Director Architecture Hospitality HS📣 إعلان

About the Role

Qiddiya Investment Company is developing a landmark destination for entertainment, culture, and hospitality in the Kingdom. The Hospitality Business Unit is establishing a portfolio of hotel assets, and we are seeking experienced professionals to contribute to their delivery. This role will lead the creative architectural design agenda for the hospitality portfolio, defining design principles and shaping hotel concepts from initial brief through to endorsed design direction. The position involves overseeing consultants and ensuring design integrity, technical compliance, and performance are maintained throughout the delivery process.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural definition of hotel concepts from development brief to approved design direction, ensuring distinctive, emotive, and commercially viable outcomes aligned with Qiddiya, district, and Operator visions.
• Articulate and position architectural design proposals to secure alignment and timely outcomes through key governance stages.
• Define architectural design principles, typologies, and performance benchmarks for each hotel tier, establishing consistent and validated design baselines across the portfolio.
• Oversee consultant briefing and scope definition, validating architectural scope and specialist inputs to ensure alignment with development briefs, asset positioning, Operator requirements, and governance approvals.
• Oversee visualization and design communication, including CGI strategy, ensuring concepts are clearly articulated and aligned with design narratives and stakeholder expectations.
• Lead and govern architecture and specialist consultants, driving strategic approaches on appointment, scope, and deliverables, and overseeing performance, quality, and creative alignment.
• Provide functional governance to project-embedded design management teams, reviewing and endorsing architectural deliverables to ensure approved design intent is maintained through delivery.
• Lead technical input to development briefs, shaping planning efficiency, gross-to-net ratios, spatial configuration, and system integration for hospitality assets.
• Drive integrated coordination across architecture, interiors, landscape, and technical disciplines, resolving interfaces and ensuring cohesive design outcomes.
• Lead structured review of design submissions across key milestones, providing clear feedback and endorsement to support design progression.
• Provide creative and technical design oversight through design and construction, resolving interfaces and deviations to maintain design quality and intent.
• Guide value engineering and design optimization, balancing design intent, guest experience, and asset performance.
• Champion sustainability and climate-responsive design, embedding ESG and Vision 2030 priorities.
• Mentor teams and drive continuous improvement of design processes, standards, and best practices.

Required Skills and Attributes

• Strong architectural design literacy, judgment, and technical review capability across all project stages.
• Fluent understanding of hospitality planning (areas, efficiencies, etc.) and building systems (structural, MEP integration, etc.).
• Ability to manage consultants and influence design outcomes.
• Commercial awareness of cost and program impacts.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to articulate design intent to secure alignment and drive decision-making.
• Comfort operating in fast-paced environments, managing ambiguity and shifting priorities.
• Proficiency in design management and coordination tools (*, Revit, BIM, CDE platforms, Aconex, Autodesk Construction Cloud).

Preferred Background and Experience

• Experience in a senior design leadership role (Design Director, Principal, or similar) within a major architecture practice or developer environment.
• Proven track record of managing architect and multi-disciplinary consultant environments across multiple projects.
• Strong experience presenting architectural concepts to senior stakeholders and Operators.
• Experience working with international hotel Operators and brand standards.
• Experience in KSA / GCC or similar large-scale development environments is preferred.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a related discipline.

Professional membership or recognized certification is preferred (*, RIBA, AIA, RICS, or equivalent).

Experience Requirements

A minimum of 10 years of experience is required, with a strong focus on architectural design within the hospitality sector, encompassing luxury and mixed-tier projects.

Work Context

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh. Qiddiya Investment Company is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.