Executive Director – Hospitality Design & Architecture
Based full time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Overview
Our client is a significant master planned developer behind one of the region's largest mixed-use development programmes, with an extensive pipeline of luxury hotels, resorts and hospitality-led destinations.
They are seeking an Executive Director – Hospitality Design to lead the design from strategy through to delivery, across a growing portfolio, ensuring every asset delivers an exceptional guest experience while meeting the highest standards of design quality, commercial, operational and development objectives.
This is a senior leadership position responsible for driving design decisions from the earliest stages of planning through construction and handover, working closely with development, delivery, asset management and internationally recognised hotel operators.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for hospitality design across a diverse portfolio of hotel and resort developments.
- Establish portfolio-wide design frameworks, standards and governance to create consistency while allowing each asset its own identity.
- Lead the architectural, public realm and, interior design vision from concept through delivery, ensuring projects remain commercially viable without compromising quality.
- Direct multidisciplinary design teams and oversee the appointment, briefing and management of external consultants.
- Work closely with hotel operators to incorporate brand requirements alongside the developer's commercial and operational objectives.
- Lead design reviews at key project milestones, providing direction, resolving technical issues and maintaining programme momentum.
- Ensure effective coordination between architecture, interiors, engineering, landscape and specialist consultants throughout the development lifecycle.
- Evaluate design changes, technical proposals and value engineering initiatives, balancing cost, functionality and long-term asset performance.
- Promote sustainable design principles and efficient operational planning across the hospitality portfolio.
- Build and mentor a high-performing design organisation, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will bring significant experience leading hospitality design within major mixed-use or hotel development programmes.
You will combine strong architectural and design leadership with commercial awareness, enabling you to make balanced decisions that enhance both guest experience and long-term asset value.
You should be comfortable influencing executive stakeholders, managing internationally recognised consultants and working alongside leading hotel brands throughout the development process.
Experience operating within complex, multi-project environments is essential, together with the ability to manage competing priorities across a substantial development portfolio.
Experience & Qualifications
- Degree in Architecture, Interior Design or a related discipline.
- Professional accreditation such as RIBA, AIA, ARB, RICS or equivalent is advantageous.
- At least 18 years experience in hospitality architecture, design management or integrated project delivery.
- Demonstrable experience delivering luxury hotels, resorts or hospitality-led mixed-use developments.
- Proven leadership of multidisciplinary consultant teams across multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong understanding of hotel operator requirements, design governance and project delivery.
- Previous experience within large-scale development organisations or destination developers is highly desirable.
- Middle East project experience would be beneficial but is not essential.
Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial judgement.
- Collaborative leader capable of influencing diverse stakeholder groups.
- Confident making decisions within complex, fast-moving development environments.
- Passionate about creating hospitality environments that are operationally efficient, commercially successful and memorable for guests.
