Development Director

Ascentis is an international engineering and project management consultancy, focused on hospitality and commercial developments across South Asia, Middle East and Africa. Founded in 2007, our team works alongside world-class developers and hotel operators to deliver exceptional outcomes on complex, high-value projects. Our success is built on clear thinking, decisive leadership, and a collaborative, people-first approach. We are now seeking a highly capable and collaborative Development Director to lead a portfolio of complex hospitality developments for our most valued client. This is a leadership role that goes beyond project oversight. It demands vision, strategic thinking, and the ability to orchestrate large, multi-disciplinary teams while guiding project development from the earliest phases of feasibility to final delivery and opening.

You will play a central role in shaping each project's development brief, advising on brand alignment, setting budgets and programmes, while providing hands-on leadership to ensure the hotels are delivered safely on time, on budget and to world-class quality standards. This role will be based in Gurgaon, India, with regular site visits across India.

Title:
Development Director

Location:
Gurgaon, India, with regular site visits across India

Team:
Project managers, design managers, construction managers, planners, QC engineers, HSE engineers, etc. Team of ~40 at the moment

Required Experience & Skills:

• 20+ years of international experience in project management, including proven track record of delivering complex hospitality assets on schedule and within budget.
• Strong background in hotel development lifecycle: from design through procurement and construction.
• Demonstrated experience with operator-led design and technical standards (e.g., Marriott, IHG, Hyatt).
• Deep understanding of procurement, cost control, construction logistics, and design coordination.
• Confident communicator with executive presence and high emotional intelligence.
• Prior experience leading multi-asset hospitality portfolios preferred.
• Experience managing projects in developing countries is preferred.

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree in architecture, engineering, or construction management.
• Master's degree in real estate development, construction management, or business administration is highly preferred.
• Additional certifications (PMP, RICS, LEED, or equivalent) will be valued, especially where relevant to cost, sustainability, or schedule control.

Role & Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as the primary Ascentis lead for all client hospitality projects (currently ~12 greenfield, brownfield, and renovation projects under active management).
• Partner directly with client leadership (CEO, CFO) to define development goals, brand alignment, and performance benchmarks.
• Lead internal cross-functional teams and external partners, including designers, contractors, and vendors.
• Translate client vision into actionable project and design briefs, ensuring clear articulation of brand standards and guest experience strategy.

Development & Design Advisory

• Lead preparation of Project Execution Plans (PEP), including scheduling, budgeting, phasing strategy, and procurement planning.
• Advise client on hotel operator brand standards and ensure alignment with brand technical guidelines.
• Drive value engineering and design optimization efforts in collaboration with inhouse and third-party experts.
• Provide hands-on leadership during feasibility, concept design, and consultant selection stages.

Timeline and Budget Control

• Ensure tight control of project timelines through rigorous programme management, proactive risk analysis, and timely decision-making.
• Own the project budgeting process end-to-end — from initial feasibility assessments to final reconciliation — with clear cost control mechanisms at every phase.
• Drive accountability on cost and schedule across consultants, contractors, and internal teams.
• Champion disciplined execution to deliver projects on time and within agreed budgets, without compromising design integrity or operational performance.

Delivery Oversight

• Lead project delivery from concept design through procurement and construction.
• Ensure compliance with international quality standards, regulatory requirements, safety standards, and sustainability objectives.
• Lead project review meetings, site inspections, and high-level reporting.
• Steer the change management process, cost reviews, and risk mitigation strategies.

Team Leadership

• Mentor and lead a multi-disciplinary team of project managers, design managers, planners, commercial managers, and construction professionals.
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, and excellence across all levels of the project team.
• Ensure continuous alignment between client expectations and internal delivery standards.