Director – Design Planning & Services

Aldar; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Aldar in Abu Dhabi seeks a senior leader to oversee Group Design Planning & Services, anchoring governance across master planning, infrastructure, buildings and interiors. You will ensure design delivery is integrated, scalable and data-driven.

You will lead governance, procurement interfaces, AI-enabled workflow improvements and cross-disciplinary coordination to optimise performance across a multi-project portfolio.

Qualifications

• 14+ years of relevant experience in design planning, design management, design operations or related built-environment discipline.
• 6+ years in managerial leadership roles.

Responsibilities

• Establish end-to-end design frameworks across disciplines with shared standards and decision pathways.
• Lead design programme planning, resource orchestration and milestone governance across all design disciplines.
• Own the Studio's integrated data and systems architecture, enabling visibility of progress, dependencies, risks and decisions.
• Deliver portfolio insights to senior leadership and governance committees, ensuring scalable and agile delivery across multiple developments.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Design Management

Master's degree

Professional certification or membership

Tools

Microsoft Office

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

Lead the Group Design Planning & Services function as the integrated backbone of the Group Design Studio, connecting master planning, infrastructure planning and engineering, public realm, architecture, interior design, design management and design innovation. Establish governance, programme, data and performance frameworks that enable coordinated design delivery, design excellence, efficiency and scalability across a multi-project portfolio.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Design Governance and Integration

• Establish end-to-end design frameworks integrating all disciplines, with common standards, interfaces, decision pathways and accountabilities.
• Establish unified design governance, procedures and quality frameworks across disciplines.
• Act as central integrator across design teams, resolving interface risks and ensuring coherent end-to-end design outcomes.

Programme, Resources and Consultants

• Lead design programme planning, resource orchestration and milestone governance across all design disciplines.
• Proactively manage interdependencies across planning, infrastructure, buildings and interiors, optimising resource deployment across concurrent developments.
• Develop and manage the integrated design procurement strategy, coordinating consultant scopes, interfaces, performance expectations and commercial compliance.
• Maintain consistency of design intent and accountability across the consultant ecosystem.

Data, Digital and AI

• Own the Studio's integrated data and systems architecture, providing visibility of progress, dependencies, resources, risks and decisions.
• Embed AI-enabled tools, including large language models and agents, to improve scenario planning, tracking, risk detection, reporting and cross-discipline coordination.

Performance and Studio Operations

• Deliver portfolio insights to the Group Chief Design Officer and Governance Committees on progress, quality, dependencies, resources and delivery risk.
• Lead Studio operational support, setting team objectives, developing capability and ensuring scalable, agile and responsive delivery across multiple concurrent developments.

KEY MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• Critical design milestones delivered in line with approved portfolio programmes.
• Identified cross-disciplinary interface risks resolved within agreed timeframes.
• Compliance with Group design governance and quality standards.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• 14+ years of relevant experience in design planning, design management, design operations or a related built-environment discipline.
• 6+ years in managerial leadership roles.

TECHNICAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Design planning and programme governance
• Cross-disciplinary design integration
• Consultant and procurement management
• Data, digital and AI-enabled workflow optimisation
• Stakeholder management
• Strategic planning and problem solving
• Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and Excel
• Project and portfolio management platforms
• Design, common data environment (CDE) and collaboration platforms
• Analytics, AI and large language model tools; workflow automation tools

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Design Management or a related discipline (required)
• Master's degree (preferred)
• Relevant professional certification or membership (preferred)