[Hiring] Technical Director @Travelodge Hotels

Role Description

The Project Director (Asia) will lead, oversee, and execute the design, procurement, and construction delivery of all hospitality real estate initiatives across the Asia portfolio. Based in the regional headquarters in Singapore, this senior role reports directly to the Head of Hotel Asset Management.

The role is responsible for maximizing asset value and ensuring project delivery with zero delays across diverse asset types, including:

• Greenfield developments
• Strategic conversions
• Rebrandings
• Renovations within active, operating hotels

The Director will drive project governance by managing regional external teams and proactively mitigating development risks before they impact budgets or timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil/Structural Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10–12 years of progressive hospitality project management experience, with at least 5 years operating in a regional or multi-country capacity within Asia.
• Proven success in managing external Project Management firms, general contractors, and localized on-site construction managers across different Asian markets.
• Demonstrated experience delivering greenfield builds, hotel asset conversions, and complex refurbishments within live operational environments.
• Solid understanding of construction dynamics, statutory permitting variations, and cultural business nuances across key Asian markets.
• Deep knowledge of hotel zoning, Front-of-House (FOH) versus Back-of-House (BOH) layout efficiency, and heavy MEP infrastructure dependencies.
• High proficiency in international contract management (e.g., FIDIC, regional standard forms) and commercial negotiation.
• Exceptional communication, diplomacy, and presentation skills, with the ability to confidently present risk-mitigation strategies to C-suite stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel regionally across Asia as required to audit sites and resolve critical project bottlenecks.

Requirements

• Appoint, onboard, and manage external Project Management firms, in-country Construction Managers, and on-site Coordinators across Asia.
• Remotely and via site visits manage local teams to enforce tight schedule monitoring, strict workflow efficiency, and high quality standards.
• Establish standardized weekly and monthly KPI reporting frameworks for in-country teams to ensure transparency across all active regional sites.
• Continually assess project workflows to identify, analyze, and flag potential construction, supply chain, or design delays early.
• Formulate and present actionable, data-driven solutions and recovery plans directly to the Head of Asset Management to resolve bottlenecks.
• Maintain an active regional risk register covering labor shortages, material lead times, and local regulatory changes.
• Establish project briefs, clear milestone targets (such as fast-tracked 16-week design schedules), and strict budget boundaries.
• Direct external architects, interior designers, and MEP consultants through Schematic Design (SD), Design Development (DD), and Construction Documentation (CD).
• Oversee the bidding and contract awards for main contractors and FF&E/OS&E vendors to achieve optimal value engineering.
• Act as the primary technical interface between the Singapore HQ, local asset owners, and international hotel brand operators.
• Enforce phased, low-impact construction strategies for active hotels to minimize guest disruption and protect operating revenues.
• Streamline rebranding workflows to ensure assets transition between hotel brands smoothly and on schedule.

Company Description