Senior Design Manager

Role overview

Design and technical responsibilities

• Establish design strategies and technical solutions aligned with architectural intent, project requirements, budget, and programme.
• Review and approve shop, fabrication, setting-out, and installation drawings, along with material take-offs.
• Oversee structural, thermal, acoustic, movement, and performance aspects of façade systems.
• Ensure compliance with project specifications, international standards, and local regulations, including BS, EN, ASTM, CWCT, and relevant Middle East codes.
• Drive solutions for complex façade geometries and bespoke architectural requirements.

Stakeholders and project delivery

• Lead technical workshops, coordination meetings, design reviews, and value engineering discussions with clients, consultants, contractors, and suppliers.
• Support programme, cost, quality, and technical objectives; resolve challenges affecting procurement, fabrication, testing, and site installation.
• Identify design risks, opportunities, and variation impacts; support tender and pre-construction activities.

Team and quality

• Lead and develop design managers, a BIM manager, engineers, designers, and draughtsmen; establish best practices and encourage continuous learning.
• Implement design review and approval procedures and ensure deliverables meet company quality standards and project requirements.
• Support mock-ups, laboratory testing, site testing, and commissioning.

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a related discipline.
• At least 20 years of façade industry experience, including large-scale and landmark projects.
• Experience managing design teams on high-rise, mixed-use, hospitality, commercial, airport, cultural, or mega-development projects.
• Strong expertise in unitized curtain walls, stick systems, skylights, steel-glass structures, bespoke façades, and specialty building envelope systems.
• GCC or Middle East project experience is highly desirable.

Technical skills

• Strong understanding of façade engineering principles, design standards, structural calculations, and performance requirements.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, 3D design, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• BIM environments and platforms such as Revit are advantageous; façade analysis software and engineering tools are preferred.

Leadership competencies and preferred experience

• Requires communication, leadership, team management, presentation, client-facing, strategic thinking, problem-solving, stakeholder management, commercial awareness, and decision-making capabilities.
• Experience delivering façade packages valued above USD 100 million on iconic or complex projects is preferred.