Design Manager

Job Title: Design Manager (Architecture)

Location: Dubai, UAE

Reports To: Associate / Associate Director

Type: Full-time

Join one of Dubai's most respected multidisciplinary architecture practices, renowned for delivering high-quality, large-scale projects across the GCC. The firm is known for its strong collaborative culture, design leadership, and technical excellence, working across a wide portfolio including hospitality, mixed-use, commercial, and masterplanning developments. With a team of experienced professionals and a dynamic studio environment, this is an opportunity to be part of an organisation shaping the architectural identity of the region.

Role Overview

As Design Manager, you will be responsible for managing multi-disciplinary project teams and ensuring the technical integrity, quality, and coordination of all post-concept project stages. You will act as the lead on design coordination, documentation, consultant management, and client interface while contributing to broader quality assurance and delivery goals.

Key Responsibilities

1.0 Technical & Managerial

Lead multi-disciplinary coordination and production of fully integrated project documentation

Ensure compliance with scope, contractual obligations, and deliverables across all post-concept stages

Oversee QA/QC implementation and enforce design consistency and quality

Coordinate with specialists and sub-consultants to ensure timely, accurate documentation

Lead and participate in technical and design coordination meetings with clients and consultants

Conduct Revit model reviews and ensure BIM consistency across packages

Manage architectural resource planning and report pipeline/workload to senior leadership

Serve as primary design point of contact for project stakeholders

Conduct independent design reviews and uphold design standards

2.0 Project Management Tools & Procedures

Maintain and update tools such as:

Project Management Plans

Responsibility Matrix, Risk Register, Change Orders

Meeting minutes, Reports, QA/QC checklists

Information Exchange Matrix and Close-out documentation

3.0 Contractual & Commercial

Review contract terms and scope

Coordinate invoice stages with finance

Identify and support preparation of Variation Orders

4.0 Leadership & Team Development

Conduct performance evaluations and mentor junior team members

Support development of design manuals, standards, and internal knowledge resources

Encourage best practice in documentation, presentation, and collaboration

Qualifications & Skills

Bachelor's degree in Architecture (B.Arch or B.Sc)

Minimum 8 years in a Design Manager role, with 10+ years overall architectural experience

Strong knowledge of Revit and BIM workflows

Demonstrated leadership in project delivery and coordination

Deep understanding of regional authority requirements, codes, and submission processes

Strong interpersonal, decision-making, and stakeholder communication skills

Solid knowledge of contract, scope, risk, and resource management in an architectural context