Qiddiya is Saudi Arabia’s future capital of entertainment, sports, and culture, spanning 360km² on the outskirts of Riyadh. As Qiddiya transitions from development into operations, we are building a world-class hospitality portfolio and seeking exceptional leaders to help ensure our assets are maintained, optimized, and operated to the highest international standards.

The Director - Arts and Culture will lead the owner-side technical oversight of hotel developments from design through pre-opening and operational readiness. The role is responsible for ensuring hotel assets are delivered in accordance with brand standards, owner requirements, technical specifications, and operational objectives.

Working closely with hotel operators, project delivery teams, consultants, and internal stakeholders, the Director will oversee design reviews, technical coordination, mock-up approvals, site inspections, testing and commissioning reviews, defect management, and hotel readiness activities to ensure assets are successfully transitioned into operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead owner-side Design & Technical Services activities across a portfolio of luxury and upscale hotel developments.
• Act as the primary technical liaison between hotel operators, project teams, consultants, and contractors throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review hotel design packages, technical submissions, shop drawings, mock-ups, and material selections to ensure compliance with brand standards and operational requirements.
• Participate in design workshops, value engineering reviews, technical approvals, and project milestone reviews.
• Conduct regular site inspections to monitor construction quality, technical compliance, progress, and readiness against approved designs.
• Oversee testing and commissioning reviews, systems validation, technical inspections, and handover processes.
• Support hotel operational readiness by ensuring engineering systems, back-of-house facilities, guest areas, and operational infrastructure are delivered and ready for opening.
• Lead snagging, defect management, warranty tracking, and close-out activities prior to hotel opening.
• Ensure completion of handover documentation including as-built drawings, O&M manuals, asset registers, warranties, and technical records.
• Identify technical, design, and operational risks and work with stakeholders to implement mitigation plans.
• Provide technical recommendations and project updates to senior leadership and key stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a related discipline.

• Engineering background strongly preferred.
• 15+ years of experience in hotel development, design and technical services, project delivery, or hospitality construction.
• Proven experience delivering hotels through design, construction, testing and commissioning, pre-opening, and handover phases.
• Experience working with international hotel brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, Accor, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Aman, or similar.
• Strong understanding of hotel design standards, building systems, operator requirements, and hotel development processes.
• Experience working on large-scale hotel developments and complex mixed-use destinations.