Project Director

Travelodge Hotels Asia; Philippines; On-site; PHP 8,898,000 - 12,852,000; Full time

Job summary

Travelodge Hotels Asia seeks a Project Director (Asia) to lead design, procurement and construction delivery for hospitality assets across Asia. Based at the regional HQ in Singapore, the role reports to the Head of Hotel Asset Management and focuses on zero-delays, value optimization, and multi-site governance.

Responsibilities include external vendor management, on-site supervision, KPI reporting, risk mitigation, and overseeing SD/DD/CD stages with contractors and FF&E/OS&E vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Structural Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, or related field.
• 10–12 years of progressive hospitality project management experience, with 5+ years in Asia.

Responsibilities

• Vendor selection, onboarding, and oversight of external PM firms and on-site teams across Asia.
• Oversee on-site supervision, schedule discipline, and quality standards for multiple sites.
• Establish standardized KPI reporting for regional teams to ensure transparency.
• Proactively identify risks and present mitigations to Head of Asset Management.
• Direct procurement leadership for main contractors and FF&E/OS&E vendors.

Skills

External vendor management

Cross-border expertise

Leadership

Project governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management or related field

Job description

Job Overview

The Project Director (Asia) will lead, oversee, and execute the design, procurement, and construction delivery of all hospitality real estate initiatives across the Asia portfolio. Based in the regional headquarters in Singapore, this senior role reports directly to the Head of Hotel Asset Management. The role is responsible for maximizing asset value and ensuring project delivery with zero delays across diverse asset types. These include greenfield developments, strategic conversions, rebrandings, and renovations within active, operating hotels. The Director will drive project governance by managing regional external teams and proactively mitigating development risks before they impact budgets or timelines.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Vendor Selection & Oversight: Appoint, onboard, and manage external Project Management firms, in-country Construction Managers, and on-site Coordinators across Asia.


• On-Site Supervision: Remotely and via site visits manage local teams to enforce tight schedule monitoring, strict workflow efficiency, and high quality standards.


• Streamlined Reporting: Establish standardized weekly and monthly KPI reporting frameworks for in-country teams to ensure transparency across all active regional sites.

Risk Mitigation & Strategic Reporting

• Proactive Risk Flagging: Continually assess project workflows to identify, analyze, and flag potential construction, supply chain, or design delays early.


• Mitigation Recommendation: Formulate and present actionable, data-driven solutions and recovery plans directly to the Head of Asset Management to resolve bottlenecks.


• Contingency Planning: Maintain an active regional risk register covering labor shortages, material lead times, and local regulatory changes.

Design, Procurement & Delivery Control

• Scope & Schedule Baseline: Establish project briefs, clear milestone targets (such as fast-tracked 16-week design schedules), and strict budget boundaries.


• Interdisciplinary Coordination: Direct external architects, interior designers, and MEP consultants through Schematic Design (SD), Design Development (DD), and Construction Documentation (CD).


• Procurement Leadership: Oversee the bidding and contract awards for main contractors and FF&E/OS&E vendors to achieve optimal value engineering.

Operational Interfacing & Brand Integration

• Operator Liaison: Act as the primary technical interface between the Singapore HQ, local asset owners, and international hotel brand operators.


• Live-Hotel Phasing: Enforce phased, low-impact construction strategies for active hotels to minimize guest disruption and protect operating revenues.


• Property Improvement Plans (PIPs): Streamline rebranding workflows to ensure assets transition between hotel brands smoothly and on schedule.

Job Requirements

Education & Experience

• Academic Background: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Structural Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, or a related field.


• Regional Track Record: Minimum of 10–12 years of progressive hospitality project management experience, with at least 5 years operating in a regional or multi-country capacity within Asia.


• External Management Experience: Proven success in managing external Project Management firms, general contractors, and localized on-site construction managers across different Asian markets.


• Asset Versatility: Demonstrated experience delivering greenfield builds, hotel asset conversions, and complex refurbishments within live operational environments.

Technical & Soft Competencies

• Cross-Border Expertise: Solid understanding of construction dynamics, statutory permitting variations, and cultural business nuances across key Asian markets.


• Hospitality Acumen: Deep knowledge of hotel zoning, Front-of-House (FOH) versus Back-of-House (BOH) layout efficiency, and heavy MEP infrastructure dependencies.


• Contractual & Commercial Sharpness: High proficiency in international contract management (e.g., FIDIC, regional standard forms) and commercial negotiation.


• Crisis Management & Communication: Exceptional communication, diplomacy, and presentation skills, with the ability to confidently present risk-mitigation strategies to C-suite stakeholders.


• Mobility: Willingness to travel regionally across Asia as required to audit sites and resolve critical project bottlenecks.