Director - Interior Design - Hospitality - 20013112 HS8

Overview

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the interior design definition of hotel concepts from development brief to approved design direction, curating distinctive, emotive and commercially viable environments aligned with Qiddiya, district and Operator visions
• Articulate and position design proposals through compelling narratives, visuals and presentations to secure alignment and timely outcomes across governance and investment stages
• Define interior design principles, narratives, material strategies and signature elements for each hotel tier, establishing consistent and distinctive design baselines across the portfolio
• Oversee consultant briefing and scope definition, validating interior design scope, specialist inputs and FF&E requirements to ensure alignment with design intent, Operator standards and governance approvals
• Oversee visualisation and design communication (including CGI strategy), ensuring concepts are clearly articulated and aligned with design narratives and stakeholder expectations
• Lead and govern interior design 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 interior design deliverables to ensure approved design intent is maintained through delivery
• Lead structured review of design submissions across key milestones, providing clear feedback and endorsement to support design progression
• Lead technical input to development briefs and coordinate across disciplines, embedding experiential intent across layouts, guest journeys, FF&E and key touchpoints
• Oversee FF&E strategies and specifications, ensuring commercial alignment, procurement integration and consistency with design intent and Operator requirements
• Lead mock-up and design validation processes, defining mock-up briefs, guiding inspections and ensuring quality through to design freeze
• Provide creative and technical design oversight through design and construction, resolving interfaces and deviations to maintain quality and design integrity
• Guide value engineering and design optimisation, balancing design intent with guest experience, cost, programme and operational requirements
• Champion innovation in guest experience, materials and sensory design, embedding ESG and Vision 2030 priorities
• Mentor teams and drive continuous improvement of design processes, standards and best practices across the portfolio

Skills & Attributes Required

• Strong interior design literacy, creative judgement and design review capability across all project stages
• Deep understanding of creative and technical hospitality design, including guest experience, spatial planning, materials, lighting and FF&E specification
• Exceptional storytelling and visual communication, translating design narratives into compelling presentations and concept outputs
• Ability to manage design consultants and influence creative outcomes
• Commercial awareness of cost and programme impacts as well as FF&E budgets, procurement timelines and value engineering trade-offs
• Strong stakeholder management and creative leadership, articulating design intent to secure alignment and drive decision-making
• Proficiency in design and coordination tools (e.g. Adobe Creative Cloud, SketchUp, Revit, BIM, CDE platforms, Aconex, Autodesk Construction Cloud etc.)

Preferred Background & Experience

• Experience in a senior creative leadership role (Design Director, Studio Director or equivalent) within a leading design practice or developer environment
• Proven track record delivering hospitality assets, including luxury and ultra luxury tiers
• Experience managing interior design consultants across multiple projects
• Experience managing FF&E strategies, specification development and mock-up programmes
• Strong experience presenting design concepts and narratives to senior stakeholders
• Experience working with international hotel Operators and brand standards
• Experience in KSA / GCC or similar large-scale development environments preferred

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Interior Architecture or related discipline

Professional Certifications (If Required)

• Professional membership or recognised certification preferred (e.g. RIBA, NCIDQ, BIID or equivalent)

Years Of Experience

• 15+ years' experience in interior design, with strong hospitality focus and senior creative leadership experience