Freelance Project Director

Job Description

The Hanging House is planning a large-scale public festival end of September, a 3-day immersive experience that brings together culture, entertainment, and innovation. We&aposre looking for a Project Director who has done this before, someone who has led the production of major festivals and knows exactly what it takes to make one run like clockwork.

This isnt a typical event role, were specifically looking for someone with real festival experience. If you havent managed the scale, pace, and controlled chaos of a multi-day festival before, this wont be the right fit.

You will be responsible for:

End-to-end project ownership and setting boudaries for leadership and delivery of the festival, from planning to execution to close-out.

Lead the end-to-end coordination of site operations, spanning setup, logistics, F&B, entertainment, infrastructure, and sponsor onboarding ensuring every element runs in sync and to standard.

Manage diverse stakeholders including government entities, artists, vendors, suppliers, and internal teams to ensure alignment, accountability, and smooth project execution.

Ensure end-to-end on-site readiness covering logistics, health and safety, and a seamless guest experience across every touchpoint.Owning project timelines, budgets, and resource allocations with accountability.

Leading internal and freelance teams, keeping everyone aligned, focused, and motivated.

Liaising with sponsors and contributing to sponsor management and deliverables.

Managing risk, permits, insurances and being solution driven.

Ideal Candidate must have

Proven experience managing festivals (minimum 23 large-scale festivals in the GCC).

Deep understanding of event operations, vendor negotiations, and on-ground production & planning.

Must have a strong network of trusted suppliers and freelancers in the UAE.

Exceptional communication, people management, leadership, and crisis-handling skills.

Strong grasp of permits, regulations, and authority coordination.

A sharp eye for detail without losing sight of the bigger picture.

Experience working with brand activations, and commercial partners.

Calm under pressure, carry a clear mind amid chaos.

Fast-moving, solution-driven, and deadline obsessed.

You know when to escalate, when to hold the line, and when to pivot.

Additional Info

Location: UAE-based