IHG Hiring for Head of Hotel Lifecycle – Based in Dubai Job at Dubai Full Time

About us
IHG Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s leading hotel companies, promising to provide true hospitality for everyone; making you feel welcome and cared for, recognised and respected, wherever you are in the world. We’re currently recruiting for a talented Head of Hotel Lifecycle to join our dynamic, growing and high-profile team. This position will be based in our IHG Corp Office Dubai. Join us and not only can you benefit from the world of variety and opportunity, you can also look forward to being part of a company that will appreciate you for simply being you. At IHG we celebrate our differences, and we believe everyone has something unique to bring to each team.
Your day to day
Within this role, you will be leading the Hotel Lifecycle and Growth function in IMEA consisting of New Hotels Opening, Design and Engineering teams and be tasked with ensuring best in class hotel openings and design, relevant to local market and brand standards. 1. Oversee the Hotel Openings and Design and Engineering teams ensuring the right systems and processes are developed and implemented by the team to ensure the success for the opening, conversions, and renovations of hotels across IMEA. 2. Develop and oversee the processes to manage owner account relationships across the opening phase of the hotel lifecycle ensuring proactive relationship management practices are developed and implemented and issues that impact an owner are addressed. 3. Collaborate with various internal teams to create an owner centric culture and mindset and ensure compelling owner interactions are created at every key milestone. 4. Work closely with VPD and provide support to the Development function to secure additional hotel pipeline of both new builds and conversations. 5. Provide cross functional support to the brand function to evolve, develop and refine design, build and operate standards. 6. Act as main point of contact for strategic and growth owners and escalation point for the owner relations team during the openings process and beyond where relevant 7. Oversee the Design & Engineering and Capital Planning teams to ensure there is adequate technical services offering with brand expertise. 8. Work with the team to ensure that Design & Engineering is cost efficient and that design briefs, brand standards and technical service fees are positioned with the owner offering to ensure high value and support. 9. Maintain and improve new hotel openings and design and engineering processes in region in the support of projects through all stages of design and construction from feasibility assessment through design, construction and delivery to our operating teams and owner groups. 10. Coach and develop team members across hotel openings and design and engineering to ensure all the team members are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to drive successful opening as well as owner advocacy. 11. Deliver successful hotel openings from day one by ensuring all stakeholders from sales, marketing, revenue, brands, operations, F&B are all aligned on the goals. 12. Manage owner expectations and ensure a clear line of communication with owners and owner representatives. 13. Work with investor or owner mindset to produce commercially viable property improvement plans (PIP) for conversions and renovations, yet protect IHG’s brand standards and interests.
What we require from you
Educational Attainment: • Bachelors or Master’s degree in Hospitality, Real Estate Development, Architectural Engineering or related disciplines or equivalent combination of education and experience. Critical Expertise & Experience: • 15 years of progressive work-related experience in real estate development, hospitality, design, construction, or related profession with demonstrated proficiency in multiple disciplines preferably in the hotel industry. • Excellent business acumen and track record, excellent organizational, negotiation, influencing and communication skills • Strong leadership ability with strategic view and able to deliver and execute through geographically diverse teams with deep technical knowledge • Experience and adaptability across Multinational and multi-cultural environments • Excellence owner management skills and influencing with impact skills.
What we offer
At IHG we give our colleagues greater flexibility and balance – working in a more hybrid way, blending remote and office working. We like to believe we offer a unique culture, where there’s inclusivity yet room to be yourself. When hard work pays off, it’s positive to know you’re appreciated. Alongside our great working environment, we’ll offer you a strong package firstly including an industry competitive salary, an annual bonus, healthcare, and incredible worldwide hotel discounts. As an equal opportunity employer, IHG is committed to providing a working culture that values diversity and inclusion and is committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a barrier-free recruitment process.
Job Reference: EMEAA36738