Design Manager

About ARADA

Role Purpose

Design Leadership & Management

• Lead and manage the full architectural design lifecycle from concept design through tender and IFC, in collaboration with international and local consultants.
• Act as ARADA’s design custodian, ensuring the original design vision, brand, and quality benchmarks are maintained through all project stages up to construction.
• Oversee and guide consultants’ design activities, monitoring progress, deliverables, and compliance at all design stages.

Consultant & Stakeholder Management

• Liaise closely with internal stakeholders, external consultants, contractors, and construction/supervision management teams.
• Assess, appoint, and manage design consultants, including scope definition, fee negotiation, contract administration, performance monitoring, and variation control.
• Chair and participate in design review meetings, workshops, and coordination sessions; review minutes and ensure timely close‑out of actions.

Cost, Programme & Risk Control

• Monitor and manage the design in line with approved project budgets throughout the design lifecycle up to IFC.
• Ensure design solutions remain aligned with the approved investment case, cost plans, and master programme.
• Identify, manage, and report project risks, design issues, and key milestones to stakeholders on a regular basis.

Design Review, Quality & Compliance

• Review architectural design documentation at all stages to ensure quality, completeness, coordination, and constructability.
• Oversee design quality assurance processes, value engineering initiatives, and design optimization exercises.
• Ensure compliance with local authority requirements, UAE planning regulations, and international best practices.
• Maintain strong awareness of UAE and international Fire & Life Safety codes and regulations and ensure full compliance.

Tendering & Procurement Support

• Prepare and support tender strategies for consultants, contractors, and specialist packages in coordination with the Commercial Management team.
• Prepare, issue, and manage RFPs; evaluate technical submissions and provide recommendations.
• Interface with Commercial and Procurement teams to support the appointment of services and design-related packages.

Construction Phase Support

• Support the construction team during delivery by reviewing RFIs, material submissions, mock‑ups, and shop drawings.
• Monitor material selection and construction queries to ensure alignment with the approved design intent.
• Coordinate with site teams to resolve design issues efficiently without compromising quality.

Process & Governance

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the Project Management Plan and Design Implementation Plan.
• Ensure design management procedures, reporting standards, and governance processes are followed consistently across projects.

Qualifications & Professional Membership

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (Master’s degree preferred).
• Membership of a recognised professional architectural body such as RIBA, AIA, or equivalent is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years’ experience within a consultancy and/or developer environment, with strong exposure to large‑scale developments.
• Proven experience delivering projects in the Middle East, with UAE experience strongly preferred.
• Solid understanding of the UAE legal, authority approval, and planning framework related to architectural design.
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Adobe Suite, and BIM implementation processes.
• Experience managing multi‑disciplinary BIM coordination and design delivery in complex developments.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercially astute with the ability to balance design ambition with cost and programme realities.
• Excellent communication skills with fluency in English.
• Detail‑oriented, proactive, and confident working in a fast‑paced, developer‑led environment.