Project Director

Role Overview

Project Director at Boutique Group, Saudi Arabia. Lead the end-to-end delivery of the company's portfolio of luxury hospitality developments, ensuring projects are successfully planned, designed, procured, constructed, commissioned and handed over in accordance with approved business objectives, operator requirements, heritage conservation principles, budget, programme, quality, sustainability and guest experience expectations.

Company Overview

Boutique Group is redefining luxury hospitality by transforming Saudi Arabia's most iconic historic and cultural palaces into ultra-luxury boutique hotels. With a commitment to storytelling, authenticity, and excellence, the company curates exceptional hospitality experiences that celebrate the Kingdom's rich history while setting new benchmarks in the industry. The growing portfolio includes The Red Palace, Al Hamra Palace, and Tuwaiq Palace, each being meticulously restored to preserve its historical significance while being reimagined for contemporary ultra-luxury hospitality. Boutique Group is a young company for a youthful nation, with energy honed and harnessed by the mentorship of hospitality's leading names.

Role Purpose

Lead the end-to-end delivery of Boutique Group's portfolio of luxury hospitality developments, ensuring project is successfully planned, designed, procured, constructed, commissioned and handed over in accordance with approved business objectives, operator requirements, heritage conservation principles, budget, programme, quality, sustainability and guest experience expectations.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery Strategy

• Develop and execute the Project Delivery strategy aligned with Boutique Group's corporate objectives.
• Provide executive leadership over the complete project lifecycle from feasibility through defects liability.
• Drive continuous improvement across project delivery processes.

Design Leadership

• Manage PMCs and specialist consultants.
• Ensure compliance with operator brand standards, heritage requirements and statutory approvals.

Commercial & Procurement

• Lead consultant and contractor procurement and recommendations.
• Oversee contract administration, claims, variations, dispute avoidance and commercial negotiations.
• Monitor budgets, forecasts, contingencies and cash flow.

Construction Delivery

• Direct construction execution, logistics, safety and quality.
• Approve recovery plans for delayed projects.
• Ensure successful Testing & Commissioning, Operational Readiness, Handover and Defects Liability management.

Luxury Hospitality & Heritage

• Ensure seamless integration of hotel operators throughout development.
• Coordinate FF&E, OS&E and operational requirements.
• Protect heritage assets while integrating modern luxury hospitality standards.

Team Leadership

• Manage multidisciplinary project teams across design, procurement, commercial, construction and handover.
• Ensure projects achieve approved business cases, quality standards and operational readiness.

Governance

• Chair executive project reviews, change control boards and risk reviews.
• Provide portfolio dashboards covering cost, programme, risk, procurement, quality and commercial performance.

Stakeholder Management

• Manage coordination with government authorities such as Civil Defence, municipalities, Baladi, Royal Guard and others.
• Represent Boutique Group with consultants and contractors.
• Build strategic partnerships and resolve executive issues.

Decision Authority

• Approve project execution plans within delegated authority.
• Recommend procurement awards and commercial settlements.
• Escalate strategic risks requiring executive approval.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or any related discipline.
• Master's degree in construction management or any related discipline.

Experience

• 12 to 15 years of experience including at least 4 years leading major projects.
• Experience in delivering luxury hospitality, heritage or iconic projects, preferably valued above SAR 1 billion.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Commercial Acumen
• Financial Management
• Design Management
• Contract Management
• Procurement Strategy
• Project Controls
• Risk Management
• Quality Leadership
• Operational Readiness
• Negotiation
• Decision Making
• Stakeholder Management
• People Development
• Innovation
• Problem Solving

Additional Information

Key Performance Indicators

• Health, safety and environmental performance.
• Project milestone and programme adherence.
• Delivery against the approved budget.
• Cost and completion forecast accuracy.
• Quality performance, defect rates and timely close-out.
• Operator requirements fulfilment and satisfaction.
• Operational and guest readiness by the planned opening date.
• Effective change-order and claims management.
• Realized value-engineering savings without compromising quality or operational requirements.
• Internal and external stakeholder satisfaction.