Director Operational Advisory Hospitality AG📣 Job Ad

About Qiddiya Investment Company

Qiddiya Investment Company is developing a landmark destination in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, focused on entertainment, culture, and hospitality. The Hospitality Business Unit is responsible for a portfolio of hotel assets central to this vision. The company is seeking experienced professionals to ensure operational excellence is integrated into the planning and design processes for these assets.

The Role of Director Operational Advisory Hospitality

The Director Operational Advisory Hospitality will provide strategic leadership for the operational planning and design development of all hotel operating areas related to the guest accommodation experience. This full-time role, based in Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involves working from the earliest project stages to establish the operational vision, governance, and decision-making framework. The objective is to translate operational requirements into efficient, guest-centric design solutions that optimize both the guest journey and hotel operations. The role requires over 10 years of experience in a relevant field.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the operational planning and design development of hotel operating areas related to guest accommodation, from strategy brief through design development.
• Establish and approve operational concepts, planning principles, and design criteria for all Rooms Division functions, including arrival experience, driveway, porte cochère, parking, lobby planning, Front Office, Concierge, Bell Services, Guest Relations, Club Lounge, Housekeeping, Laundry, and associated BOH support areas.
• Provide executive-level review and challenge of design proposals to ensure support for operational efficiency, service delivery, guest experience, and long-term asset performance.
• Direct and approve operational workflows, adjacencies, and functional relationships between guest-facing and back-of-house areas.
• Oversee and approve Facility Schedules and space allocations to ensure operational functionality and efficient utilization of space.
• Build senior-level alignment across Design Management, Design Excellence, F&B, Wellness, MEP, and Development teams to ensure integrated operational planning across all hospitality assets.
• Lead strategic engagement with hotel Operators to interpret and challenge brand standards and operational requirements, ensuring appropriate reflection in design while supporting Qiddiya's asset vision.
• Chair or lead operational design reviews throughout all project stages, resolving key operational risks, advancing opportunities, and ensuring improvements are incorporated before design decisions are finalized.
• Provide final operational endorsement of mock-up rooms, operational layouts, and back-of-house planning to validate functionality and guest experience.
• Own and govern the development of operational planning standards, design guidelines, and best practices across the Hospitality BU.
• Set portfolio-wide benchmarks against international hospitality best practices and emerging operational trends.
• Drive continuous improvement of Hospitality BU operational planning processes, standards, and governance.

Collaboration and Innovation

This role involves partnering with senior stakeholders across Development, Design, Operators, and consultants to direct the planning of guest-facing and back-of-house operational areas. The Director will ensure alignment with asset strategy, operator requirements, operational best practices, and Hospitality BU standards. A key aspect is balancing Qiddiya's design vision with hotel requirements, challenging traditional brand approaches, and championing innovative, forward-looking solutions across the portfolio.

Experience Required

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience is required for this position.