Project Design Manager

Zohorecruit; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 301,000 - 335,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Career development

PM career path

Job summary

Zohorecruit in Abu Dhabi is seeking a talented Project Design Manager to join their Abu Dhabi team. This technically strong Senior Architect will take on broader project-management responsibilities while continuing to contribute to and coordinate the design process within an integrated team of architects, engineers and planners.

Projects include large, complex developments across the UAE/Middle East, including hospitality, commercial and mixed-use schemes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture is essential.
• 10+ years post-qualification experience.
• Senior Architect with project-management responsibilities.
• Proven UAE experience with a multidisciplinary design practice.
• Track record delivering large-scale UAE/Middle East projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of assigned projects under guidance of a Project Director.
• Ensure delivery against scope, programme, budget and quality requirements.
• Coordinate architectural and multidisciplinary design information.
• Plan and manage internal resources, allocate work and monitor progress.

Skills

Architecture

Concept Design

Coordination

Detail Design

Project Management

Technical

UAE Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

AutoCAD

Bluebeam

MS Project

Primavera

Job description

• Education required Bachelors in Architecture (buildings)
• Expertise Required Architecture; Concept Design; CoOrdination; Detail Design; Project Management; Technical; UAE Exp
• Computer Expertise AutoCAD
• Project Experience Hospitality; Mixed-use; Residential; Retail
• Country United Arab Emirates
• Postal Code 51133
• Target Date 16/11/2026
• Date Opened 06/10/2026

Job Description

An established international architecture and engineering practice isseeking a talented Project Design Manager to join its Abu Dhabi team.

The role is ideal for a technically strong Senior Architect who hasbegun taking on broader project-management responsibilities and is ready toformalise that progression. You will manage project delivery while continuingto contribute to and coordinate the design process, working within anintegrated team of architects, engineers, interior designers and planners.

Projects include large, complex and high-profile developments across theMiddle East, including super-tall towers, hospitality, commercial and mixed-useschemes.

Keyresponsibilities

• Leadthe day-to-day management of assigned projects under the guidance of aProject Director.
• Ensuredelivery against agreed scope, programme, budget and quality requirements.
• Participatein the design process, reviewing and coordinating architectural andmultidisciplinary design information.
• Planand manage internal resourcing, allocate work and monitor progress acrossarchitectural and engineering teams.
• Coordinatesub-consultants and external stakeholders, including clients, operators,contractors and authorities.
• Prepareand maintain project schedules, look-ahead programmes, progress reportsand action trackers.
• Organiseand chair coordination meetings, issue minutes and ensure actions arefollowed through to close-out.
• Supportcontract-administration activities, including variation and changetracking, RFIs and technical clarifications.
• Identifyproject risks and issues early, escalating them appropriately andproposing practical mitigation measures.
• Championquality, health and safety, and compliance with relevant codes andstandards throughout the project lifecycle.
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’sdegree in Architecture is essential.
• Approximately10+ years’ post-qualification experience.
• EstablishedSenior Architect experience, with demonstrable exposure toproject-management responsibilities.
• ProvenUAE experience, ideally gained with a recognised consultant ormultidisciplinary design practice.
• Trackrecord delivering large-scale projects in the UAE or wider Middle East.
• Experiencein high-rise residential towers and/or hospitality projects isparticularly relevant.
• Soundunderstanding of all project stages: concept, schematic design, detaileddesign and construction.
• Strongdesign literacy and the ability to communicate and defend design intentclearly with both internal teams and clients.
• Evidenceof programming, reporting, scheduling and consultant/stakeholdercoordination experience.
• Strongworking knowledge of AutoCAD, Bluebeam, MS Project and Primavera.
• Design-mindedarchitect who wants to move further into project management without losingconnection to the creative process.
• Confident,polished communicator who can lead meetings and present to seniorstakeholders.
• Organised,detail-focused and proactive in resolving issues.
• Collaborativeteam player, comfortable working within a large integratedmultidisciplinary environment.
• Calmand resilient under pressure, with the ability to manage fast-paced,complex projects.
  
• AED27,000–30,000 per month, dependent on experience.
• Medicalinsurance / healthcare.
• Structuredcareer development and mentoring.
• Clearpathway from Senior Architect into a more formally defined Project Managerrole within a global practice.