Design Manager

Turner & Townsend; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Dubai, UAE, seeks a Design Manager to lead multi-disciplinary design teams on hospitality and commercial projects, guiding concepts to delivery and maximizing asset value.

You will drive design excellence, ensure buildable, compliant solutions with BIM (Revit/AutoCAD), coordinate with clients, consultants and hotel operators, monitor progress and mentor junior staff in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Eng, Architecture, or equivalent.
• 10+ years leading multi-disciplinary design teams in hospitality or commercial real estate.
• Strong proficiency in BIM, AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp.
• Knowledge of UAE regulations and international building codes.
• Excellent client management, communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead design teams from concept to delivery, meeting hospitality standards.
• Coordinate with PMs, consultants, contractors and operators.
• Ensure designs are buildable, compliant, and cost-conscious.
• Review designs for accuracy, safety, and performance.

Skills

Design management

BIM

Multi-disciplinary teams

AutoCAD

Revit

SketchUp

Client management

Communication

Budget management

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or equivalent

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

SketchUp

BIM software

Job description

Job Description

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries.

Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success.

Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.

We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

Please visit our website: www.turnerandtownsend.com

Job Description

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Design Manager to join our growing team in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary professional to lead innovative design solutions across hospitality real estate projects whilst working in one of the region's most vibrant business hubs. As our Design Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving design excellence, managing multi-disciplinary teams, and ensuring project success from concept through delivery, with a focus on creating exceptional guest experiences and maximising asset value.

• Lead and manage multi-disciplinary design teams throughout the complete project lifecycle, from initial concept development to final delivery, ensuring hospitality-specific design standards are met
• Collaborate with project managers, clients, consultants, contractors, and hospitality operators to ensure design solutions meet project requirements, operational needs, and quality standards
• Oversee the development and implementation of design strategies that are buildable, compliant, innovative, cost-effective, and enhance the guest experience
• Manage external design consultants and coordinate design activities across various disciplines including civil, mechanical, electrical, architectural, and hospitality-specific teams (F&B design, guest room layouts, public spaces)
• Conduct thorough design reviews and evaluations to ensure technical accuracy, operational efficiency, and adherence to hospitality industry standards and best practices
• Facilitate effective communication between technical, operational, maintenance, and strategic stakeholders, including hotel management and end-users, whilst presenting design reports and recommendations to senior management
• Monitor project progress, identify potential risks, and implement appropriate mitigation strategies to ensure timely and on-budget delivery
• Ensure all designs comply with local regulations, international hospitality standards, and client specifications whilst optimising revenue-generating spaces and utilising Building Information Modelling (BIM) to enhance design coordination
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior design team members, fostering expertise in hospitality design principles

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, or equivalent professional qualification
• Minimum 10 years of proven experience in design management within hospitality or commercial real estate projects, preferably within a design consultancy environment
• Demonstrated expertise in leading and managing multi-disciplinary design teams, with strong proficiency in coordinating civil, architectural, and external consultants
• Advanced proficiency in architectural and design software (AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) systems
• Comprehensive knowledge of civil and architectural construction methods, structural design solutions, and hospitality-specific design best practices
• Strong understanding of project planning, scheduling, and budget management within the built environment sector
• In-depth knowledge of local UAE regulations, international building codes, and hospitality design standards
• Excellent client management, communication, and presentation skills with proven ability to articulate design recommendations to diverse stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated expertise in design quality assurance, risk assessment, and problem-solving within complex, multi-stakeholder projects
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multicultural environment and manage competing client priorities
• Professional engineering registration (DEWA, ADNOC, or equivalent) or membership in relevant professional bodies such as RIBA preferred

It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.