Director Capital Planning and Projects IMEA (Saudi National required)

The main role of the Director, Capital Planning & Projects, Middle East is to plan, execute, and finalize Property Improvement Plans (PIPs) to the agreed scope, program, and budget in IHG’s Managed and Franchised Hotels in KSA. This includes engaging resources (both internal as well as external) and coordinating the efforts of all relevant team members and third-party contractors/consultants in order to deliver PIPs according to plan. The Director will define the project’s objectives and support leadership to implement Asset stewardship initiatives that
support profitability for owners, brand consistency for guests, and growth for IHG’s brands.

Key Accountabilities

Estate Mapping:

• Assist implementation of estate mapping methodologies to help prioritize and target estate transformation efforts. Work with head of operations to align prioritization. 

• Support the development of HLG forms and templates on the GOLS system, primarily in relation to Property Improvement activities.

Capital Planning:

Manage the 5-year Capital planning process of IHG’s Managed Estate. Working closely with heads of Operations and Owners (including Franchise hotels). 

• Support General Managers of hotels in the preparation of Asset Stewardship documents and presentations to owners for “owner-funded capital” projects. 

• Support Senior Director, Design and Capital Planning, IMEA in tracking & reporting Capex projects, process improvement, and identification & implementation of best practices across the region

Property Improvement Plans: 

• Manage the development of the Property Improvement Plan (PIP) ensuring all IHG Brand, quality, property & brand safety standards/requirements are accommodated. Define project scope, goals, and deliverables that support business goals, in collaboration with all stakeholders 

• Conduct Design feasibility reviews for operating hotels and potential conversions to IHG Brand

Project Costing: 

• Support the development of detailed cost plans for all agreed PIP scope – budget and cost plans usually being developed by an independent external cost management consultant working on behalf of the owner (managed hotel).

Technical Services Support 

• Manages the process of reviewing Hotel projects in terms of IHG design standards, including concept design, schematic/ Detailed Design & Tender documentation, periodic site inspections, and Pre-opening inspections. 

• Review the scope and fees of Technical Services Agreements and make recommendations to the leadership.

Collections of Technical Services Fees

Project Implementation: 

• Support the development of full-scale detailed PIP implementation programs. • Track project milestones and deliverables. • Deliver progress reports to relevant stakeholders

Post-implementation: 

• Conducting post-project reviews and creating a recommendations report to identify both successes and learnings to drive improved practice and performance.

Fast Track Conversions of Non-IHG Hotels to IHG Brand: • Manage items C, D, E, F, and G in an accelerated mode to support system size growth when opportunities for fast-track and same-year (ITYFTY) conversions occur

Business Excellence: 

• Assist in the development of best practices and tools for project execution and management. 

• Promote the implementation and ongoing program deployment of Green Engage and other ROI accretive Corporate Responsibility initiatives in all operating hotels. • Engage with the CMX system for brand health by monitoring, evaluating and providing approvals for regional brand waiver requests assigned to Design & Engineering. 

• Collect and house market intelligence on costs to build for refurbishment projects • Support development of tools to add efficiencies in the Property Assessment Reporting process, e.g. site inspections, mock-up room reviews, etc.

What we need from you:

Educational Attainment: 

• Bachelor or Master’s degree in fields of Architecture, or Project/Cost Management Critical Expertise & Experience 

• Minimum 10 years direct work experience in senior project/design management, preferably with a portion in a capital planning capacity 

• Strong Team Player 

• Previously worked within an international/global organization, preferably in a service-branded environment in the hospitality sector 

• Strong understanding of the various KSA & rest of the MEA business environments and countries of operation, preferably in the hospitality sector 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills to influence Owners, consultants and contractors, internal stakeholders, hotel management teams, and senior management to achieve BU’s Estate Transformation goals 

• Experience working both independently and, in a team,-oriented, collaborative environment • Demonstrated experience in personnel management 

• Sound understanding of hotel operational requirements in the context of building services and infrastructure is an added advantage