Design Manager

Gensler; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A global design firm in the UAE seeks a Design Manager to lead project teams, ensure client satisfaction, and handle financial performance. The ideal candidate should have over 15 years of experience in architecture or design, with at least 10 years in project management. Expertise in sustainability and BIM is essential. Join a creative team that values collaboration and professional growth.

Benefits

Medical benefits

Profit sharing

Twice annual bonus opportunities

Professional development reimbursement

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in architecture or design.
• 10+ years in project management for design projects.
• Professional license or certification preferred.
• Knowledge of building codes and sustainable design principles.

Responsibilities

• Manage client projects and ensure satisfaction.
• Lead project teams and communicate objectives.
• Monitor budgets and project profitability.

Skills

Project management

Client engagement

Leadership

Sustainability

BIM knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or Interior Design

Tools

Revit

Rhino

Grasshopper

MS Project

Job description

Your Role

As a Design Manager at Gensler, you will have a successful track record of managing all phases of projects and will have overall responsibility for client satisfaction, quality control and financial performance. You will deploy resources to ensure that the work process flows smoothly and act as the primary liaison between the team and client. This is a great opportunity to join a highly creative, collaborative team where you will leverage your attention to detail and interpersonal skills to design and deliver exceptional projects on time and within budget. Grow your project management expertise while working on trendsetting design projects across a variety of practice areas and industries.

What You Will Do

Client Engagement

• Implement one or more client projects through the leadership of project teams.
• Grow business for base building and interiors projects within various Practice Areas.
• Prepare project proposals and negotiate contracts and fees.

Leadership

• Provide leadership to the team and client by communicating project objectives, contract scope, terms, and schedule.
• Enable the project teams to reach their individual potential and maintain a positive team environment.
• Collaborate with your team with an “open door policy”.
• Demonstrate effective written and verbal communication skills.

Projects

• Responsible for both managing projects and client satisfaction by focusing on the project process, service/delivery, work environment, project documentation, and building clients’ trust and loyalty in Gensler.
• Manage scheduling, budgets, staffing, and project set-up with clients, sub-contractors, vendors and contractors.

Financial

• Monitor budgets and profitability targets for your projects (e.g work plan, schedule, fees, billings and collections).
• Oversee billing and fee management to ensure all financial activities are consistent with Gensler policies and procedures.
• Responsible for accounts receivable, discretionary expenses, expense report approvals and productivity projections.

General

• Work closely with other Design Managers, Finance, Human Resources and Office Directors.
• Demonstrate dignity, respect, and professional attitude.
• Build and improve external firm image by active participation in appropriate organizations (AIA, RDI, NCIDQ, etc.) and maintain contact with current and potential clients.
• Participate in office meetings - collaborate with Studio Directors, Office Management and staff.
• Develop a strategy for Best Practice integration, client satisfaction, and cross studio integration.
• Focus on global relationship building, recruiting and service integration.
• Be an advocate for Gensler sustainability commitments internally and externally.
• Make sustainability an integral part of every project.
• Define project sustainability targets in collaboration with the client and the project team at the start of each project.
• Understand clients ESG goals and work with project teams towards achieving them.
• Support and encourage team members to pursue sustainability learning.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design or related field.
• 15+ years of total experience within the fields of architecture or design. 10+ years of related project management experience on a range of design projects.
• Professional license or certification preferred.
• Experience negotiating project scope, fees, managing project financial performance, and ensuring fiscal responsibility for projects.
• Experience with the full project lifecycle, through post-occupancy.
• Knowledge of building codes, standards and building structures.
• Basic technical understanding of architectural design, interior and furniture design.
• Experience with project management software, such as MS Project, a plus.
• Knowledge in sustainable design principles required.
• LEED, WELL, Fitwel, LFA or other rating systems accreditation preferable.
• Understand key principles for leading and achieving net zero projects.
• Capacity to drive sustainability focused discussions with clients and teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to sustainability and sustainable building practices required.
• Previous experience in sustainable design projects preferred. At least one project of the candidate portfolio should showcase this focus. Especially built projects with LEED, Living Building Challenge, WELL Building Standard, Fitwel and /or Net Zero Building certification.

Your Design Technology Qualifications

Essential

• Familiarity with the BIM project lifecycle through design, construction and operational phases.
• Understanding of BIM deliverables and terminology in contracts.
• Good knowledge and experience with collaboration within the BIM context, including cloud-based markups, consultant coordination and clash detection.
• Experience in establishing and managing BIM teams for project design and delivery.
• Experience in managing design teams with Revit/Rhino/Grasshopper skills.

Desirable

• Basic understanding and familiarity with real-time rendering processes, and material creation & management within the context of integrated BIM and parametric workflows.
• Understanding of the capabilities and application of Information Management tools such as Aconex, Asite, Newforma, etc.

Applications we work with

• Design Authoring - Revit, Rhino, Autocad, Navisworks
• Collaboration - BIM360Computational Design - Grasshopper, Dynamo
• Building Performance Simulation - Insight, Sefaira, Diva, Ladybug tools
• Visualisation – Vray, Enscape, Twinmotion, 3DSMax
• Graphics & Productivity - Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite
• Experiential – Unreal Engine, Unity
• Development – C#, Python

To be considered, please submit portfolio and/or work samples in PDF format.

Life at Gensler

As a people‑first organization, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best‑in‑class design. From internal design competitions to research grants to “Well‑being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability and wellness programs. We also offer profit sharing and twice annual bonus opportunities.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.