Director AD&C Africa

• The Project Director will be the principal point of contact and be focused on ensuring a smooth and trouble-free
• delivery of the highest quality property across the East Africa region for all Hilton Brands. The Project Director will
• be committed to increasing efficiencies, improving communications, and assembling reliable information for our
• owners, industry partners and Hilton.
• To act as the focal point for both Hilton departments and Owners/Developers during the design, construction,
• opening and post opening stages of the pipeline developments to ensure all brand standard requirements are
• understood, met, and incorporated into the scheme and to liaise with all Hilton departments (Brand, Operations,
• IT, Marketing, F&B, Spa, Safety Risk Management, and the like).
• The role will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, and will be responsible for projects across East Africa, therefore requiring
• extensive travel in this region and occasional travel across the EMEA region.

Position Summary

As the Project Director Africa, you will be responsible for performing the following tasks to the highest

standards

Planning Activities

• Leadership and project for all projects within East Africa, including new developments, conversions, and

renovations of existing hotels.

Organizing Activities

• Implements plans to ensure overall strategic direction of project management standards is consistent and

supported by other areas.

• Identifies resources, oversees activities and confers with key stakeholders to ensure objectives of project

management standards are accomplished.

• Directs assignment of tasks ensuring optimum allocation of resources.
• Ensures management communication plan is properly executed.
• Oversees and evaluates business processes to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Manages cross-functional links to other Architecture, Design and Construction departments within region.
• Implements business metrics to ensure effectiveness of project management standards.

Directing Activities

• Directs development and administration of project management standards.
• Executes organisational directives and encourages achievement of goals through motivation,

communication and leadership.

• Conducts effective management of third parties, identifies vendors and monitors costs and quality of

service.

Staffing Activities

• Assists the Vice President or designated Senior Director with the development, implementation, and on

going management of a commercial development management strategy.

Controlling Activities

• Directs and implements proper controls and systems.
• Assesses actual performance to ensure success and takes corrective actions.
• Ensures project management standards works effectively across cultures and markets.
• Works within approved budgets and adjusts activities and expenses to ensure optimal financial results.

Development Management Activities

• Assist the Vice President or designated Senior Director in the development and on-going management of

in-house project management and reporting tools, databases, and the like.

• Assists the Vice President or designated Senior Director in the preparation of in-house development

• management policies and procedures including liaising with other Hilton departments to ensure that any
• systems are aligned.

• Preparing internal Hilton reports on a monthly basis.
• Liaison with other Hilton Development Management departments to ensure that best practice is being

shared globally.

• Work effectively with developers, owners, and project design consultants to optimize design, construction

and opening of projects.

• Liaise and assist the in-house Development Department and Brand Teams in the securing of new Projects,

• throughout the region, by reviewing plans, specifications, and scheme proposals for technical compliance
• with Hilton Design and Construction Manuals, Brand Standards, and all relevant national and international
• codes, prior to Contract.

• Make technical design and construction recommendations to the Development team to ensure that

potential Projects are in accordance with both Technical and Brand Standards.

• Following the agreement of either Lease, Franchise or Management Contracts, provide project leadership

• on behalf of Hilton and act as main liaison and focus point between the in-house specialists, the outside
• Developers, and their design teams, to ensure the free flow of information and design input from Hilton,
• throughout the design development and construction periods.

• Raising all areas of non-compliance with Franchisee and Owner (where applicable) and ensuring that

appropriate measures are taken to rectify any such non-compliance.

• Carry out regular site inspections of the Project works in progress, to ensure full compliance with Hilton

• Technical, Brand and Operational requirements as well as ensuring compliance with acceptable standards
• of finishes and quality of workmanship throughout the duration of the works.

• Supervise outside consultants as required during any Project works to Hilton Brands.
• Provide regular written reports on the progress, in respect of financial, contractual, and physical progress,

at all levels within the company, as required in oral, written, or digital presentational formats.

• Inspect the works, collate, and prepare all necessary project handover information and certification

• required by the Hilton project management procedures. Participate in the decision-making process
• regarding the opening of the hotel by advising whether or not all AD&C/project related activities are
• complete and owner obligations discharged.

Property Improvement Plan (PIP) Management Activities

• Occasionally, undertake property inspections of other hotels for the purposes of acquisition or conversion

• into a Hilton Brand along with the preparation detailed PIP reports on the status of the hotels and the
• extent of works required to bring the property up to the required standards for re-Branding into one of
• the Hilton Brands. This will be by reference to both the appropriate Technical and Brand Standards and
• will include the development of standard PIP report templates, data collection tools and the like.

• On agreement of the PIP, provide project leadership on behalf of Hilton and act as main liaison and focus

• point between the in-house specialists, the outside Developer’s, and their design teams, to ensure the
• free flow of information and design input from Hilton, throughout the design development and
• construction periods.

• Monitor the execution and completion of the PIP until satisfactory completion of the works.
• Travel to hotel locations and conduct all necessary meetings with Owners and Hilton representatives.
• Preparation of all general correspondence and communications relevant to the PIP works.
• Inspect the works and certify their completion in accordance with the PIP and participate in the decision

• making process regarding the opening of the hotel by advising whether or not all AD&C/project related
• activities are complete and owner obligations discharged.

Other Activities

• Provide regular technical assistance, as and when required, on other ad-hoc Project works.
• Work closely with other Project Directors to continuously improve working knowledge of the Design and

Construction Standards for all Hilton Brands as well as general products, equipment, finishes, etc.

• Review Design and Construction Standards periodically and when requested.

What are we looking for?

To successfully fill this role, you should maintain the attitude, behaviours, skills, and values that follow

• Must be able to read and understand drawings and Design and Construction Standards and all other

criteria established by Hilton to determine the physical requirements of all Brands.

• Must be able to read, understand and report on architectural and engineering construction documents,

• specifications, construction submittals, bulletins, change orders, etc to ensure that the design and
• construction of projects are in compliance with established standards.

• Excellent general knowledge of design and construction materials and methods and specific knowledge

pertaining to the design and construction of full service and focused service hotels.

• Knowledge of the hotel operating contracts and models is desirable. One of the challenging aspects of this

• position is the need to communicate openly and honestly with Hilton’s partners, maintain a good working
• relationship with them, but be able to deal for problems when confronted with a design and construction
• issue which does not meet Hilton requirements.

• Excellent communication skills: presentations, written and public speaking.
• Ability to work independently and lead a project team and make effective and timely decisions on behalf

of Hilton project stakeholders.

• Ability to direct collaboration among cross-functional teams including external resources.
• Leads by example to resolve conflicts, introduce change and ensure collaboration among others.
• Demonstrates the highest standards of ethical behaviour and absolute discretion with sensitive

information.

• Ability to take initiative to identify, prioritise and implement actions required to achieve functional goals.
• Strong problem-solving skills including ability to address any issue in collaboration with others, identify

and prevent potential problems and develop problem solving skills in others.

• Budget development and management skills.
• Capable of conversing with both technical and non-technical parties.

Required Qualifications

• University degree in engineering, architecture, building or quantity surveying or construction-related

discipline or experience in lieu.

• Recognised professional qualification in construction related discipline.
• Significant work experience of 15 years or more in property, engineering design and/or construction

• related roles including 5 years management experience and/or 5 years working within a Client
• organisation.

• Minimum of 5 years hotel development and construction related experience ideally within an

international hotel group.

• Experience working in multi-cultural or international settings.
• An understanding of local building codes, European and International Fire Life Safety codes.
• Fluent in English.
• Valid passport that allows travel throughout the EMEA region

Preferred Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of construction projects and track record of successful project delivery
• Supervisory experience would be advantageous
• Be able to show previous project management experience and be capable of both the leading and

monitoring of outside consultants.