Hospitality & Retail Services Specialist📣 Job Ad

About the Opportunity

Eram Talent is seeking a Hospitality & Retail Services Specialist to join our team in Jeddah and Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role is designed for professionals with 0-1 years of experience, focusing on leading and coordinating retail and hospitality services across the KAUST Campus and Thuwal Corniche areas.

Role Overview

The specialist will be responsible for developing comprehensive retail strategies, identifying and negotiating with prospective tenants, and managing lease agreements. This position also involves overseeing retailer onboarding and compliance, alongside coordinating retail development projects from initial feasibility and design through to construction, commissioning, and lease-up. Additionally, the role supports hospitality and catering services, ensuring high standards in customer experience, food safety, hygiene, HSE, operational compliance, and service quality.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement retail leasing and commercial strategies aligned with community requirements, market trends, and financial objectives.
• Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and secure suitable retail tenants, including obtaining lease commitments and Letters of Intent (LOIs).
• Prepare, negotiate, administer, and monitor commercial lease agreements and service contracts.
• Conduct market benchmarking, financial analysis, budgeting, and lease economics to support revenue and commercial objectives.
• Manage the complete retailer lifecycle, including onboarding, operational readiness, inspections, compliance monitoring, performance reviews, and exit/clearance.
• Develop and maintain retail inspection, compliance, HSE, hygiene, and service quality programs.
• Manage retail development projects from concept, feasibility, programming, design, permitting, and construction through commissioning and lease-up.
• Coordinate with internal departments, retailers, catering providers, contractors, and other stakeholders to ensure smooth retail and hospitality operations.
• Oversee operational, budgetary, and financial activities related to food and non-food retail outlets and associated facilities.
• Coordinate catering services for business functions, community events, and private occasions.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, HSE, quality, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Develop and improve retail operational policies, procedures, systems, dashboards, and reporting processes.
• Monitor customer feedback and complaints and implement initiatives to improve customer and community experience.
• Maintain strong relationships with retail tenants, service providers, catering operators, and internal stakeholders.
• Provide strategic recommendations to management regarding retail planning, business opportunities, risk management, revenue generation, and service improvement.
• Ensure relevant Hospitality and Retail websites, systems, dashboards, and information are accurate and up to date.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Property Management, Marketing, Hospitality Management, or a related discipline. Equivalent relevant professional experience may be considered.
• Proven experience in commercial lease negotiation and administration.
• Experience managing tenant relationships and retailer onboarding.
• Experience in retail development projects, preferably covering feasibility, design, construction, permitting, and commissioning.
• Experience with financial analysis, budgeting, lease economics, and commercial strategy.
• Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and projects within deadlines and budgets.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of retail leasing, commercial contracts, tenant management, and retail operations.
• Good understanding of financial modelling, budgeting, revenue management, and lease economics.
• Knowledge of hospitality operations, food safety, hygiene, HSE, and service quality standards.
• Strong project management and stakeholder coordination skills.

Work Environment

This full-time position is based in Jeddah and Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and involves working across the KAUST Campus and Thuwal Corniche areas. The role requires collaboration with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure seamless retail and hospitality operations.