🔹 Job Title: Director of Growth (Based in Saudi Arabia)
🔹 Company: Agoda
🔹 Location: Saudi Arabia
🔹 Job Type: On-site, Full-time
🔹 Category: Executive, Management
🔹 Date Posted: May 27, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing a comprehensive strategy to drive Agoda’s growth and market share in Saudi Arabia.
- Identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, partnerships, and initiatives to accelerate Agoda’s presence and performance.
- Acting as Agoda’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia, building strong relationships with key stakeholders in the tourism industry.
- Collaborating with Agoda’s global teams to build business cases, influence direction and priorities, and ensure alignment with local market needs.
- Championing Agoda’s brand in Saudi Arabia, increasing awareness and trust among partners, customers, and the broader ecosystem.
- Representing Agoda at industry events, conferences, and meetings, effectively communicating the company’s vision and value proposition.
- Setting and achieving clear milestones for Agoda’s growth in Saudi Arabia, tracking progress and adapting strategies as needed.
- Providing regular updates and insights to Agoda’s senior leadership on market trends, performance, and opportunities.
🤝 Key Responsibilities
🔹 Market Leadership & Growth
- Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to drive Agoda’s growth and market share in Saudi Arabia.
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities, partnerships, and initiatives to accelerate Agoda’s presence and performance.
- Act as Agoda’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia, building strong relationships with key stakeholders in the tourism industry.
🔹 Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Agoda’s product, partnerships, marketing, and other business teams to build business cases, influence direction and priorities, and ensure alignment with local market needs.
- Surface local opportunities and challenges, advocating for Saudi-specific solutions and resources.
- Prepare and present business cases to drive investment and support for Saudi initiatives.
🔹 Brand Building & Representation
- Champion Agoda’s brand in Saudi Arabia, increasing awareness and trust among partners, customers, and the broader ecosystem.
- Represent Agoda at industry events, conferences, and meetings, effectively communicating the company’s vision and value proposition.
🔹 Strategic Execution & Milestones
- Set and achieve clear milestones for Agoda’s growth in Saudi Arabia, tracking progress and adapting strategies as needed.
- Provide regular updates and insights to Agoda’s senior leadership on market trends, performance, and opportunities.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Experience:
- Experience as a founder, ex-consultant, or similar entrepreneurial role, ideally with a track record of building businesses or convincing investors.
- Deep understanding of the Saudi market, with established relationships and credibility.
Required Skills:
- Strong influencing, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities.
- Strategic thinker with an analytical mindset and the ability to make data-driven decisions.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, comfortable representing Agoda at the highest levels.
- Self-starter, highly autonomous, and comfortable working without a direct team.
Preferred Skills:
- Fluency in Arabic.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Competitive salary package based on experience and industry standards for the Saudi Arabian market.
Benefits:
- Comprehensive health insurance and wellness programs.
- Retirement savings plans with company matching.
- Generous vacation and leave policies.
- Employee stock purchase plan.
- Professional development opportunities and training programs.
- Flexible work arrangements and remote work options for eligible roles.
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week with flexible working hours based on team needs and project demands.
📈 Applicant Insights
Company Context
Industry: Agoda operates in the competitive online travel industry, focusing on accommodation bookings, flights, activities, and more. The company aims to make travel easy and rewarding for more travelers by offering best-value deals across its extensive global network.
Company Size: Agoda is a mid-sized company with approximately 5,000-10,000 employees, providing ample opportunities for career growth and internal mobility.
Founded: Agoda was founded in 2005 in Thailand and is now part of Booking Holdings, a global leader in the online travel and related services industry.
Company Description: Agoda bridges the world through travel, enabling more people to see the world for less. The company aims to make travel hassle-free for everyone by leveraging data and technology to provide personalized and seamless travel experiences.
Company Specialties: Agoda specializes in internet, software engineering, online travel, tech, e-commerce, software development, travel and tourism, data engineering, hotels, information technology, and mobile applications.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: This role is suitable for experienced professionals seeking a challenging and impactful leadership position in the travel industry, with a focus on driving growth and market expansion.
Reporting Structure: The Director of Growth will report directly to Agoda’s senior leadership and collaborate closely with various global teams, including product, partnerships, marketing, and more.
Work Arrangement: This is an on-site role based in Saudi Arabia, with strong local network requirements. The role may require occasional travel to other regions for meetings and events.
Growth Opportunities:
- Lead impactful projects that shape the future of travel in Saudi Arabia.
- Collaborate with global teams to influence direction and priorities, driving investment and support for Saudi initiatives.
- Contribute to Agoda’s overall growth and success as a key member of the leadership team.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Agoda’s offices in Saudi Arabia are modern, collaborative workspaces designed to foster innovation and productivity.
Office Location(s): Agoda’s offices are located in major cities across Saudi Arabia, with the exact location to be determined based on the successful candidate’s preferences and commuting distance.
Geographic Context: Saudi Arabia offers a diverse cultural landscape, with a rich history and vibrant business ecosystem. The country’s strategic location in the Middle East makes it an attractive market for international businesses and investors.
Work Schedule: The work schedule is typically Monday to Friday, with flexible hours based on team needs and project demands. Agoda encourages a healthy work-life balance and provides resources to support employee well-being.
💼 Potential Challenges
- Navigating the unique cultural and business landscape of Saudi Arabia may present challenges for candidates without prior experience in the region.
- Building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders may require significant time and effort.
- Balancing the demands of a fast-paced, high-impact role with personal and family commitments may be challenging for some candidates.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role differs from related positions in its focus on driving growth and market expansion in a specific region, rather than managing global operations or product development.
- The role requires a deep understanding of the local market and strong relationships with key stakeholders, unlike more generalist leadership roles.
- Career paths for this role may include progression to regional or global leadership positions within Agoda or other travel industry companies.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive market entry strategy for a new destination in Saudi Arabia.
- Negotiating strategic partnerships with local travel agencies, tour operators, and other industry stakeholders to expand Agoda’s offerings and market share.
- Launching targeted marketing campaigns to raise brand awareness and drive customer acquisition in key Saudi Arabian cities.
- Conducting market research and analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and threats in the Saudi Arabian travel market.
- Developing and implementing data-driven pricing strategies to optimize revenue and market share in the competitive Saudi Arabian market.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
- How does this role fit into Agoda’s global growth strategy, and what are the expectations for its impact on the company’s overall performance?
- What are the most significant challenges facing Agoda’s growth in Saudi Arabia, and how can this role address them?
- How does Agoda support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly in leadership roles?
- What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this role, and how will success be measured?
💼 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
1. Submit your application through the [Application URL](https://careersatagoda.com/job/6699184?gh_jid=6699184).
2. Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience, skills, and enthusiasm for this role.
3. Prepare for interviews by researching Agoda’s company culture, mission, and values, as well as the travel industry trends and challenges in Saudi Arabia.
4. Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and express your continued interest in the role.
5. If invited for an interview, be prepared to discuss your relevant experience, assumptions about the role, and your vision for driving Agoda’s growth in Saudi Arabia.
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
