Hospitality Academy Director (HAD001)

Foreground is exclusively mandated to support the launch of a major new division focused on Hospitality and Culinary Education within a leading training academy in Saudi Arabia. We are seeking a Hospitality Academy Director to lead this build-from-scratch initiative, combining deep operational expertise, strategic leadership, and international industry connections to create a pioneering education platform for the region.

Role Overview

This is not an academic post, it is a foundational leadership mandate. The selected candidate will be responsible for the full design and deliveryof a new hospitality and culinary academy, from physical infrastructure setup to sourcing international curricula and partners. This role is aimed at visionary operators who understand how to scale business units, develop strategic alliances, and create programs aligned with global industry needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and operational launch of a full-fledged Hospitality and Culinary Education division, including all physical and organizational infrastructure.
• Oversee technical specifications for hospitality and kitchen training spaces in alignment with international vocational standards.
• Identify and secure global academic and industry partnerships, particularly with institutions in Switzerland, France, and broader Europe.
• Source existing best-in-class curricula from global education providers; no need for curriculum creation from scratch.
• Manage budgets, financial planning, vendor negotiations, and operational timelines.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a multidisciplinary team for training, operations, and business development.
• Develop strong corporate and governmental relationships for student pipelines, program funding, and strategic support.
• Serve as the executive face of the division in front of partners, clients, and key stakeholders.
• Align the divisions growth with commercial objectives, revenue, enrollment, and industry placement.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum 5+ years in senior leadership within hospitality operations, business development, or vocational education.
• Proven experience building and scaling multi-site or multi-unit hospitality projects or training centers.
• Strong understanding of vocational training models, particularly those aligned with Swiss or European hospitality standards.
• Demonstrated success in developing business plans, managing financial portfolios, and forming strategic partnerships.
• Ability to operate in a start-up environment, managing ambiguity and building structured systems from the ground up.
• A network of industry or academic partners across hospitality, culinary arts, or tourism sectors is highly preferred.
• Full fluency in English; Arabic and French are strong assets.
• Commercial mindset, hands-on leadership style, and passion for empowering future talent.

Required Skills:

Strategic Partnerships Business Units Pipelines Training Programs Arabic Partnerships Infrastructure Networking Specifications Business Development Education Business English Leadership Training