Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is a global, luxury hotel management company. We manage over 120 hotels and resorts and 50 private residences in 47 countries around the world and growing.
Central to Four Seasons employee experience and social impact programming is the company’s commitment to supporting cancer research, and the advancement of diversity, inclusion, equality and belonging at Four Seasons corporate offices and properties worldwide. At Four Seasons, we are powered by people and our culture enables everything we do.
The Director, Architecture is responsible for leading design, architecture, and construction for new build, adaptive re-use, conversion, and major CAPEX projects within the region. Decision-making, problem-solving, and project design development/management necessary to keep each project on schedule, in budget and to resolve differences between stakeholders are the main functions of this position.
Job Description:
1) Project Coordination:
· Key FS contact for Owner and Consultant team. Responsible for coordinating multidisciplinary Design Services team as well as internal stakeholders tasked with providing FS input for new build and renovation projects within the APAC region, or as assigned otherwise.
· Review of development opportunities for potential new projects, including conversions and adaptive reuse with creation of Project Improvement Plans (PIPs), design improvement recommendations, etc.
· Coordinate design review from concept through construction document phases to ensure compliance with Four Seasons Design Standards.
· Prepare project area programs (Area Summary) and recommend Consultant lists.
· Participate in site review to assess construction progress.
· Review shop drawings and material samples and all project relevant key documentation.
· Manage project updates and contribute to internal reports.
· Support and coordinate with the Portfolio Management team on all CAPEX and new-build related matters.
· Develop and strengthen strong client relationships to manage all company assets and capabilities from signing of deals to onset of specific property operational staff.
· Maintain all project communication and records; motivating team to drive key milestone achievements.
· Manage upwards to keep the VP, Design Services closely inform of all developments within the region.
2) Department Strategic Development
· Participate and contribute to development and maintenance of various brand standard documents while providing sound advice to project teams and Owners.
· Implement and maintain Four Seasons’ cutting-edge design and construction strategy in line with the company’s vision and values using all relevant resources and respecting sustainable design criteria to achieve the company’s short-, mid- and long-term objectives.
· Other job-related duties as required.
3) Initiatives and Special Projects
· Work directly with VP, Design Services on special projects as required.
· Lead internal Design Services initiatives (i.e., ESG, DIB, etc.) as required.
Education:
· Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture.
· Master’s Degree in Architecture preferred.
· Licensed/Registered Professional status (i.e., Licensed Architect, P. Eng., etc.).
· LEED accreditation preferred.
Work Experience:
· Minimum 10 years of experience managing the project development, design, and construction of luxury hotels and resorts, residential, mixed-use hospitality, and entertainment projects in domestic and international markets.
· Minimum 3 years of Hotel operator experience.
· Experience with managing multidisciplinary teams, and mentoring colleagues.
Travel:
· Travel as required based on project status, expected 40% of the time.
Key Behaviourial Competencies:
· High degree of interpersonal skills to deal effectively with all business contacts.
· Culturally sensitive and adaptable to other countries’ cultures.
· Productive self-starter, with excellent critical thinking ability and capable of working with limited supervision.
· Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage several projects/deadlines.
· Great team player, but able to work independently with some degree of ambiguity.
· Possess problem-solving and technical skills including a strong grasp of design and construction principles.
· Excellent communication skills to convey concepts in a clear and understandable fashion. Ability to effectively communicate concepts in English language and local languages (i.e., Mandarin, Cantonese, etc.,) to stakeholders in Asia Pacific, in both oral and written forms.
· Discipline adherence to schedules and consistent performance on deliverables.
· Good documentation and customer service skills.
· Maintain a professional, neat, and well-groomed appearance.
Technical Skills and Knowledge:
· Strong knowledge of construction and design processes within the luxury segment of hospitality.
· Solid understanding of hotel planning principles. Fluent with architectural, engineering, and design industry terminology and practices.
· Ability to coordinate and cross-reference design drawings from multiple disciplines.
· Possess various computer skills including CAD/other drafting software, creative software, Microsoft Office skills, Bluebeam, and Adobe Acrobat.
