Executive Director - Design Excellence - Hospitality

Job description

MRG is exclusively supporting a PIF subsidiary developer with the appointment of an Executive Director, Design, to support the development and delivery of a significant portfolio of hospitality assets. This is a senior leadership role responsible for setting and maintaining design standards across a portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts, and mixed-use hospitality assets. The Role Reporting into the executive leadership team, you will lead the design function across multiple hospitality projects from concept through delivery, ensuring design quality, consistency, and commercial viability throughout the development lifecycle. You will provide strategic direction to internationally recognised architects, interior designers, and specialist consultants, translating the client's vision into clear design briefs, governance processes, and measurable design outcomes. Working closely with development, technical, commercial, and operational teams, you will ensure projects achieve high standards of design while remaining practical, deliverable, and aligned with programme objectives. Key Responsibilities • Lead the design function across a portfolio of hospitality developments from concept through construction. • Establish and maintain design standards, governance processes, and quality benchmarks across the portfolio. • Provide strategic direction to architectural, interior design, landscape, and specialist consultant teams. • Review and guide design proposals through all stages of development. • Balance design quality with operational requirements, commercial objectives, programme, and buildability. • Chair design reviews and provide recommendations on design development and value optimisation. • Promote innovation, sustainability, and best practice across architecture, interiors, and public realm. • Work collaboratively with development, technical, commercial, and future operator teams throughout project delivery. • Build and lead a high-performing design team, promoting consistency and continuous improvement. Candidate Profile We are seeking an inspirational design leader who combines outstanding creative instincts with the credibility to influence senior executives, challenge leading international consultants, and successfully guide complex hospitality developments from vision to reality. You will most likely have begun your career within a respected architectural practice before progressing into senior design leadership positions on the developer or consultancy side, where you have led multidisciplinary design functions across large-scale hospitality, high-end hotels, and resort portfolios. Consultancy and developer experience is particularly attractive, whilst operator experience should complement rather than define your background. • A strong portfolio of luxury hotels, resorts, or high-end mixed-use projects. • Experience overseeing architecture, interiors, and wider design disciplines. • Previous responsibility for managing international consultant teams. • Strong understanding of design governance, technical coordination, and project delivery. • Experience within the Middle East would be advantageous, but is not essential. Salary & Benefits A competitive executive package is offered, including a competitive salary, performance bonus, medical insurance, schooling support, and annual flights. Location & Working Pattern Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is a full-time position. How to Apply For a confidential discussion, please contact Nicky Harrison at or. Applications should include an updated CV, portfolio, and cover letter

Requirements

• Master's level qualification in Architecture or a related discipline.
• Approximately 20 years of delivering large-scale hospitality or mixed-use developments.
• The ability to balance design quality with commercial, operational, and programme requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and presentation skills.

Skills