Project Design Manager

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Structured career development

Mentoring

Clear PM pathway

Job summary

AE Recruitment is seeking a highly capable Project Design Manager for its Abu Dhabi team on behalf of a leading international architecture and engineering practice.

The role suits a technically proficient Senior Architect moving into broader project-management responsibilities, overseeing delivery while coordinating design with architects, engineers and planners on high-profile Middle East schemes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture is essential.
• Approximately 10+ years’ post-qualification experience.
• Established Senior Architect with project-management exposure.
• Proven UAE experience with a multinational practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of assigned projects under the guidance of a Project Director.
• Ensure delivery against scope, programme, budget and quality requirements.
• Coordinate architectural and multidisciplinary design information.
• Plan and manage internal resourcing across architectural and engineering teams.
• Coordinate sub-consultants and external stakeholders, including clients and contractors.
• Prepare and maintain project schedules and progress reports.
• Organise and chair coordination meetings and issue minutes.
• Support contract-administration activities including variations and RFIs.
• Identify risks and mitigate issues early; ensure quality and safety compliance.

Skills

Architecture

Concept Design

CoOrdination

Detail Design

International exp

Project Management

Technical

UAE Exp

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Posted on 05/11/2026

• Education required Bachelors in Architecture (buildings)
• Expertise Required Architecture; Concept Design; CoOrdination; Detail Design; International exp; Project Management; Technical; UAE Exp
• Computer Expertise AutoCAD
• Project Experience Hospitality; Mixed-use; Residential; Retail
• Country United Arab Emirates
• Postal Code 51133
• Target Date 11/01/2027
• Date Opened 05/11/2026

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.