Development Director - Hospitality 20013109 CM

About the role 

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. You will shape development strategy, guide critical decisions and ensure assets deliver distinctive guest experiences, strong commercial performance and long-term value for both the asset and across the wider destination. Working across key stakeholders and interfaces, you will drive alignment, manage complexity and ensure assets are commercially robust and in line with Qiddiya’s vision and development objectives. 

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 rooms 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 

Skills & Attributes Required 

• Experience shaping development strategy, feasibility and positioning 

• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of value creation 

• 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 etc.) 

Preferred Background & Experience 

• 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 full development lifecycle from feasibility through delivery and handover 

• Experience working within multi-stakeholder, large-scale destination or master planned environments 

• GCC experience preferred 

Qualifications 

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

Professional Certifications (if required) 

• Professional membership or recognised certification preferred (e.g. RICS, RIBA, PMP or equivalent)  

Years of Experience 

• 15+ years’ experience in real estate or hospitality development