Senior Design Manager - Exhibition Facilities

Parsons; Dubai; On-site; AED 446,400 - 613,800; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Senior Design Manager for Exhibition Facilities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This senior role involves leading the design delivery for large exhibition halls and associated facilities. Candidates should have a minimum of 15 years of experience in design and management, specifically in complex projects including exhibition centers and public facilities.

The position requires coordination with multidisciplinary teams, technical review, design execution strategy, and knowledge of BIM-based design protocols. This is a full-time role with an estimated salary range of 40,000-55,000.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of design and design management experience on large, technically complex developments.
• Proven involvement in exhibition centres or major mixed-use developments.
• Strong record of leading multidisciplinary design teams from concept through construction support.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design delivery of exhibition halls and associated facilities across all project stages.
• Establish the design execution strategy, package responsibilities, technical review procedures and interface management framework.
• Manage architecture, structural engineering, MEP, infrastructure, ICT, interiors, landscape and specialist design consultants.

Skills

Design management

Exhibition facility planning

Large-span building design

Multidisciplinary coordination

Architectural design review

Structural interface management

MEP integration

Infrastructure coordination

ICT systems coordination

Interior design coordination

Landscape design coordination

Front-of-house planning

Back-of-house planning

Event venue operations

BIM coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, or related field

Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Design Management or Project Management

Tools

Revit

Navisworks

Job description

Senior Design Manager - Exhibition Facilities

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Construction

Function: Design

General Experience: Minimum 15 years

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: 40,000-55,000 (estimated range based on similar jobs in the city; final offer confirmed with employer)

Overview: Senior Design Manager – Exhibition Facilities in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior construction opportunity leading the complete design delivery of large-span exhibition halls and associated front‑of‑house, back‑of‑house, infrastructure, and public realm areas. The role covers architecture, structures, MEP services, infrastructure, ICT, interiors, landscape, venue operations and specialist event requirements, and it requires coordination of multidisciplinary consultants and integration of new facilities with existing assets to meet operational, sustainability, programme and commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end‑to‑end design delivery of exhibition halls and associated facilities across all project stages.
• Establish the design execution strategy, package responsibilities, technical review procedures and interface management framework.
• Manage architecture, structural engineering, MEP, infrastructure, ICT, interiors, landscape and specialist design consultants.
• Maintain alignment between the project brief, operational requirements, approved budget, programme and design deliverables.
• Develop and control the design programme, submission schedule, review periods and approval milestones.
• Monitor consultant performance and initiate recovery actions when design packages fall behind programme requirements.
• Coordinate large‑span exhibition hall planning, including structural grids, clear heights, column‑free areas and flexible subdivision arrangements.
• Review rigging capacity, suspended loads, event equipment provisions, floor loading and adaptable hall configurations.
• Coordinate building services distribution to preserve operational flexibility and minimise conflicts within event spaces.
• Direct the design of offices, public amenities, medical support rooms, storage areas, food and beverage points and service spaces.
• Ensure front‑of‑house circulation supports visitor movement, accessibility, wayfinding, crowd management and emergency evacuation.
• Coordinate back‑of‑house access, loading routes, waste handling, service yards, staff movement, storage and event logistics.
• Manage interfaces between new facilities and existing buildings, roads, parking structures, utilities and public realm areas.
• Confirm continuity of levels, access routes, pedestrian connections, service networks and operational circulation.
• Lead multidisciplinary design reviews, workshops, technical coordination meetings and constructability assessments.
• Use BIM‑enabled coordination to identify clashes, missing information, spatial constraints and installation conflicts.
• Review consultant drawings, specifications, calculations, technical reports, models, schedules and design narratives.
• Recommend approval, revision or rejection of design submissions based on technical compliance and project requirements.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable building codes, authority regulations, fire and life safety requirements and accessibility standards.
• Coordinate statutory submissions, authority comments, technical approvals, permits and design‑related clearances.
• Lead value engineering and technical optimisation without compromising safety, functionality, flexibility or asset durability.
• Evaluate alternative materials, systems, structural solutions, layouts and construction methods.
• Balance capital cost, operational efficiency, maintainability, energy performance and lifecycle value.
• Identify design risks and interface issues before they affect procurement, construction, commissioning or venue operations.
• Maintain design risk registers, interface schedules, decision logs and technical action trackers.
• Support procurement teams with scope development, tender documentation, technical clarifications and consultant recommendations.
• Evaluate contractor design proposals, technical alternatives, material substitutions and specialist supplier submissions.
• Respond to design‑related requests for information and resolve construction‑stage technical issues.
• Coordinate with sustainability specialists to incorporate energy efficiency, resource conservation and green building objectives.
• Work with commissioning and operational teams to ensure systems can be tested, maintained, operated and adapted effectively.
• Monitor design changes and confirm that cost, programme, construction and operational consequences are assessed.
• Provide regular design progress reports, risk updates, interface summaries and recommendations to project leadership.
• Mentor design managers, engineers, architects, coordinators and BIM personnel across the programme.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Master’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Design Management or Project Management is advantageous.
• Professional registration or chartered status such as RIBA, CEng, PE or an equivalent credential is desirable.
• Minimum 15 years of design and design management experience on large, technically complex developments.
• Proven involvement in exhibition centres, convention facilities, airports, major mixed‑use developments or comparable venues.
• Strong record of leading multidisciplinary design teams from concept through construction support.
• Detailed understanding of exhibition hall planning, large‑span structural systems, MEP integration and event operations.
• Experience coordinating front‑of‑house and back‑of‑house requirements within high‑capacity public facilities.
• Strong knowledge of design governance, programme control, statutory approvals and authority procedures.
• Demonstrated capability in technical review, constructability assessment, value engineering and design optimisation.
• Ability to resolve complex architectural, structural, building services, infrastructure and operational interfaces.
• Experience integrating major new construction with existing facilities and live operational environments.
• Familiarity with BIM‑based design coordination using Revit, Navisworks or comparable digital platforms.
• Ability to review complex drawings, specifications, models, calculations and technical reports.
• Strong commercial awareness covering design changes, consultant scope, procurement and value management.
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, coordination and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple design packages, consultants, priorities and deadlines within a demanding programme.

Skills Set

• Design management
• Exhibition facility planning
• Large‑span building design
• Multidisciplinary coordination
• Architectural design review
• Structural interface management
• MEP integration
• Infrastructure coordination
• ICT systems coordination
• Interior design coordination
• Landscape design coordination
• Front‑of‑house planning
• Back‑of‑house planning
• Event venue operations
• Structural grid planning
• Rigging provision coordination
• Flexible hall configuration
• Service yard planning
• Public realm interfaces
• Existing asset integration
• BIM coordination
• Revit
• Navisworks
• Clash detection
• Design programme management
• Authority approvals
• Technical due diligence
• Constructability review
• Value engineering
• Design optimisation
• Sustainability coordination
• Design risk management
• Tender documentation
• RFI management
• Construction design support
• Stakeholder management