Development Director – Hospitality & Branded Residences

Position : Development Director – Hospitality & Branded Residences, MDev Level : Senior / Director Reporting to : Head of Development Travel : Frequent (Georgia-based; regular travel required for non-resident candidates) Mobility : Georgia market; CIS region exposure advantageous Role Summary / Purpose Lead and own the development and delivery of a given Hospitality and Branded Residences development project in Georgia, serving as its single point of contact and coordinating successful execution across every phase — from feasibility validation through design, procurement, construction, marketing, sales, customer care and handover. The role ensures the project is delivered within budget and on schedule, contributes to commercial profitability, and remains aligned to the organisation’s overall development strategy for its Georgia portfolio. Key Responsibilities & Deliverables Generic Accountabilities Strategy Implementation & Contribution: Translate the development strategy into a delivered project, ensuring alignment to the divisional strategy and the organisation’s vision, mission and corporate objectives. Cascade strategy across the project so day-to-day execution stays true to agreed goals. People Management: Establish the roles and responsibilities of all project team members drawn from the resource pool. Lead, guide and develop the team — providing direction, training and growth opportunities — to maximise performance and prepare members for higher-level roles. Budgeting & Financial Performance: Prepare the project business plan and budgets, then monitor performance against them so that anticipated costs and revenues, areas of underperformance, and opportunities for cost reduction or improvement are visible and acted upon. Policies, Systems, Processes & Procedures: Oversee and guide the implementation of relevant policies, systems, processes, procedures and controls across the project, ensuring governance and the authority matrix are observed throughout. Reporting: Compile periodic reports on the status of the development and submit them, accurately and on time, to the relevant parties — including the Head of Development, Risk Management and the project / JV board as delegated. Job-Specific Accountabilities Pre-Development & Feasibility: Participate in the review of feasibility studies prepared by Business Development, sharing delivery experience to ensure every aspect of project execution has been correctly factored in. Update and monitor project feasibility periodically and ensure corrective measures are taken as required. Lead and participate in the preparation of all RFPs for all vendors, consultants and contractors. Development Strategy & Business Alignment: Coordinate all development activities — feasibility updates, project-management coordination, design development, procurement, marketing, sales, customer care and handover — ensuring they adhere to project goals, contribute to profitability and remain aligned to the overall development strategy. Own the successful completion of the project within budget and agreed timeframes. Project Execution & Delivery: Prepare the development project business plan and budgets in cooperation with the function leads, based on the feasibility report, and submit for review and approval. Conceptualise the overall development strategy for the project, seek specialist development advice, and present for review and approval through to EXCOM and board level. Develop the detailed project plan with input from development SMEs and secure the necessary approvals. Work closely with function leads to ensure the project is executed within agreed time and cost estimates. Liaise with the appointed Project Management and Cost Management consultant for projects in the portfolio, drawing on technical and commercial support as needed. Oversee the procurement process in cooperation with operations requirements and established procurement strategy. Review variation orders against the limits set out in the authority/RASCI matrix, seeking technical assistance from development SMEs where directed. Establish milestone dates, key decision points and project approach in consultation with function leads, and secure approval. Oversee development of the project against the agreed schedule, task lists and responsibilities. Marketing & Sales: Coordinate the project’s marketing activities with the Marketing & Sales Director, ensuring all initiatives are delivered with full support. Support the project Branded Residences sales launch and proactively drive the sale of all units in coordination with the sales function. Work with leadership and Marketing & Sales to identify high-net-worth individuals for bulk sales. Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate accounting, IT support at the project site, and HR staffing requirements with the relevant function leads. Work with Customer Care to ensure the right level of satisfaction for property owners. Work with Legal to ensure all legal risks are identified and covered. Escalate any support issues to leadership and seek timely corrective action. Participate in all key project meetings and escalate issues as they arise. Continuous Improvement: Research and apply up-to-date practices in real estate development and delivery, keeping execution aligned with industry best practice and continuously improving project reporting and outcomes. Remain versed in evolving technologies such as AI applications across functional lines, specific to the development processes, demonstrably and ably. Performance Metrics / Success Criteria Timely completion of projects against the original time plan Project cost maintained within the approved budget Quality of delivered work Consultant / contractor compliance with safety & environmental regulations Project time overrun as % of original time plan Project cost overrun as % of original project budget Value of contractor-initiated claims Project launch delivered as per plan & % of units sold Qualifications & Skills: Education Background in engineering or architecture with a focus on property development is highly preferred, depending on the experience profile A business administration and/or finance understanding is essential; formal training in this area is a distinct advantage Qualifications consistent with a senior development leadership role Skills & Technical Hospitality and branded residences real estate development planning Business plans & financial analysis, including familiarity with the USALI ecosystem Feasibility analysis and investigation Commercial acumen and strong problem analysis & resolution capabilities Ability to lead varied, cross-functional teams and manage multiple workstreams simultaneously Knowledge of the Georgian real estate market; familiarity with the broader CIS region is a strong advantage Strong communication skills; proficiency in English required, Georgian and/or Russian is an advantage Experience 15–20 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the role Typical profiles include: a Senior Development Manager who has progressed to development leadership after delivering comparable projects (residential, hospitality, mixed-use); or a generalist director with significant real estate experience managing large-scale developments Demonstrable success and performance achievements in comparable hospitality and branded residences developments of comparable values and complexity is critical Demonstrable experience working in the Georgian real estate market is essential; CIS region exposure is a strong advantage Working Conditions & Expectations Based in Georgia; candidates not currently resident must commit to frequent, sustained travel to Georgia Site visits, field work, and project-level engagement across all phases of development Periodic work under tight schedules, particularly around project milestones and launch phases Cross-functional collaboration with Design & Development, Finance, Legal, Marketing & Sales, and Customer Care teams