Position: Senior Architect – Luxury & High-End Projects
Budget: AED 20,000 to 30,000
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Architect to lead the design and delivery of high-end, competitive architectural projects across luxury residential, commercial, hospitality, towers, and mixed-use developments.
The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of delivering innovative and technically complex projects from concept through construction and handover, with extensive experience in UAE or other high-end international markets.
The role requires a combination of design leadership, technical expertise, project management, client engagement, regulatory knowledge, and BIM/digital capabilities, with a strong focus on quality, sustainability, efficiency, and timely delivery.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead architectural projects through all design stages, including Concept Design, Schematic Design, Detailed Design, Tender and Construction Documentation.
- Provide strong technical and design leadership from project inception through construction and handover.
- Develop innovative, commercially viable, and technically sound architectural solutions.
- Lead and supervise the production of architectural drawings, presentations, specifications, and project documentation.
- Prepare and review material and finish specifications, with strong knowledge of current materials, applications, and sustainable alternatives.
- Review project scope and contribute to fee proposals, resource planning, project programming, and commercial submissions.
- Prepare and present design proposals to clients, incorporating feedback and managing design development and iterations.
- Lead, mentor, and supervise architectural teams, providing technical guidance, design reviews, corrections, and best-practice recommendations.
- Allocate and monitor team workloads, ensuring tasks are completed to the required quality and within agreed timelines.
- Conduct regular quality checks on project deliverables and ensure compliance with project standards.
- Ensure projects are delivered within agreed scope, budget, programme, and quality requirements.
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams, including MEP, structural, landscape, interiors, specialist consultants, suppliers, and sub-consultants.
- Liaise with clients, consultants, contractors, suppliers, and external stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
- Liaise with relevant local authorities and participate in technical meetings to obtain required approvals and NOCs.
- Maintain project documentation, including correspondence, meeting minutes, design notes, technical reports, and project records.
- Conduct site visits, surveys, inspections, and construction-stage reviews as required.
- Monitor construction progress from an architectural and design compliance perspective and support resolution of technical issues.
- Contribute to the company's Lessons Learned Database and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support the development and implementation of BIM and digital design strategies across projects.
- Develop and enforce BIM documentation, workflows, standards, and processes to improve quality, coordination, and productivity.
- Explore opportunities for automation and digital tools to streamline architectural workflows and enhance project delivery.
- Support the adoption of emerging technologies, including AI-assisted design and visualization tools where appropriate.
Education & Professional Qualifications
- Degree in Architecture from a recognized institution.
- Registered Architect with Dubai Municipality or an equivalent professional body.
- Preferably eligible for or holding approval for unlimited-height projects in Dubai.
- Additional professional certifications in BIM, sustainability, or project management will be an advantage.
Experience
- Minimum 15 years of professional architectural experience.
- Proven experience delivering high-end buildings, towers, luxury residential, commercial, hospitality, or mixed-use developments.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in Dubai/UAE or comparable high-end international markets.
- Strong experience taking projects from concept design through detailed design, construction documentation, authority approvals, construction, and handover.
- Demonstrated experience working in competitive, design-led architectural environments.
- Strong portfolio showcasing innovative, sustainable, and technically complex projects.
- Experience leading architectural teams and coordinating multidisciplinary consultants.
Technical Skills
- Strong: Revit, AutoCAD, BIM 360, Navisworks
- Proficient: SketchUp, Rhino, ETABS, SAFE, Prokon, STAAD.Pro
- Familiarity with: Lumion, Enscape, Twinmotion, Grasshopper, VR/AR for client presentations, Midjourney and AI-assisted design tools
Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge
- In-depth knowledge of current Dubai and UAE authority regulations and approval processes.
- Strong understanding of requirements relating to:
- o Dubai Municipality
- o Dubai Civil Defense
- o DEWA
- o Trakhees
- o Relevant UAE Building Codes
- o Dubai Green Building Regulations
- Knowledge of international standards including IBC and NFPA.
- Understanding of sustainability frameworks and certifications such as LEED and Estidama.
- Ability to coordinate authority submissions and resolve technical and compliance related issues.
Core Competencies
- Architectural Design Leadership
- Technical Design & Documentation
- Project Management
- Luxury & High-End Developments
- Team Leadership & Mentoring
- Client Presentation & Relationship Management
- Stakeholder Communication
- Multidisciplinary Coordination
- Authority Liaison & Approvals
- BIM & Digital Design
- Sustainable Design
- Quality Assurance & Quality Control
- Construction-Stage Coordination
- Problem Solving & Design Development
Key Soft Skills
- Strong leadership and team management abilities
- Excellent client presentation and communication skills
- Strong stakeholder management
- Ability to lead multidisciplinary coordination
- Commercial and project-oriented mindset
- Strong attention to detail and quality
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage competing priorities
- Mentoring and knowledge-sharing capabilities
- Collaborative and solutions-oriented approach
Role Requirements
he successful candidate should be comfortable taking ownership of complex architectural assignments, leading design teams, engaging directly with clients and consultants, and making informed technical and design decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
Experience with luxury developments, high-rise towers, hospitality, premium residential, and other landmark projects will be highly valued.