Lead Design Manager

MediaSource FZC; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

MediaSource FZC in Abu Dhabi is seeking a senior Design Manager to lead the design process across major projects, ensuring technically compliant, commercially viable, and high-quality design solutions in line with objectives and schedules.

You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams and external consultants, drive BIM-enabled coordination, value engineering, and risk management to deliver designs on time while meeting UAE regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related design discipline.
• Master’s degree or relevant professional accreditation would be an advantage.
• Minimum 12–15 years of design and design management experience on large-scale projects.
• Strong knowledge of UAE regulations, codes, and approval processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design management from concept to handover.
• Develop and implement design strategies, programmes, and management plans.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams across architectural, structural, MEP, landscape, and infrastructure.
• Manage external design consultants and monitor performance against scope, programme, and budget.
• Review design submissions and ensure compliance with project requirements.
• Ensure coordination between all design disciplines and resolve interface issues.
• Lead design reviews, workshops, and stakeholder meetings.
• Coordinate with Project Management, Commercial, Procurement, BIM, and other functions.
• Support procurement and tendering with design scopes and technical evaluations.
• Provide design support during construction and oversee RFIs and clarifications.

Skills

Design Management

Multidisciplinary Coordination

Stakeholder Management

Team Leadership

Value Engineering

BIM & Digital Coordination

Technical Review

Constructability

Design Governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Engineering

Master’s degree / professional accreditation

Tools

BIM

Common Data Environment (CDE)

Job description

Job Purpose

To lead and manage the design process across major projects, ensuring coordinated, technically compliant, commercially viable, and high-quality design solutions are delivered in accordance with project objectives, budgets, programmes, and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design management process from concept and design development through detailed design, construction, and project handover.




• Develop and implement project design strategies, design programmes, deliverable schedules, and management plans.




• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams including architectural, structural, MEP, landscape, infrastructure, and specialist consultants.




• Manage external design consultants and monitor performance against contractual scope, deliverables, programme, budget, and quality requirements.




• Review design submissions, drawings, specifications, reports, and technical documentation to ensure compliance with project requirements.




• Ensure effective coordination and integration between all design disciplines and identify and resolve design conflicts and interface issues.




• Monitor design progress against approved programmes and ensure key design milestones and deliverables are achieved.




• Lead design review meetings, technical workshops, coordination meetings, and design presentations with consultants and key stakeholders.




• Coordinate closely with Project Management, Technical, Commercial, Procurement, Construction, BIM, and other project functions throughout the design process.




• Ensure design solutions comply with applicable UAE regulations, authority requirements, building codes, technical standards, and project specifications.




• Coordinate with Stakeholder and Authority teams to facilitate design-related approvals, permits, and NOCs.




• Lead value engineering initiatives to optimize design, cost, constructability, operational performance, and lifecycle value without compromising project objectives.




• Manage design changes and assess their potential impact on project scope, programme, cost, quality, and construction.




• Identify design-related risks, constraints, and dependencies and ensure appropriate mitigation measures are implemented.




• Support procurement and tendering activities through preparation and review of design scopes, technical requirements, tender documentation, and technical evaluations.




• Provide design support during construction and facilitate timely resolution of RFIs, design clarifications, technical queries, and site-related design issues.




• Ensure design documentation is appropriately controlled and coordinated through BIM and Common Data Environment processes.




• Support testing, commissioning, handover, and project close-out activities from a design perspective.




• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentoring to Design Managers and other members of the design team.




• Prepare regular design progress reports and provide updates on key risks, decisions, approvals, and outstanding matters to project leadership.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related design discipline.




• Master’s degree or relevant professional accreditation would be an advantage.




• Minimum 12–15 years of relevant design and design management experience, including significant experience leading multidisciplinary design teams on large-scale and complex projects.




• Strong experience within real estate development, construction, infrastructure, or major project environments.




• Proven experience managing design consultants through concept, detailed design, construction, and handover stages.




• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary design coordination, constructability, value engineering, BIM, and design governance.




• Good knowledge of UAE building regulations, authority requirements, codes, and approval processes.




• Demonstrated experience coordinating with consultants, contractors, authorities, and senior project stakeholders.

Key Competencies

Design Management Multidisciplinary Design Coordination Consultant Management Design Leadership Technical Review Value Engineering BIM & Digital Coordination Design Risk Management Authority Coordination Constructability Stakeholder Management Team Leadership