Executive Director – Hospitality Design & Architecture (Riyadh based)
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
A major master-planned developer seeks an Executive Director – Hospitality Design & Architecture to lead design strategy and delivery for luxury hotels and resorts. The role requires extensive experience in hospitality architecture and design management.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for hospitality design across a diverse portfolio of hotel and resort developments
- Establish portfolio wide design frameworks, standards and governance to create consistency while allowing each asset its own identity
- Lead the architectural, public realm and interior design vision from concept through delivery, ensuring projects remain commercially viable without compromising quality
- Direct multidisciplinary design teams and oversee the appointment, briefing and management of external consultants
- Work closely with hotel operators to incorporate brand requirements alongside the developer's commercial and operational objectives
- Lead design reviews at key project milestones, providing direction, resolving technical issues and maintaining programme momentum
- Ensure effective coordination between architecture, interiors, engineering, landscape and specialist consultants throughout the development lifecycle
- Evaluate design changes, technical proposals and value engineering initiatives, balancing cost, functionality and long term asset performance
- Promote sustainable design principles and efficient operational planning across the hospitality portfolio
- Build and mentor a high performing design organisation, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement
Requirements
- Degree in Architecture, Interior Design or a related discipline
- Professional accreditation such as RIBA, AIA, ARB, RICS or equivalent is advantageous
- At least 18 years' experience in hospitality architecture, design management or integrated project delivery
- Demonstrable experience delivering luxury hotels, resorts or hospitality led mixed use developments
- Proven leadership of multidisciplinary consultant teams across multiple concurrent projects
- Strong understanding of hotel operator requirements, design governance and project delivery
- Previous experience within large scale development organisations or destination developers is highly desirable
- Middle East project experience would be beneficial but is not essential
Full Job Posting
Overview
- Our client is a significant master planned developer behind one of the region's largest mixed use development programmes, with an extensive pipeline of luxury hotels, resorts and hospitality led destinations.
- They are seeking an Executive Director – Hospitality Design to lead the design from strategy through to delivery, across a growing portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for hospitality design across a diverse portfolio of hotel and resort developments.
- Establish portfolio wide design frameworks, standards and governance to create consistency while allowing each asset its own identity.
- Lead the architectural, public realm and, interior design vision from concept through delivery, ensuring projects remain commercially viable without compromising quality.
- Direct multidisciplinary design teams and oversee the appointment, briefing and management of external consultants.
- Work closely with hotel operators to incorporate brand requirements alongside the developer's commercial and operational objectives.
- Lead design reviews at key project milestones, providing direction, resolving technical issues and maintaining programme momentum.
- Ensure effective coordination between architecture, interiors, engineering, landscape and specialist consultants throughout the development lifecycle.
- Evaluate design changes, technical proposals and value engineering initiatives, balancing cost, functionality and long term asset performance.
- Promote sustainable design principles and efficient operational planning across the hospitality portfolio.
- Build and mentor a high performing design organisation, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
Candidate Profile
- The successful candidate will bring significant experience leading hospitality design within major mixed use or hotel development programmes.
- You will combine strong architectural and design leadership with commercial awareness.
- You should be comfortable influencing executive stakeholders, managing internationally recognised consultants and working alongside leading hotel brands.
- Experience operating within complex, multi project environments is essential.
Experience & Qualifications
- Degree in Architecture, Interior Design or a related discipline.
- Professional accreditation such as RIBA, AIA, ARB, RICS or equivalent is advantageous.
- At least 18 years' experience in hospitality architecture, design management or integrated project delivery.
- Demonstrable experience delivering luxury hotels, resorts or hospitality led mixed use developments.
- Proven leadership of multidisciplinary consultant teams across multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong understanding of hotel operator requirements, design governance and project delivery.
- Previous experience within large scale development organisations or destination developers is highly desirable.
- Middle East project experience would be beneficial but is not essential.
Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial judgement.
- Collaborative leader capable of influencing diverse stakeholder groups.
- Confident making decisions within complex, fast moving development environments.
- Passionate about creating hospitality environments that are operationally efficient, commercially successful and memorable for guests.
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