Hotel Development Manager

Job description

About the role at the employer Investment Company, shaping a landmark destination redefining entertainment, culture and hospitality in the Kingdom. Lead end-to-end development of hospitality assets from concept and business case to delivery. Shape development strategy, guide critical decisions and ensure assets deliver distinctive guest experiences, strong commercial performance and long-term value. Work with key stakeholders to align, manage complexity and meet the employer’s vision and objectives. Key Responsibilities: lead strategic development from briefing to delivery and operational readiness; define asset strategy, feasibility and business plans for positioning, guest experience and value creation; ensure cross-functional alignment across strategy, asset management, design, delivery and operators; meet the employer’s quality benchmarks for best‑in‑class design and guest experience; oversee key asset decisions such as positioning, room mix, amenities and operational planning; lead validation milestones including mock‑up room reviews and gateway decisions; proactively manage risks, opportunities and interfaces across workstreams; lead governance and executive reporting; mentor and develop teams to embed strong development capability.

Requirements

• Experience shaping development strategy, feasibility and positioning
• strong commercial acumen and understanding of value creation
• sound judgement in complex, high‑value development environments
• ability to manage complexity across stakeholders, workstreams and project stages
• ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive decisions through clear communication and storytelling
• comfortable operating in fast‑paced environments, managing ambiguity and shifting priorities
• proficiency in project management and reporting tools such as Aconex
• proven track record delivering complex assets like luxury hospitality or mixed‑use
• experience developing hospitality assets with operator engagement
• experience across full development lifecycle from feasibility to delivery and handover
• experience in multi‑stakeholder, large‑scale destination or master‑planned environments
• GCC experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate Development, Architecture, Engineering or related discipline
• professional membership or recognized certification preferred (e.g., RICS, RIBA, PMP)
• 15+ years of experience in real estate or hospitality development.

Skills