Arada | Design Manager, Riyadh

About Arada

Role purpose

Key responsibilities

• Lead architectural design management through concept, detailed design, tendering, IFC, and construction stages.
• Manage local and international consultants, ensuring quality, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Coordinate architecture with structural, MEP, infrastructure, landscape, and interior design disciplines.
• Ensure compliance with Saudi Building Codes, local authority regulations, sustainability, accessibility, and Fire & Life Safety requirements.
• Drive design excellence through technical reviews, value engineering, quality assurance, and design optimization.
• Balance design, cost, and programme objectives with development, commercial, construction, procurement, and project-management teams.
• Support consultant and contractor procurement, RFP evaluations, and tender reviews.
• Review RFIs, shop drawings, material submissions, and site-related design challenges during construction.
• Establish and improve design-management processes, governance, reporting standards, and best practices.

Skills and competencies

• Coordinate design across architecture, engineering, infrastructure, landscape, and interiors.
• Communicate clearly with internal teams, consultants, and authorities; manage stakeholder expectations.
• Resolve technical and coordination issues and make timely decisions balancing quality, cost, and programme.
• Manage multiple design packages and deadlines; negotiate consultant and contractor scope, fees, and technical positions.
• Prepare design reports, dashboards, and leadership presentations; collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.

Experience and qualifications

• At least 12 years of architectural design-management experience, preferably with a leading developer, master developer, or international consultancy.
• Experience delivering large-scale mixed-use, residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, lifestyle, and master-planned developments.
• Experience managing architectural consultants from concept through construction delivery; international consultant and multidisciplinary-team experience.
• Middle East experience required; Saudi Arabia experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Saudi regulations, authority approvals, permitting, local design requirements, and the Saudi Building Code.
• Strong understanding of BIM processes, coordination workflows, and digital design delivery.
• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and related architectural tools.
• Commercial awareness and strong leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal English is required; Arabic is advantageous.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable in a fast-paced developer-led environment.

Working hours

• The stated working week is 40 hours.

Application process

• The employer requests that assessments and interviews be completed independently without generative AI assistance.