Job Description – CDO – Hotels Division

Role Summary

The Chief Development Officer – Hotels Division will provide strategic leadership and overall accountability for the planning, design, development, construction, execution, and delivery of all hospitality projects. The CDO will be responsible for building and executing the organization's hotel development roadmap, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality, safety, sustainability, and operational excellence.

This role requires a seasoned engineering leader with extensive experience in managing large-scale hospitality and mixed-use developments valued between ₹500–1,000 crore. The incumbent must have successfully led multi-site, multi-location hotel projects in a corporate leadership role and possess the capability to oversee the complete project lifecycle—from concept and planning to commissioning and operational handover.

The CDO will lead the entire Projects organization, with Project Heads across all locations, the Head – MEP, AVP – Design, Projects Procurement, Planning, Contracts, and Quality teams reporting into this position.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

- Develop and execute the long-term development strategy for the Hotels Division.
- Lead the planning and execution of greenfield, brownfield, mixed-use, and hotel renovation projects across India.
- Establish project governance, execution frameworks, and best practices to ensure consistent project delivery.
- Drive innovation, value engineering, and sustainable development initiatives across all projects.

Project Planning & Execution

- Provide overall leadership for the complete project lifecycle, including:
- Project feasibility and planning
- Master planning
- Design management
- Budgeting & CAPEX planning
- Procurement strategy
- Construction management
- MEP execution
- Interior fit-outs & FF&E;
- Testing & Commissioning
- Hotel Pre-opening Support
- Final Handover to Operations
- Ensure all projects are delivered within approved timelines, budgets, and quality standards.

Multi-Site Project Management

- Oversee multiple hospitality projects across India simultaneously.
- Review project schedules, budgets, risks, and progress on a regular basis.
- Drive timely decision-making to resolve project bottlenecks.




- Conduct periodic project reviews and site visits to monitor execution quality.

Design & Engineering Leadership

- Provide strategic oversight to the Design and Engineering functions.
- Ensure architectural, structural, civil, MEP, and interior designs align with business objectives and international hospitality standards.
- Drive value engineering initiatives to optimize lifecycle costs without compromising guest experience or quality.
- Ensure compliance with hotel operator standards and statutory regulations.

Construction & Delivery

- Lead execution teams to ensure projects meet defined milestones.
- Monitor contractor performance, construction quality, and adherence to project schedules.
- Ensure seamless coordination between consultants, contractors, project management consultants (PMCs), and internal teams.
- Oversee successful testing, commissioning, snag closure, and project handover.

Financial & Commercial Management

- Own the overall CAPEX budget for all hospitality projects.
- Ensure effective financial planning, cost control, and cash flow management throughout project execution.
- Approve project budgets, commercial proposals, and major procurement decisions.
- Drive cost optimization and value engineering initiatives while maintaining premium hospitality standards.

Procurement & Contract Management

- Provide strategic direction for procurement and sourcing of major construction packages, MEP systems, FF&E;, and OS&E.;
- Oversee contract negotiations, consultant appointments, and vendor selection.
- Ensure commercial governance and effective management of project contracts, claims, and change orders.

Risk, Compliance & Governance

- Establish robust project governance and risk management frameworks.
- Ensure compliance with:
- National Building Code (NBC)
- Fire & Life Safety Regulations
- Environmental & Sustainability Standards
- Local Development Authorities
- Hotel Brand Standards
- Corporate Governance Policies
- Mitigate project risks related to cost,



quality, schedule, safety, and statutory approvals.

Stakeholder Management

- Act as the primary point of contact for senior leadership on all project matters.
- Build strong relationships with:
- Hotel Operators & Brand Representatives
- Architects & Design Consultants
- PMCs
- Contractors
- Government Authorities
- Investors
- Financial Institutions
- Internal Business Leaders
- Present project progress, risks, and strategic recommendations to the Board and Executive Leadership Team.

Leadership & Organization Development

- Lead and mentor the entire Projects organization across India.
- Build a high-performance project management culture focused on accountability, quality, and timely execution.
- Drive succession planning and leadership development within the Projects function.
- Establish standardized processes, SOPs, governance frameworks, and performance metrics across all projects.

Educational Qualification

- Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or Mechanical Engineering (B.E./B. Tech) – Mandatory
- Master's Degree in Construction Management, Project Management, or MBA (Preferred)
- PMP, RICS, LEED, IGBC, or equivalent certifications will be an added advantage.

Experience

- 20–30 years of progressive experience in Luxury Hotels/ Hospitality project development and construction.
- Minimum 10+ years in a senior corporate leadership role heading large Projects functions.
- Proven track record of delivering hospitality and mixed-use projects valued between ₹500 crore and ₹1,000 crore.
- Demonstrated experience in leading multi-site, multi-location projects across India.
- Experience managing complete project lifecycles from planning to operational handover.
- Robust exposure to luxury hotels, integrated developments, airports, commercial, or mixed-use projects.

Technical Expertise

- Hospitality Project Development
- Large-Scale Construction Management
- Multi-Site Project Leadership
- Master Planning
- Civil & Structural Engineering
- MEP Coordination
- Design Management
- Project Controls & Planning
- Contract Administration
- Procurement Strategy
- CAPEX Planning & Cost Control
- Value Engineering
- Quality & Safety Management
- Risk Management
- Hotel Pre-opening & Commissioning
- Primavera P6, MS Project, SAP/Oracle ERP

📌 Chief Development Officer (Delhi)
🏢 Holland Advisors
📍 Delhi