At Qiddiya Investment Company, we are shaping a landmark destination redefining entertainment, culture and hospitality in the Kingdom. The Hospitality Business Unit is developing a portfolio of hotel assets central to this vision. As these assets progress, we are seeking experienced professionals to help deliver them to the highest standards of design quality, guest experience and commercial performance.
In this role, you will lead the urban realm and landscape design agenda across the hospitality portfolio, defining landscape narratives, arrival experiences and external spaces across all asset tiers, shaping distinctive and experiential outdoor environments aligned with Qiddiya’s vision and ensuring seamless connectivity and integration across ground planes and adjacent zones.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the creative urban realm and landscape definition of hospitality environments from development brief to approved design direction, curating distinctive, emotive and commercially viable arrival experiences and external spaces aligned with Qiddiya, district and Operator visions
Articulate and position urban realm and landscape proposals through compelling narratives, visuals and presentations to secure alignment and timely outcomes across governance stages
Define urban realm and landscape principles, narratives, planting strategies, material palettes and signature elements for each hotel tier, establishing consistent and distinctive design baselines across the portfolio
Oversee consultant briefing and scope definition, validating design scope and specialist inputs to ensure alignment with development brief, 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 landscape 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 urban realm and landscape 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 cohesive external environments across arrival, transition zones and amenities
Drive integration across architecture, interiors and masterplanning, ensuring seamless connectivity between ground planes and zones
Oversee landscape FF&E and OS&E strategies, ensuring alignment with design intent and commercial requirements
Lead mock-ups and prototyping (e.g. planting, materials, paving), ensuring quality through to landscape 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 external environment performance, 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
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture, Urban Design or related discipline
Professional Certifications
Professional membership or recognised certification preferred (e.g. CMLI, ASLA or equivalent)
Years of Experience
15+ years’ experience in design management, architecture or interior design
Skills & Attributes Required
Strong landscape and urban realm design literacy, with ability to operate from masterplan scale to detailed external environments
Deep understanding of hospitality outdoor design, including arrival sequences, spatial flow, planting strategies, materials and external guest experience
Strong creative and spatial thinking, with ability to translate landscape narratives into compelling concepts and coordinated design outputs
Ability to manage landscape consultants and influence design outcomes across multiple disciplines
Strong stakeholder management, articulating landscape intent to secure alignment and drive decision-making
Commercial awareness of landscape construction, FF&E budgets, programme constraints and value engineering impacts
Good understanding of climate-responsive design, planting, irrigation and environmental systems relevant to KSA/GCC contexts
Proficiency in design and coordination tools (e.g. AutoCAD, Rhino, Adobe CC, BIM/CDE platforms)
Preferred Background & Experience
Experience in a senior landscape or urban realm leadership role (Design Director, Principal or equivalent) within a design practice or developer environment
Proven track record d

Director - Urban Realm and Landscape - Hospitality - 20013113 CM5

Job description