Resort Development & Pre-Opening Project Manager

About the Role

We are developing a new resort project in Koraput, Odisha and need an experienced hospitality project professional to lead the owner-side execution from development and design coordination through pre-opening and launch.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage the master project plan from the current development stage to resort opening.
• Translate hotel and resort operating requirements into practical inputs for architects, designers, engineers and contractors.
• Review guest areas, back-of-house planning, kitchens, housekeeping, stores, staff areas, engineering access, circulation and other operational layouts.
• Coordinate architects, consultants, civil contractors, MEP teams, interior teams, vendors, ownership and any appointed brand or operator.
• Track scope, timeline, budget, decisions, risks, dependencies and site progress and report variances with corrective actions.
• Lead or coordinate FF&E, OS&E, technology systems, operating supplies and vendor procurement required for opening.
• Plan licences, approvals and pre-opening compliance with the relevant specialists.
• Prepare the pre-opening operating plan, staffing plan, SOP roadmap, systems setup, training plan and opening-readiness checklist.
• Support positioning, facilities, guest experience, revenue assumptions, launch preparation and soft opening.
• Spend substantial time at the Koraput project site and provide structured site and readiness reports.

Requirements

• Direct experience overseeing at least one new hotel or resort project through substantial development/pre-opening work and opening, preferably for a recognised hospitality brand.
• Clear personal ownership of project workstreams rather than exposure only as a hotel department employee.
• Strong understanding of resort operations and how design, MEP, back-of-house, procurement and staffing decisions affect the operating property.
• Ability to coordinate several consultants, contractors, vendors and operational stakeholders.
• Strong project planning, budget, reporting, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to work extensively at the Koraput site.

Nice to Haves

• Experience with an established hotel or resort brand's project, technical-services, development or pre-opening team.
• Experience with boutique, leisure, nature or destination resorts.
• Formal hotel-management, architecture, engineering or project-management education.
• Odisha project experience or familiarity with local vendors and approvals.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience successfully delivering a branded hotel or resort opening is more important than a particular degree.
• Five or more years of relevant hospitality/project experience preferred.

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