risks throughout the programme lifecycle. Commercial & P&L Management Manage programme financial performance against the approved business plan, including revenue, partner contributions, operating costs, capital requirements and profitability. Work with Sales and Partnerships to translate sponsor and partner commitments into deliverable scopes, timelines and measurable value. Track financial performance and commercial commitments throughout the programme lifecycle and recommend corrective action where required. Work closely with Finance to ensure sound forecasting, reporting, procurement and financial governance. Identify opportunities to improve programme economics through scale, repeatable assets, partner participation and operational efficiencies. Partner Ecosystem & Stakeholder Management Partner closely with Product, Technology, Content, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Procurement, Data and Legal to deliver integrated programmes. Coordinate cross-functional workstreams, clarify ownership and dependencies, and drive timely decisions and issue resolution. Build and manage relationships with sponsors, venue operators, ecosystem partners, agencies, contractors and strategic partners. Develop practical onboarding requirements and delivery toolkits so multiple partners can participate within a consistent programme and brand framework. Provide concise and regular updates on progress, risks, financial performance and decisions required to senior management and key stakeholders. Vendor & Delivery Partner Management Appoint, manage and evaluate agencies, technology vendors, event organisers, production partners and other delivery partners. Define and negotiate scope, deliverables, timelines, service levels, acceptance criteria and escalation arrangements. Ensure vendors meet agreed quality, security, brand, budget and contractual obligations, in partnership with the relevant subject-matter owners. Performance, Data & Continuous Improvement Define programme KPIs and success measures across participation, engagement, completion, repeat usage, partner value, customer experience, revenue, operational performance and ROI. Establish appropriate dashboards and reporting rhythms to monitor performance during live programmes and support timely intervention. Work with Product and Data teams to ensure programme measurement is designed into the participant journey and complies with applicable data and consent requirements. Conduct structured reviews after pilots, launches and major programme phases; capture lessons learnt and convert them into improved playbooks, processes and product requirements. Use participant, partner and operational insights to strengthen programme design and support future scale. Team Leadership Lead and develop the Programme & Activation team and any cross-functional programme squads formed for major initiatives. Allocate resources across concurrent programmes and build the internal and external capabilities required for delivery. Coach team members in programme management, stakeholder engagement, commercial discipline and operational excellence. Foster a collaborative, accountable and high-performance culture with strong ownership of outcomes. Job Requirements: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Events Management, Hospitality, Project Management, Digital Product Management or a related discipline. 8-12 years of relevant experience leading complex programmes, integrated experiences, large-scale activations, digital products or platform-enabled initiatives. Demonstrated experience managing multi-workstream programmes involving Product, Technology, Content, Marketing, Commercial and Operations teams. Proven ability to take an initiative from concept or approved business case through build, launch, live operations and performance optimisation. Strong commercial acumen, with experience managing budgets, programme P&L, contracts and partner commitments. Experience working with external agencies, technology vendors, event organisers, venue operators, sponsors and strategic partners. Strong understanding of customer journeys, digital engagement, testing, measurement and operational readiness; experience with gamified or location-based experiences is an advantage. Experience in children's, family, education, entertainment, media, attractions or IP-led experiences is an advantage. Excellent leadership, communication, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to operate effectively in an evolving environment. Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile or equivalent certification is an advantage. Locations Mandai X Remote status Hybrid Employment type Full-time Function Mandai X Applicant tracking system by Teamtailor