Senior Director - Development - Hospitality

Qiddiya Investment Company; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 262,467 - 337,457; Full time

Job summary

Qiddiya Investment Company is seeking a lead professional for hospitality asset development in Riyadh Region. This role involves end-to-end development, ensuring design quality and guest experience are paramount.

The ideal candidate will have over 20 years of experience, with strong commercial acumen and a successful track record in managing complex, high-value developments. GCC experience is preferred, and proficiency in project management tools is essential.

Qualifications

• 20+ years experience in real estate or hospitality development.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of value creation.
• Proficient in project management and reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development of hospitality assets from concept to delivery.
• Shape asset strategy, feasibility and business plans.
• Drive cross-functional alignment across development and operations.

Skills

Real estate or hospitality development

Commercial acumen

Project management

Stakeholder management

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate Development, Architecture, Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Project management tools (e.g. Aconex)

Job description

Position Overview

At Qiddiya Investment Company we are shaping a landmark destination redefining entertainment, culture and hospitality in the Kingdom. The Hospitality Business Unit is developing a portfolio of hotel assets central to this vision. As these assets progress, we are seeking experienced professionals to help deliver them to the highest standards of design quality, guest experience and commercial performance. In this role you will lead the end‑to‑end development of hospitality assets from concept and business case through to delivery, shaping development strategy, guiding critical decisions and ensuring assets deliver distinctive guest experiences, strong commercial performance and long‑term value for both the asset and across the wider destination.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development of hospitality assets from early‑stage briefing through to delivery, handover and operational readiness.
• Shape asset strategy, feasibility and business plans to define positioning, guest experience and value creation.
• Drive cross‑functional alignment across strategy, asset management, design, delivery and operators to ensure seamless progression from development through to operations.
• Ensure assets align with Qiddiya’s vision and quality benchmarks, delivering best‑in‑class design and guest experience.
• Provide strategic oversight of key asset decisions including positioning, room mix, amenities, guest experience and operational planning to maximise differentiation and portfolio performance.
• Lead key asset validation milestones, including mock‑up room reviews and critical gateway decisions, balancing operator, design, commercial and delivery requirements.
• Proactively manage interfaces, risks and opportunities across all development workstreams to protect value and maintain delivery momentum.
• Lead governance and executive reporting processes, clearly articulating asset strategy, development priorities, risks and recommendations in key forums.
• Mentor, guide and develop teams, embedding strong development capability and best‑practice approaches across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• 20+ years experience in real estate or hospitality development.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of value creation.
• Professional membership or recognised certification preferred (e.g., RICS, RIBA, PMP or equivalent).
• Strong judgement in complex, high‑value development environments.
• Ability to manage complexity across stakeholders, workstreams and project stages.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive key decisions through clear communication and storytelling.
• Comfortable operating in fast‑paced environments, managing ambiguity and shifting priorities.
• Proficiency in project management and reporting tools (e.g., Aconex).
• Proven track record delivering complex assets (e.g., luxury hospitality, mixed‑use).
• Experience developing hospitality assets with operator engagement (selection, onboarding or alignment).
• Experience across the full development lifecycle from feasibility through delivery and handover.
• Experience working within multi‑stakeholder, large‑scale destination or master‑planned environments.
• GCC experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate Development, Architecture, Engineering or related discipline.