Associate Director

U+A; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading architecture firm in Dubai seeks an experienced professional to oversee project delivery, ensuring high standards and client satisfaction. The ideal candidate has a professional degree in Architecture and a minimum of 19 years of experience in architectural design consultancy, including at least 9 years of regional expertise. Responsibilities include leading design teams, maintaining stakeholder relationships, and managing project financials. This role offers the opportunity to lead high-profile projects in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 19 years of experience in architectural design consultancy with 9 years of local/regional expertise.
• Strong knowledge of building codes, MEP systems, and design principles.
• Membership with CIOB or RIBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead design development and project delivery, ensuring quality management.
• Maintain relationships with clients and stakeholders, addressing issues proactively.
• Manage financial coordination and project updates.

Skills

Architectural design consultancy

Project management

BIM workflows

Client management

Team leadership

Education

Professional degree in Architecture

Job description

Job Description

Project Oversight & Delivery

• Lead the design development and successful delivery of projects while continuously monitoring overall project health.
• Manage project teams and resources across large-scale projects or defined scopes within complex developments.
• Drive effective team coordination through regular client meetings, issue-focused workshops, internal reviews, and interdepartmental collaboration.

Project Control & Reporting

• Coordinate closely with Project Control and Project Management (PC/PM) teams to develop and maintain dashboards, design management plans, project execution strategies, and progress reports.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting (daily, weekly, and monthly) to proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and scheduling conflicts.
• Monitor project performance, resources, and expenditures against approved plans to maintain schedule and budget compliance.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Maintain strong relationships with the client’s senior management, addressing and resolving stakeholder conflicts effectively.
• Provide leadership throughout project execution to sustain positive working relationships with sub-consultants, internal teams, project managers, and clients.
• Ensure all external interactions reflect the highest professional and ethical standards.

Quality Management

• Lead the implementation of the company’s quality management systems across all project activities.
• Promote quality awareness and conduct regular (monthly) QA/QC reviews.
• Identify, address, and resolve non-conformances while ensuring preventative measures are implemented.
• Participate in biannual quality audits as required.

Team Leadership & Development

• Support career development through mentoring, performance management, and promotion planning.
• Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture aligned with project and organizational goals.
• Guide architects, senior architects, design managers, associates, and directors in achieving KPIs, quality standards, and performance targets.

Collaboration & Strategic Oversight

• Collaborate with other architectural practices within the organization to coordinate workloads, align project stages, and ensure delivery excellence.
• Advise senior management on operational improvements, risk mitigation strategies, and strategic financial matters, including cash flow and collections.

Financial Coordination

• Provide timely and accurate project updates to the accounts team to support invoicing and facilitate prompt payment collection.
• Undertake additional responsibilities as assigned by the Managing Principal and Managing Directors in accordance with company policies.

Business Development & Partnerships

• Identify, assess, and pursue new business opportunities aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.
• Lead deal execution activities, including partner prioritization, strategic and financial analysis, deal structuring, negotiation, and implementation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior executives within partner and client organizations.
• Act as a local architectural representative, protecting and promoting the company’s brand and market presence.

Qualifications

Key Requirements & Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture (Bachelor’s or Master’s) from an accredited institution (mandatory).
• Minimum 19 years of experience in architectural design consultancy, including at least 9 years of local/regional experience.
• At least 9 years of experience in design development and documentation within an architectural consultancy environment.
• Strong grounding in architectural principles and practices, with comprehensive knowledge of the design and construction industry.
• General understanding of BIM workflows and methodologies.
• Thorough knowledge of local and international building codes, building materials, and product standards.
• Broad understanding of related disciplines, including MEP systems, master planning, infrastructure, landscape, interior design (ID), and stakeholder coordination.
• Proven experience managing large, multidisciplinary design teams, demonstrating strong leadership and coordination skills.
• Experience delivering high-profile international projects, including (but not limited to):
  • Hospitality developments
  • High-rise residential buildings
  • Hospitals
  • Family Entertainment Centers (FECs)
  • Science museums
  • Shopping malls
  • Mixed-use developments
• Active involvement in organizational and business processes, including:
  • Staff interviews, mentoring, and performance evaluations
  • Technical input for bidding processes
  • RFP evaluations and bid/no-bid decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to develop design systems and processes that enhance quality and efficiency, including templates and shared resources for global office use.
• Excellent communication, client management, and leadership skills, with the ability to build trust and alignment across diverse stakeholders.
• Membership with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is preferred.