Development Director - Luxury Hospitality

Role Overview

Development Leadership

• Lead development strategies, programmes, and delivery plans aligned with company objectives.
• Drive projects through concept, feasibility, design, approvals, procurement, construction, completion, and operational handover.
• Ensure delivery to required quality, design, luxury, guest-experience, and commercial standards.

Project and Design Management

• Lead architects, interior designers, engineers, project managers, cost consultants, and hospitality advisors.
• Coordinate design development with hotel brand requirements, operational functionality, and commercial objectives.
• Manage programmes, milestones, and critical development, design, and delivery issues.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Lead feasibility assessments, development appraisals, budgets, and financial modelling.
• Monitor project costs, budgets, cash flow, and financial performance throughout development.
• Optimise development value while maintaining luxury standards and guest experience.
• Manage development risks and mitigation strategies.

Stakeholder and Partner Management

• Act as senior contact for hotel operators, luxury brands, investors, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Lead negotiations and relationships with hospitality operators and brand partners.
• Report project progress, risks, financial performance, and strategic decisions to leadership and investment teams.
• Represent the company with senior external partners and government authorities when required.

Candidate Profile

• Significant real estate development experience with substantial luxury hotel or hospitality development experience.
• Full lifecycle project delivery experience from concept and feasibility through completion and handover.
• Experience managing multiple large-scale, complex development projects.
• Relevant degree in real estate, engineering, architecture, construction management, or a related field.

Regional Experience

• Previous UAE development experience is highly preferred.
• Strong GCC development experience may also be considered.
• Understanding of regional regulations, development environments, and market stakeholders is advantageous.

Skills and Attributes

• Strategic and commercially driven, balancing design excellence with financial performance and delivery requirements.
• Exceptional leadership, stakeholder management, communication, negotiation, programme, and portfolio management skills.
• Confident operating at executive and board level in a fast-paced development environment.
• Arabic language skills are beneficial but not essential.