Executive Director, Development (Hospitality Assets)

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Category: Real Estate Development

The Opportunity

A leading Saudi giga-project is seeking an accomplished real estate professional to join its senior leadership team as Executive Director, Hospitality Development . This individual will play a pivotal role in delivering one of the Kingdom’s most ambitious and high-profile destination developments, overseeing the end-to-end planning, development, and delivery of hospitality assets across multiple precincts.

The Role

The Executive Director will lead the strategic, commercial, and technical aspects of the hospitality portfolio, working across the full development lifecycle from concept to handover. This will include hotel and resort developments of varying scale and typology, from luxury and branded properties to mixed-use leisure destinations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the master planning, design management, and commercial development of hospitality assets within the broader destination framework.
• Leading feasibility, market positioning, and brand alignment exercises to ensure all hospitality products are commercially viable and aligned with the project’s overall vision.
• Managing multidisciplinary consultant teams and ensuring all development activities are delivered within agreed budgets, timelines, and quality parameters.
• Driving engagement with investors, operators, and strategic partners to secure long-term commercial success for the hospitality portfolio.
• Coordinating closely with internal functions including Strategy, Design, Delivery, Commercial, and Operations to ensure seamless project integration.
• Providing leadership, mentorship, and direction to a team of development professionals responsible for individual hospitality projects.
• Supporting the establishment of asset management and operational readiness strategies for hospitality components post-handover.

The Candidate

Candidates should bring a real estate development background with a proven track record of leading large-scale, mixed-use or hospitality-led developments internationally or within the Gulf region.

Ideal credentials include:

• 20+ years’ experience in real estate development, with at least 10 years in senior leadership roles.
• Experience with hotel or resort development projects, ideally across multiple asset classes (urban, resort, branded residences, mixed-use).
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to evaluate investment returns, manage feasibility processes, and align design intent with commercial outcomes.
• Deep understanding of the full development lifecycle – from concept and feasibility through design, procurement, delivery, and operational transition.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate complex teams and communicate effectively at the C-suite level.
• International exposure and familiarity with leading consultants, operators, and investors in the global hospitality and real estate market.
• Relevant degree in Real Estate, Architecture, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline.

The Package

A competitive executive-level compensation package will be offered, including housing, education, travel, and performance-related benefits in line with market benchmarks for senior leadership positions in Saudi Arabia.