Director, Branded Residential Portfolio Management Full Time NEW

At Kerzner, we never settle. Through continued innovation, our team of pioneers push until the next level is achieved, and then to keep going. Our philosophy is simple – we go above and beyond to Blow Away our Guest and Colleagues. Good enough never is. For us, it is all about perfection and innovation. This is not simply our job, it’s our passion.

Our Colleagues are at the heart of who we are and what we do. With an international team of over 10,000 Colleagues and strong strategic growth on the horizon, we offer unrivalled career opportunities around the world. We are committed to provide our Colleagues at all levels with opportunities to grow and develop within the organisation through personalised development plans and tailored succession planning. We invest in our communities to sustain the environment where we operate and minimising our own footprint. Whether it is through animal conservation, education or tree-planting, we like to give back in as many ways as we can to help our communities flourish.

Job Summary

The Director, Residential Portfolio Management is responsible for the portfolio‑level governance, planning, and setup of branded residential components across Kerzner’s global Private Homes and Branded Residences development pipeline.

The role focuses on the pre‑opening residential lifecycle, from early pre‑development and planning through to opening, providing structured management and coordination with internal and external stakeholders. The objective is to ensure that all branded residential projects are consistently defined, correctly configured, brand‑aligned, and operationally ready for structured handover to OpCo at opening.

The position acts as the residential portfolio authority, establishing and managing residential project stage gates, defining residential requirements and standards, and validating outcomes at key milestones to ensure quality, consistency, and readiness across a growing pipeline of residential projects. The role does not include responsibility for day‑to‑day operations, rental programs, or HOA governance, which sit outside of this position.

The role requires a strong background in luxury hospitality‑led residential product, portfolio oversight, and cross‑functional coordination, with the ability to translate brand intent and residential requirements into repeatable, scalable outcomes across multiple projects and geographies.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio Governance & Residential Frameworks

• Establish, own, and maintain portfolio‑wide residential frameworks, standards, and setup playbooks for all branded residential and Private Homes projects.
• Define, document, and maintain Kerzner side residential requirements and performance principles to inform the design and delivery of branded residential projects across the portfolio.
• Establish minimum portfolio requirements (not design solutions) covering:
• Unit mix and typology principles (performance intent and target ranges, not layouts)
• Residential amenity principles, including owner only vs shared use positioning
• Arrival, circulation, privacy, and access requirements, expressed as outcomes rather than spatial solutions
• Back of house and servicing requirements necessary to support efficient future operation and homeowner experience
• Residential technology readiness criteria, defining capability requirements rather than system design
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of branded residential standards across all projects and geographies.

Residential Project Stage Gates (Portfolio Control)

• Establish and manage Residential Project Stage Gates aligned with the wider development lifecycle.
• Define required residential inputs and outputs at each stage, including:
• Deal feasibility / concept confirmation
• Concept design
• Schematic design
• Design development (residential “red‑flag” review)
• Design and Build Phase
• Pre‑opening residential readiness
• Handover to OpCo
• Act as the Kerzner residential authority at each stage gate by:
• Validating compliance with portfolio standards and residential requirements
• Identifying material risks, gaps, or deviations
• Confirming readiness to progress from a residential perspective
• Maintain a portfolio‑level record of residential stage‑gate reviews, approvals, and deviations
• Present stage gate readiness to all key internal stakeholders.

Pre‑Development & Planning (Residential Input)

• Provide residential subject‑matter input during pre‑development and early planning phases of new branded residential opportunities.
• Support Business Development and Design and Construction teams with residential assessments relating to:
• Brand alignment and positioning
• High‑level residential scope and feasibility assumptions
• Unit mix strategy, typologies, and sizing logic
• Amenity positioning and residential value proposition
• Preliminary operational and governance implications
• Define early residential product principles to inform project briefs prior to design commencement.
• Identify and mitigate early‑stage risks that could impact:
• Residential liveability and owner experience
• Long‑term asset and portfolio value
• Operational viability and handover readiness
• Ensure residential planning decisions align with a scalable, repeatable portfolio strategy.

Design & Project Interface (Residential Input Only)

• Provide structured residential input to Design and Project teams at defined project milestones.
• Review residential layouts, adjacencies, circulation, and functional planning from an owner, operator readiness, and portfolio perspective.
• Ensure residential requirements and assumptions are clearly documented and integrated into the design process.
• Monitor design evolution to prevent unintended deviations that may negatively affect residential quality or long‑term usability.
• Maintain a collaborative, non‑authoring relationship with Design, respecting design leadership and consultant ownership.

Brand Compliance & Residential Product Integrity

• Ensure branded residential standards are interpreted and applied consistently across the portfolio.
• Review key residential elements impacting brand equity and owner experience, including:
• Finishes intent and durability
• Amenity positioning and exclusivity
• Privacy, acoustics, and spatial separation
• Monitor and document residential deviations, concessions, and approved exceptions.
• Provide portfolio‑level insight into recurring issues and lessons learned across projects.

Residential Operating Model & Operating Plan Development

• Define the Residential Operating Model and develop a structured Residential Operating Plan (ROP) for each project during the planning phase
• Ensure the defined residential operating plan is fully supported by design and asset configuration, validating that back‑of‑house layouts, access, storage, plant capacity, service flows, and residential technology capabilities enable efficient, discreet, and brand‑appropriate operation.
• Validate residential operational readiness from a governance perspective, confirming the asset can be realistically operated as intended, that material operational risks, inefficiencies, or cost drivers are identified and mitigated early, and that the project is ready for OpCo acceptance without fundamental re‑planning
• Formally package and transition the Residential Operating Model to OpCo as part of pre‑opening and handover, ensuring clarity of intent, scope, and assumptions.

Pre‑Opening & Handover

• Coordinate with OpCo teams in advance of opening to support a smooth transition of responsibility.
• Lead residential readiness activities prior to opening from a portfolio and governance perspective.
• Ensure completion of all residential handover requirements, including obtaining TCO and OC, establishing asset and warranty register frameworks, completing residential handover checklists, and confirming owner move‑in readiness principles.
• Coordinate structured handover of residential assets to:
• OpCo (operations)
• Director of Residence
• Formally transition responsibility at opening, retaining oversight only for portfolio‑level tracking, consult level support and continuous improvement.

Portfolio Reporting & Stakeholder Coordination

• Maintain strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders including:
• Design
• Projects / Construction
• Business Development
• Property Management
• OpCo
• Provide regular portfolio reporting on:
• Residential pipeline status
• Key risks and mitigation actions
• Stage‑gate progress and readiness
• Support leadership decision‑making with clear, evidence‑based residential insights.

Explicit Exclusions (Boundary Clarity)

• No responsibility for residential rental programs or leasing
• No day‑to‑day residential operations or staffing
• No HOA or residential governance management
• No design authorship or consultant management

Skills, Experience & Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Business, Hospitality Management, Architecture, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 8–10 years’ experience across branded residences, luxury mixed‑use developments, or hospitality‑led residential platforms.
• Strong understanding of branded residential product, owner expectations, and residential lifecycle planning.
• Proven experience working at portfolio level across multiple concurrent projects.
• Ability to influence across Design, Development, Projects, Operations, and Property Management without direct authority.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills with ability to manage complexity across geographies.
• Comfortable operating in an owner‑side, non‑operational, governance‑focused role.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications; strong Excel skills preferred.
• Fluent in English; additional languages advantageous.

Our company is expanding faster than ever before. We are investing in the growth of our company, and that means we are committed to investing in you. Join a team that is open-hearted, innovative, inclusive, and inspiring in spirit. We believe in making our guests happy beyond anything they have ever imagined. We wow them at every turn and create memories that will last a lifetime. You will be at the heart of this vision, to constantly innovate to deliver Amazing Experiences and Everlasting Memories.