Executive Director, Development - Hospitality

The Management Recruitment Group (MRG); Riyadh; On-site; SAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

The Management Recruitment Group (MRG) has been retained by a major Saudi Arabian developer to appoint an Executive Director, Hospitality Development. The role leads a portfolio of hospitality assets across the full development lifecycle in a major destination project based in Riyadh.

Successful candidates will bring substantial hospitality development experience, with a track record from concept through to opening and operation.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading hotel and hospitality asset development.
• Deep knowledge of full hotel development lifecycle from feasibility to pre-opening.
• Experience overseeing multiple hospitality assets or large hotel programs.
• Strong understanding of operations, guest experience and performance.
• GCC experience preferred; exceptional international candidates considered.
• Degree in real estate, architecture, engineering, hospitality or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead development across the full lifecycle from strategy to delivery.
• Set portfolio strategy, positioning, business cases and value optimisation.
• Provide senior oversight of concepts, room and amenity programmes and operating models.
• Collaborate with operators, designers, consultants and internal stakeholders.
• Represent hospitality development within the destination organisation.

Skills

Hospitality development

Portfolio leadership

Feasibility & design

Operator-management alignment

Education

Real estate degree

Architecture degree

Engineering degree

Hospitality degree

Job description

MRG has been retained by a major Saudi Arabian developer to appoint an Executive Director, Hospitality Development.

The organisation is developing a significant portfolio of hospitality assets as part of a wider mixed-use destination. As the hospitality programme moves into its next phase of development and delivery, this appointment will provide senior leadership across the portfolio and ensure hospitality remains fully represented in the wider destination strategy.

This is a broad development leadership role, spanning strategy, asset positioning, feasibility, design, delivery and operational readiness. The Executive Director will take responsibility for a portfolio of predominantly mid-market hotel assets, with each hotel playing an important role in supporting the wider guest experience.

As the successful candidate, you will bring substantial hospitality development expertise and a strong understanding of how hotel assets move from initial concept through to opening and operation. Candidates who have built their careers with recognised hotel operators before moving into owner-side development will be particularly relevant, as will development leaders with strong design, commercial and operator-management credentials.

The Role

As the Executive Director, you will:

• Lead the development of a portfolio of hospitality assets across the full development lifecycle, from early strategy and feasibility through design, construction and operational readiness.
• Set portfolio-level development strategy, including positioning, business cases, phasing, product definition and value optimisation.
• Provide senior oversight of hotel concepts, room and amenity programmes, guest experience and operating models.
• Work closely with hotel operators, consultants, designers, delivery teams and internal stakeholders to maintain alignment across each asset.
• Lead key operator interfaces, including the translation of operational requirements into commercially viable development solutions.
• Represent hospitality development within a complex, multidisciplinary destination organisation.

Candidate Profile

We are interested in speaking with senior hospitality development professionals who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading the development of hotel and hospitality assets.
• Strong knowledge of the complete hotel development lifecycle, from feasibility and concept development through construction, pre-opening and operational readiness.
• Experience overseeing multiple hospitality assets or a substantial hotel development programme.
• A strong understanding of hotel operations and the relationship between development decisions, guest experience and operational performance.
• Experience within major mixed-use, resort, leisure or destination developments would be particularly relevant.
• Previous GCC experience is preferred, although exceptional international candidates with directly comparable experience will also be considered.
• A relevant degree in real estate, architecture, engineering, hospitality or a related discipline.

This role will suit an established hospitality development leader seeking portfolio responsibility within one of Saudi Arabia's major destination development programmes. The position is based in Riyadh and offers significant exposure to projects progressing from development into delivery.