Director - Design and Planning

GBC Development; Muscat; On-site; OMR 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

GBC Development is looking for a design leader in Muscat, Oman, responsible for overseeing all design disciplines across various projects. Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in architecture or a related field, along with 15 years of experience and a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role.

The position entails leading multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring compliance with codes, and integrating sustainability into designs. This is a critical role that supports large-scale community developments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience in a similar role with at least 5 years in a leadership position.
• Experience in large-scale real estate developments.
• Ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Overall design leadership for the Development function.
• Ensure compliance with local and international codes.
• Lead and coordinate multi-disciplinary consultants and internal teams.
• Monitor consultants’ progress and compliance of deliverables.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to reporting staff.

Skills

Leadership in design management

Urban planning expertise

Code compliance knowledge

Sustainability integration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in architecture or related discipline

Master’s degree in Architecture or Urban Design preferred

Job description

Overall design leadership for the Development function. Oversee the delivery of all technical and design disciplines across the Master Plan ensuring design integrity, code compliance, completeness and correctness of deliverables from consultants while ensuring alignment with the Development Strategy.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish design management governance processes to ensure robust design reviews to achieve approval of business plans across all development stage gates.
• Ensure compliance with local and international codes. Oversee the preparation of planning and construction related submissions to authorities.
• Lead, manage and coordinate multi-disciplinary consultants and internal team in urban planning, infrastructure, architectural, landscape, interior design, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and ICT.
• Own the evolution of the Development Masterplan and enact changes or revisions as necessary to meet business objectives.
• Embed sustainability in all design related decisions and endeavor to achieve sustainability certifications for completed assets.
• Provide design ideation and conceptual input into early stages of development to allow for the development of robust business plans.
• Monitor the consultants’ progress and compliance of submitted deliverables with budget parameters set by the Development Team. Carry out value engineering if necessary to bring the budget within feasibility limits while ensuring quality of the design is not compromised.
• Early identification of design related risks which could impact progress or timely completion of design deliverables.
• And local Finance team Prepare periodic project progress reports, raising major issues to the Director.
• Final approval of Consultants’ deliverables from compliance to relevant contract terms, compliance to codes, completeness and correctness aspects.
• Review and approval of contractor’s submittals from aesthetic and technical aspects in line with approved samples, mockups or brand standards.
• Review and approve sub-developers’ plans and compliance to the development guidelines.
• Support the procurement and commercial management of consultants in scope of work preparation and variations review.
• Oversee the establishment and staffing of an in-house design function to support the ideation, pre-concept and concept stages of Development.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and development for reporting staff to build a high-performance culture and maximize departmental capabilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, Engineering or a related discipline with minimum 15 years’ experience in similar role with minimum of 5 years in a leadership role
• Master’s degree preferred in a related field (Architecture or Urban Design)
• Experience working for Real Estate Developer on a large-scale master planned community including residential, commercial, retail, entertainment, and/or hospitality components
• Experience in leading a multi-disciplinary consultant team