Design Manager

Staff Connect UAE; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 300,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Staff Connect UAE in Dubai seeks a Design Manager to lead the design development of assigned projects, ensuring quality, program adherence, budget control, and constructability from development through tender and construction support.

You will coordinate Architecture, Structure, MEP, Façade, Fire & Life Safety, and related disciplines, manage consultants, review submissions, and drive BIM coordination to deliver coordinated design packages compliant with UAE regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or equivalent qualification.
• Approximately 10–15 years of relevant professional experience, preferably including UAE developer-side experience.
• Strong experience in residential, high-rise and mixed-use developments.
• Proven ability to independently manage several active projects and multidisciplinary consultants.
• Strong understanding of schematic design, design development, tender and IFC documentation.
• Good knowledge of UAE / Dubai authorities, building regulations and approval processes.
• Strong technical coordination across architecture, structure, MEP and specialist disciplines.
• Experience with consultant management, tender documentation, Value Engineering and construction-stage design support.
• Strong communication, reporting, stakeholder-management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to start productively with minimal onboarding for temporary assignments.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate design development across Architecture, Structure, MEP, Façade and related disciplines.
• Review design submissions through all stages from Concept to IFC.
• Lead multidisciplinary technical coordination and interface resolution.
• Monitor consultant deliverables against the design programme and address delays.
• Oversee BIM coordination, clash resolution and model development.
• Ensure compliance with UAE authorities and codes.
• Support tendering activities and respond to technical clarifications.
• Provide design support during construction and resolve RFIs and site issues.

Skills

Project coordination

Multidisciplinary coordination

BIM coordination

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

Revit

Job description

Job Role: Design Manager

Work Location: Dubai

1. Role Purpose

Manage and coordinate the design development of assigned projects, ensuring design quality, technical compliance, programme, budget, and constructability are maintained from design development through tender / IFC and construction support.

2. Scope of Responsibilities

• Manage architectural and multidisciplinary design development across Architecture, Structure, MEP, Façade, Fire & Life Safety, Vertical Transportation, Landscape, Interior Design, and specialist consultants.
• Manage appointed lead consultants and subconsultants, ensuring compliance with approved briefs, employer requirements, project objectives, and agreed deliverables.
• Review and coordinate design submissions through Concept, Schematic Design, Design Development, Tender, and IFC stages, as applicable to the assigned projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary technical coordination and ensure interfaces between architectural, structural, MEP and specialist systems are properly resolved.
• Monitor consultant deliverables against the approved design programme, identify delays or risks and drive closure of outstanding actions.
• Review drawings, specifications, schedules, reports and technical submissions for completeness, coordination, and design intent.
• Ensure compliance with UAE / Dubai authority requirements, applicable codes, master developer requirements, and company standards.
• Coordinate authority submissions, NOCs and technical requirements with consultants and relevant internal stakeholders.
• Oversee BIM coordination, clash resolution, and model development to achieve coordinated and constructible design packages.
• Review design for constructability, maintainability, operational efficiency and technical quality before tender and construction release.
• Participate in and manage Value Engineering and design optimisation, ensuring savings do not compromise product quality, saleability, statutory compliance, or customer requirements.
• Support design-to-budget exercises in coordination with Commercial / Cost teams and consultants.
• Review proposed materials, specifications and technical alternatives and provide design recommendations.
• Coordinate design requirements with Development, Projects, Commercial / Procurement, Sales & Marketing and other internal departments.
• Support tendering activities, including technical clarification, consultant responses, design addenda, and tenderer queries.
• Review contractor technical submissions, shop drawings and material submissions where Design Department input is required.
• Provide technical and design support during construction and resolve design-related RFIs and site issues in coordination with consultants and Projects.
• Attend design progress meetings, technical workshops and coordination meetings and maintain clear action tracking.
• Undertake site visits when required to verify alignment of execution with approved design intent.
• Maintain proper design records, approvals, decision logs and correspondence for assigned projects.
• Identify design risks early and elevate matters affecting cost, programme, approvals, quality, sold product or project delivery.
• Support lessons learned, standardisation and continuous improvement of Design Department processes.

3. Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering or an equivalent recognised qualification.
• Approximately 10–15 years of relevant professional experience, preferably including UAE developer-side experience.
• Strong experience in residential, high-rise and mixed-use developments.
• Proven ability to independently manage several active projects and multidisciplinary consultants.
• Strong understanding of Schematic Design, Design Development, Tender and IFC documentation.
• Good knowledge of UAE / Dubai authorities, building regulations and approval processes.
• Strong technical coordination capability across architecture, structure, MEP and specialist disciplines.
• Practical knowledge of BIM / Revit coordination, clash detection and design QA/QC.
• Experience with consultant management, tender documentation, Value Engineering and construction-stage design support.
• Strong communication, reporting, stakeholder-management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to become productive immediately with minimal onboarding, given the temporary nature of the assignment.