About Qiddiya and the Director, Delivery (Hospitality) Role

Qiddiya is a 360 km2 mega-project located near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, designed to become a global capital for entertainment, sports, and culture. This initiative involves developing a diverse range of facilities, from F1-grade racetracks and theme parks to stadiums and performance venues, contributing to a national transformation. Qiddiya is seeking a Director, Delivery (Hospitality) to join its team in Riyadh, a full-time position critical to the successful realization of its ambitious projects.

Role Overview and Project Scope

The Director, Delivery will hold full developer-side accountability for the end-to-end project delivery of large-scale hospitality developments. This encompasses a portfolio of hotel assets, including ultra-luxury, luxury, and mid-scale properties, executed through multiple construction contracts. The primary objective is to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget, while upholding the highest standards of quality, brand compliance, and operational readiness across all hospitality assets.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage and lead the delivery of hospitality projects, ensuring alignment with Qiddiya's strategic objectives and standards.
• Develop and implement delivery strategies, schedules, and budgets, aligning with operator timelines, pre-opening requirements, and market positioning.
• Oversee coordination among design, engineering, construction, procurement, and operator teams to ensure seamless execution and timely issue resolution.
• Act as the primary interface with hotel operators and brand representatives, ensuring operator requirements are embedded, validated, and delivered in full compliance with brand standards and operational expectations.
• Define and lead contracting and procurement strategies, including packaging of works (core & shell, fit-out, FF&E, OS&E), tendering, contractor selection, and contract award.
• Ensure full compliance with operator brand standards, including review and approval of mock-ups, prototypes, and key guest-facing areas.
• Monitor project performance, proactively manage risks, delays, and contractor claims, and implement mitigation strategies to protect programme, cost, and opening dates.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, with a focus on hospitality-specific standards and approvals.
• Hold full accountability for cost, cash flow, and commercial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, change management, claims resolution, and final account close-out.
• Lead project close-out, testing and commissioning, authority approvals, and handover to operations, ensuring hospitality assets are fully ready for occupancy and long-term operation.
• Lead integration of pre-opening activities with operators, ensuring seamless transition from construction completion to operational launch, including soft opening readiness and guest experience validation.
• Prepare comprehensive project reports and present updates to senior management and stakeholders.
• Promote innovation, sustainability, and best practices in hospitality delivery, aligned with Qiddiya's vision.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in project or construction management, with a significant focus on hospitality developments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and work under tight deadlines while maintaining a high level of attention to detail and quality.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to foster a high-performance, collaborative delivery culture.
• Commitment to Qiddiya's values, safety commitments, and long-term vision.
• A proven track record in mentoring and guiding junior staff in Project/Construction Management.

Work Environment and Impact

This full-time role offers the opportunity to contribute to a nationally significant project, shaping the future of entertainment, sports, and culture in Saudi Arabia. The Director, Delivery (Hospitality) will operate within a dynamic environment, driving the construction and operational readiness of iconic hospitality assets from the ground up.