Senior Manager - Design

Strategic Responsibilities

• Manage the implementation of design strategies for mixed-use developments, ensuring alignment with masterplan objectives, commercial goals, market requirements, and long-term asset value.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders, consultants, operators, authorities, and development teams to facilitate informed decision-making and successful project delivery.
• Drive continuous improvement through the application of best practices in design management, sustainability, innovation, digital delivery, and design governance.

Operational Responsibilities

• Lead multiple projects through all stages of design development, from project inception and concept design through procurement, construction, completion, and handover.
• Develop and manage project briefs, scopes of work, consultant appointments, procurement documentation, and design programmes.
• Lead multidisciplinary design coordination across architecture, landscape, engineering, infrastructure, operations, security, specialist consultants, and third-party stakeholders to achieve fully integrated project solutions.
• Manage design consultants throughout the project lifecycle, including performance management, design reviews, deliverables management, reporting, compliance monitoring, and change management.
• Develop project design briefs in collaboration with Development Leads, ensuring alignment with project objectives, market positioning, operational requirements, and customer expectations.
• Undertake design reviews and governance activities to ensure compliance with approved design standards, project briefs, codes, regulations, and authority requirements.
• Manage authority submissions, approvals, tender documentation reviews, and consultant deliverables to support project progression.
• Lead user-focused research, benchmarking, and design analysis to ensure projects respond to operational, environmental, social, economic, and user experience requirements.
• Manage residential launch packages and associated design deliverables, ensuring marketing and sales materials are delivered in accordance with programme requirements.
• Prepare and present technical reports, studies, executive presentations, and management updates on project progress, risks, decisions, and outcomes.
• Identify and manage project risks, opportunities, dependencies, and mitigation strategies throughout the design and delivery process.
• Support value engineering initiatives to ensure projects remain aligned with budget objectives while maintaining design quality and project intent.
• Lead design handover activities and provide construction-phase support, including site inspections, technical reviews, mock-up reviews, and resolution of design-related issues.
• Leverage digital platforms, data analytics, and emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to enhance project delivery, decision-making, and design quality.

People Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, mentoring, coaching, and technical guidance to Design Managers and junior team members.
• Support resource planning, workload allocation, and project prioritization across multiple projects.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture that promotes continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of design management processes, standards, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Knowledge, Qualifications and Skills required
• Essential
• 15 years of professional experience in architecture, engineering, urban planning, design management, or real estate development as well as:
• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Design Management, or a related built-environment discipline.
• Demonstrated experience managing the design and delivery of complex mixed-use developments.
• Proven experience delivering build-to-lease speculative office developments and off-plan residential developments supporting early sales and market launch activities during the design phase.
• Experience working within the UAE development market and managing projects through local authority approval processes.
• Strong understanding of design governance, procurement, cost management, project delivery, and construction administration.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, presentation, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Preferably previous experience working for a developer, master developer, or major real estate development organization

Desirable