Director of Design and Technical Services - Corporate Office

AccorCorpo; Dubai; On-site; AED 500,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Dubai seeks a Director of Design and Technical Services to lead end-to-end design management for luxury hotel projects across the IMEAT region, from concept through handover, ensuring brand standards and operational requirements are met.

You will coordinate with owners, consultants, and internal stakeholders, manage budgets and timelines, review design documentation, and champion sustainability and innovation in hospitality design across multiple properties,

Qualifications

• Exceptional design sense with experience in architectural detailing.
• Experience with architectural planning and design in a hospitality context, including back-of-house areas.
• Ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design management of hotel and resort projects across the region from concept through to opening
• Review and provide strategic direction on design documentation including concept designs, schematic designs, design development, and construction drawings
• Ensure all designs comply with brand standards and operational requirements across guest-facing hotel functions
• Act as the regional point of contact for owners, ownership representatives, interior designers, architects, and lighting consultants
• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure specification alignment, quality control, and timely procurement support
• Conduct site visits and design review meetings, providing written reports and strategic recommendations
• Maintain accurate project records, interior design trackers, and reporting tools
• Lead the preparation and presentation of project briefs, preliminary area programs, and project status updates to senior leadership
• Manage project budgets and timelines, identifying risks and making key decisions to resolve project challenges
• Champion design innovation by staying current with hospitality design trends and sustainability initiatives

Skills

Exceptional design sense

Architectural detailing

Hospitality design experience

Back-of-house design

Project management

Hotel interior design

Job description

Director of Design and Technical Services - Corporate Office

• Full-time


• Job-Category: Design & Technical Services


• Job Type: Permanent

Raffles, at distinguished landmark addresses around the world, is the vibrant heart of its destination, curating experiences that are culturally enriching, intellectually stimulating and always respectful of local communities, heritage and the environment. Its timeless elegance, refined manners and spirit of generosity ensure that every visitor arrives as a guest, leaves as a friend and returns as family.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Join a dynamic team and be part of a network of 90 spectacular properties, and 34 more in the pipeline, in 30 countries around the globe, stretching from the beaches of Hawaii, to the unspoiled national parks of Canada, to the heart of London, to the deserts of the United Arab Emirates.

Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of hotel and resort, new-build, take-over, and renovation projects for Luxury brands in the IMEAT region; coordinating with owners, consultants and internal stakeholders in the review and coordination of design from project conception to handover; ensuring compliance with brand standards, Accor’s corporate strategy, operational excellence and guest experience objectives.

• Lead the end-to-end design management of hotel and resort projects across the region from concept through to opening


• Review and provide strategic direction on design documentation including concept designs, schematic designs, design development, and construction drawings


• Ensure all designs comply with brand standards and operational requirements across guest-facing hotel functions (rooms, food & beverage, public areas, and meeting spaces)


• Act as the regional point of contact for owners, ownership representatives, interior designers, architects, and lighting consultants


• Collaborate with suppliers to ensure specification alignment, quality control, and timely procurement support


• Conduct site visits and design review meetings, providing written reports and strategic recommendations


• Maintain accurate project records, interior design trackers, and reporting tools
  
• Lead the preparation and presentation of project briefs, preliminary area programs, and project status updates to senior leadership


• Manage project budgets and timelines, identifying risks and making key decisions to resolve project challenges


• Champion design innovation by staying current with hospitality design trends and sustainability initiatives

• Exceptional design sense and experience in architectural detailing


• Experience with architectural planning and design in a hospitality context, including back-of-house areas


• Ability to manage numerous projects simultaneously and effectively time manage to meet project deadlines and critical paths


• Deep understanding of hotel & resort interior design (rooms, F&B, public areas, meeting spaces)