Red Sea Global
Associate Director – Destination Fire Commander
- Permanent
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Experience 20yrs+
Job overview
Date posted
09/11/2025
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Salary
Undisclosed
Compensation
Comprehensive package + relocation
Experience
20yrs+
Seniority
Director
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
24/12/2025
Job description
The Associate Director – Destination Fire Commander at Red Sea Global (RSG) leads all civil defense and emergency response operations across assigned destinations, ensuring world-class firefighting, rescue, and crisis management capabilities. Reporting to the Director (Response), this role provides strategic leadership, 24/7 operational oversight, and direct command of major incidents in both Tactical (Silver) and Strategic (Gold) capacities. The incumbent is accountable for managing up to 250 operational staff, overseeing multiple assets, and ensuring compliance with local and international fire safety and emergency management standards. As the head of fire and rescue services for either the Red Sea or Amaala destination, the role ensures readiness, resilience, and continuous service improvement while fostering partnerships with national and local Civil Defense authorities. The Destination Fire Commander also contributes to budget development, staff recruitment, operational training, and strategic planning aligned with RSG’s sustainability and safety vision. The position demands exceptional leadership, crisis management expertise, and the ability to operate effectively under high-pressure emergency conditions.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Lead sitewide civil defense and emergency response operations through the Red Sea Fire & Rescue Service (RSFR).
- Manage Assistant Destination Fire Commanders and oversee teams responsible for assigned geographic areas (Red Sea or Amaala).
- Serve as Tactical (Silver) and Strategic (Gold) Incident Commander during large-scale emergencies, ensuring effective crisis response and decision-making.
- Provide strategic input to RSG’s fire and rescue roadmap and ensure delivery of departmental KPIs.
- Recruit, mentor, and develop emergency response personnel up to Senior Manager level.
- Develop and manage RSFR operational budgets (Opex and Capex) for assigned locations, ensuring cost efficiency and accountability.
- Coordinate with Civil Defense Services, private fire services, and external stakeholders to establish mutual aid agreements.
- Ensure compliance with fire, health, and safety regulations and international best practices.
- Drive digital and operational transformation across RSFR services through innovation and technology adoption.
- Lead emergency operations across multiple disciplines: firefighting, disaster relief, hazardous materials response, marine and aviation incidents, and environmental protection.
- Supervise service agreements and vendor contracts to ensure operational continuity and performance.
- Conduct strategic fire safety reviews and represent RSFR in internal and external stakeholder meetings.
- Deputize for the Director (Response) as needed, maintaining continuity of leadership and operational command.
- Implement safety, quality, and environmental controls across all fire service operations.
- Identify continuous improvement opportunities to enhance efficiency, readiness, and sustainability.
- Prepare comprehensive reports, dashboards, and MIS updates for senior management and governance committees.
Experience & skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Emergency Management, or Business Administration (or related field).
- Minimum 20 years of experience in fire and rescue operations, including at least 3 years in managerial or strategic command roles.
- Certified and experienced as a Strategic Incident Commander (Tactical Silver and Strategic Gold levels).
- Proven experience in large-scale emergency response, crisis leadership, and organizational change management.
- Strong understanding of fire service governance, crisis communication, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
- Demonstrated success in developing and managing operational budgets and multi-site emergency teams.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to brief senior executives and external agencies.
- Expertise in training program development, incident analysis, and operational readiness assessments.
- High situational awareness, resilience, and capacity to make decisive judgments under pressure.
- Commitment to diversity, integrity, sustainability, and continuous professional development.
