Design Manager Masterplanning

Sinopack Search; As Sudiyah; On-site; OMR 53,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Sinopack Search is seeking a Design Manager for client-side leadership on large-scale Middle East projects, based in Dubai. The role involves guiding architects, engineers and consultants to deliver against the client brief from early design through procurement and delivery.

The ideal candidate has a strong architectural background, experience with top international consultancies, and a track record across hospitality, mixed-use, residential or infrastructure sectors.

Qualifications

• Strong architectural/design background.
• Experience with international consultancies or practices.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary design teams and manage design to brief.

Responsibilities

• Lead design management for major regional projects.
• Coordinate architects, engineers and consultants across disciplines.
• Present design progress and risks to senior clients; manage design programme.

Skills

Architectural background

International consultancy

Lead design teams

Client-side delivery

Large-scale projects

Education

Bachelor's in Architecture or Design

Job description

I’m working with an international client-side organisation that is looking to appoint a Design Manager in Dubai.

We are specifically targeting people from top international architecture and multidisciplinary consultancies who have delivered major, complex projects and are now interested in moving client-side.

You will sit on the client side of the table, managing the design process and ensuring that the appointed architects, engineers and specialist consultants deliver against the client’s brief.

The role will involve working across large-scale projects in the Middle East, managing the design from the early stages through to procurement and delivery.

The role will include:

• Leading the design management of major projects
• Managing international architects, engineers and specialist consultants
• Reviewing consultant appointments, scopes and design deliverables
• Developing and managing the design programme
• Coordinating architecture, interiors, structure, MEP and other design disciplines
• Identifying design risks, gaps and interface issues
• Managing design changes and understanding their impact on cost and programme
• Leading design meetings and presenting directly to senior clients
• Ensuring the original design intent is maintained throughout delivery
• Working closely with project, cost, procurement and construction teams

We are looking for someone with:

• A strong architectural or design background
• Experience working for a well-known international consultancy or architectural practice
• Major project experience across hospitality, mixed-use, residential, masterplanning, aviation, sports or infrastructure
• Experience managing multidisciplinary design teams
• A strong understanding of the full design and construction process
• The confidence to challenge consultants and advise senior clients
• Good commercial awareness, particularly around scope, programme, risk and change
• Middle East experience would be useful, although international candidates with the right background will also be considered

This could suit an established Senior Design Manager, or an Associate, Senior Architect or Project Architect who has moved beyond producing design and is already leading consultants, clients and major project programmes.

It is a great opportunity to move client-side while remaining closely involved in design, working on complex regional projects and gaining greater exposure to the commercial and strategic side of development.