Executive Director - Development (Hospitality)

About the Role

Join Qiddiya Investment Company in shaping an iconic entertainment, culture, and hospitality destination in Saudi Arabia. The Hospitality Business Unit is managing an evolving portfolio of hotel properties integral to this vision, and is looking for seasoned leaders to ensure these assets meet exceptional standards in design, guest experience, and business outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic planning and management of a diverse portfolio of hospitality assets throughout all development phases, from initial concept and business justification through to completion and readiness for operation.
• Develop and implement portfolio-wide strategies including asset positioning, feasibility assessment, phased execution, and value maximization.
• Coordinate alignment among strategy, asset and design management, delivery teams, and operational stakeholders to guarantee smooth transitions from development to operations.
• Oversee major executive decisions involving asset positioning, room configurations, amenities, guest experiences, and operational frameworks.
• Balance priorities, risks, and interdependencies across assets to optimize overall portfolio value and project outcomes.
• Manage governance, reporting, and decision-making processes at the portfolio level, clearly communicating objectives, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Ensure uniform quality, design standards, and guest experiences across all assets while allowing flexibility where appropriate according to specific asset strategies.
• Supervise key validation milestones to ensure operator requirements, design intents, commercial goals, and delivery constraints are duly aligned.
• Proactively identify and address risks, manage dependencies, and facilitate coordination across teams and assets to sustain progress.
• Build and lead efficient, high-performing teams, embedding robust development practices and capabilities at the portfolio level.

Candidate Requirements

• Extensive leadership experience managing portfolios of complex hospitality or mixed-use developments, preferably luxury or destination-oriented projects.
• Bachelor's degree in Real Estate Development, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field.
• Preferred professional certification or membership (such as RICS, RIBA, PMP, or equivalent credentials).
• Minimum of 25 years of progressive experience in real estate or hospitality development.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the full project lifecycle from feasibility analysis through to delivery and operational readiness.
• Proven expertise collaborating with hotel operators, including selection, negotiation, and integration phases.
• Experience working within large-scale, multi-stakeholder environments or master-planned developments.
• GCC region experience is advantageous.
• Strong competency in portfolio-level development strategy formulation and asset positioning.
• Excellent commercial insight with a focus on maximizing value across multiple assets.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes, multiple workstreams, and various development phases.
• Strategic decision-making ability suited to high-value, large-scale projects.
• Effective communication skills to influence senior leadership and facilitate decision-making.
• Leadership skills oriented towards developing teams and expanding scalable development capabilities.
• Comfortable working in dynamic, fast-evolving environments with ambiguity and shifting priorities.