Head of Design

Fletcher Piccolo Associates (FPA); Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Fletcher Piccolo Associates (FPA) in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Senior Manager to lead the overall design direction across a luxury residential and hospitality portfolio. You will coordinate internal design teams with multiple external design consultancies, providing strategic leadership and oversight.

You will drive design development through all project stages, ensuring brand standards are met, and maintaining a coherent design identity across developments in the UAE.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10–15 years of experience, 5+ years with a real estate developer.
• Extensive UAE experience and knowledge of local design requirements.
• Experience with branded residences is a plus.
• Strong design management and leadership across multidisciplinary consultancies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage specialist consultants, overseeing performance and coordination.
• Interface with international hospitality groups and branded-residence operators, aligning brand standards and requirements.
• Drive design development and coordinate processes, resolving major design issues and ensuring consistency.
• Lead design reviews and workshops with senior management and stakeholders, guiding design, quality and value decisions.
• Champion design excellence and market-leading residential experiences across developments.

Skills

Leadership

Design management

Multidisciplinary coordination

Stakeholder management

Brand standards

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

A leading luxury real estate development company in the Abu Dhabi, with an strong portfolio of high-end residential and hospitality developments.

Role

Responsible for leading the overall design direction across the portfolio, working closely with the internal design team while providing strategic leadership and oversight to multiple external design consultancies. An experienced Senior Manager with a proven track record of operating at (acting) Head of Design level would be particularly well suited to this opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage specialist consultants, overseeing their performance, deliverables, coordination, and adherence to the project’s design objectives, and commercial requirements.
• Act as the principal design interface with international hospitality groups and branded-residence operators, coordinating brand standards, design guidelines, and operational requirements and ensuring these are effectively integrated into the development.
• Drive the design development and coordination process and resolving key design issues and maintaining consistency across all disciplines.
• Lead design reviews, workshops, and approvals with senior management, operators, and project stakeholders, providing clear direction and making informed recommendations on design, quality, and value.
• Champion design excellence, innovation, and market-leading residential experiences, ensuring the developments are commercially compelling while maintaining a strong and coherent design identity.
• Provide senior design leadership throughout all project stages, from concept and design development through to construction, completion, and handover.

Requirements

• Relevant bachelors degree is a must.
• 10-15 years of experience, 5 of which working directly with a real estate developer.
• Extensive UAE experience, with a strong understanding of local design requirements and considerations.
• Experience with branded residences is an added advantage.
• Strong design management experience, with proven expertise in leading and coordinating multidisciplinary design consultancies.
• Currently at a Senior Manager designation or higher.