Senior Director, Development – Hospitality

MRG Global; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

MRG seeks a Senior Director, Hospitality Development to lead end-to-end asset development for a major Saudi destination. You will shape hotel strategy, feasibility, design development and handover, coordinating operators, consultants and delivery stakeholders to ensure commercially robust and operationally ready assets.

The role demands hands-on proficiency across strategy, design, commercial decisions and operator onboarding, with ownership of each asset throughout its lifecycle and a track

Qualifications

• Strong experience developing hotel or hospitality assets.
• Track record of taking complex projects through full development lifecycle (feasibility, concept, delivery, handover and operational readiness).
• Experience shaping development strategy, feasibility, positioning and business plans.
• Direct experience working with hotel operators, including technical services, operator onboarding or ongoing development alignment.
• Experience within large mixed-use, destination, resort or masterplanned developments preferred.
• GCC experience preferred, international hospitality development experience also considered.
• Degree in real estate, architecture, engineering, hospitality or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of hospitality assets from early-stage briefing and feasibility through design, construction, handover and operational readiness.
• Shape asset strategy, positioning, business plans and development briefs.
• Define key aspects of the hotel proposition, including room mix, amenities, guest experience and operational requirements.
• Work with hotel operators, consultants, architects, designers, commercial teams and delivery stakeholders throughout the development process.
• Manage operator interfaces, ensuring technical and operational requirements are incorporated without compromising commercial or development objectives.
• Lead asset validation and gateway decisions, including mock-up room reviews, design approvals and development milestones.
• Balance design ambition, guest experience, programme, cost and long-term asset performance.
• Identify and manage risks, opportunities and interfaces across development workstreams.

Job description

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

The organisation is developing a significant portfolio of hospitality assets within a wider mixed-use destination. With a number of hotel projects advancing through development and towards delivery, this appointment will take responsibility for the end-to-end development of individual hospitality assets from early strategy through to operational readiness.

The Senior Director will lead asset strategy, feasibility, design development, delivery coordination and operator engagement, ensuring each hotel is commercially robust, operationally viable and aligned with the wider destination proposition.

This role requires someone who understands hospitality development in practical detail. The successful candidate should be comfortable moving between development strategy, design, commercial decisions, operator requirements and delivery interfaces, while maintaining clear ownership of the asset throughout its lifecycle.

The Role

The Senior Director will:

• Lead the development of hospitality assets from early-stage briefing and feasibility through design, construction, handover and operational readiness.
• Shape asset strategy, positioning, business plans and development briefs.
• Define key aspects of the hotel proposition, including room mix, amenities, guest experience and operational requirements.
• Work closely with hotel operators, consultants, architects, designers, commercial teams and delivery stakeholders throughout the development process.
• Manage key operator interfaces, ensuring technical and operational requirements are incorporated appropriately without compromising commercial or development objectives.
• Lead important asset validation and gateway decisions, including mock-up room reviews, design approvals and development milestones.
• Balance design ambition, guest experience, programme, cost and long-term asset performance.
• Identify and manage risks, opportunities and interfaces across development workstreams.

Candidate Profile

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

• Strong experience developing hotel or hospitality assets.
• A track record of taking complex projects through the full development lifecycle, from feasibility and concept through delivery, handover and operational readiness.
• Experience shaping development strategy, feasibility, positioning and business plans.
• Direct experience working with hotel operators, including technical services, operator onboarding or ongoing development alignment.
• Experience within large mixed-use, destination, resort or masterplanned developments would be particularly relevant.
• GCC experience is preferred, although candidates with strong international hospitality development experience will also be considered.
• A relevant degree in real estate, architecture, engineering, hospitality or a related discipline.

The role will suit an experienced hospitality development professional who wants direct ownership of complex hotel assets within a major destination development programme in Saudi Arabia.