Senior Design Manager – Mixed-Use Development (Architecture and Interior Design)

Mace; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 669,600 - 1,227,600; Full time

Job summary

Mace is delivering a flagship mixed-use development in Dubai, featuring Grade A+ offices, luxury hotels, branded residences, retail, and public realm. The project requires a Senior Design Manager to lead architectural and interior design across the lifecycle and ensure a unified vision within a complex masterplan.

You’ll oversee leadership of design teams, drive excellence across concept through handover, engage stakeholders, review proposals, and manage risks while targeting sustainability and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Architectural Engineering, or related discipline (Master's preferred).
• Significant experience managing architectural and interior design on large-scale mixed-use developments.
• Proven client representative experience and leadership of design consultants.

Responsibilities

• Act as the client's representative, providing leadership and oversight of architectural and interior design activities.
• Drive design excellence from concept to handover across multiple asset classes.
• Lead design reviews and provide direction to design teams to meet objectives, sustainability, and commercial targets.
• Oversee consultant performance, design programmes, approvals, and compliance.
• Engage stakeholders to incorporate requirements and mitigate design risks throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Leadership

Design management

Stakeholder management

Presentation

Communication

Multidisciplinary coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Interior Design/Architectural Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Job description

The Project

This is an opportunity to work on one of the largest and most prestigious mixed-use developments in the UAE. The project comprises a landmark masterplan incorporating a Grade A+ office tower, luxury hotels, branded residences, retail, hospitality, public realm, and associated infrastructure.

Mace is supporting the delivery of this flagship development and is seeking high-calibre professionals to help realise a world-class destination that sets new benchmarks in design excellence, functionality, commercial performance, and user experience.

Mace is seeking an experienced Senior Design Manager – Mixed-Use Development (Architecture and Interior Design) to act as the client's representative and design guardian across a prestigious mixed-use development.

Responsible for leading, directing and integrating all architectural and interior design activities across the development lifecycle, ensuring the project achieves the highest standards of design quality, operational functionality, commercial performance, and customer experience.

A key aspect of the role will be ensuring the successful integration of multiple asset classes, maintaining a unified vision whilst preserving the unique identity of each component within the wider masterplan.

You’ll Be Responsible For

• Acting as the client's representative, providing leadership, governance, and oversight of all architectural and interior design activities across the development.
• Driving design excellence throughout all project stages from concept, schematic and detailed design through construction and handover.
• Ensuring the successful integration of the Grade A+ office tower, luxury hotels, branded residences, retail, hospitality, and public realm into a cohesive masterplan.
• Leading design reviews and providing strategic direction to design teams to achieve world-class outcomes aligned with the client's vision.
• Reviewing and challenging design proposals to ensure alignment with project objectives, operational requirements, sustainability goals, and commercial targets.
• Overseeing consultant performance, design programmes, deliverables, approvals, and compliance with project requirements.
• Engaging with key stakeholders, authorities, operators, brands and end users to ensure project requirements are successfully incorporated into the design.
• Identifying and mitigating design-related risks, ensuring effective resolution of issues throughout the project lifecycle.
• Works collaboratively towards the common goal of net zero carbon transition and share responsibility for the proactive identification and management of the associated carbon emissions and reductions during the delivery of work.

You’ll Need To Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Architectural Engineering, or a related discipline (Master's preferred).
• Significant experience in architectural and interior design management on large-scale mixed-use, hospitality, residential, commercial, or master-planned developments.
• Proven experience acting on behalf of a client, developer, project management consultancy, or similar organisation managing complex design programmes.
• Demonstrable experience leading internationally recognised architectural and interior design consultants.
• Strong understanding of mixed-use development design, planning principles, operational requirements, and customer experience considerations.
• Experience delivering luxury hospitality, branded residences, premium commercial, retail, and public realm projects.
• Strong design management, consultant management, and multidisciplinary coordination experience.
• Experience working across all project phases from concept design through construction and handover.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, presentation, and leadership skills.
• Experience working within the Middle East on complex, high‑profile developments preferred.

Our values

Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse, and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of well-being in every team.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables and strategic outcomes and build long-term relationships with our clients.

Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfill all the criteria, please apply, as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part-time, flexible and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.