Principal Design Manager

Mott Macdonald; As Sudiyah; On-site; OMR 30,760 - 38,450; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

90 calendar days’ paid maternity leave

Competitive annual leave

Annual company performance bonus scheme

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a Principal Design Manager for luxury developments in the Middle East. This role involves end-to-end leadership in design management, ensuring quality and compliance across projects. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in high-rise and mixed-use projects, ideally within the Gulf region.

Responsibilities include managing the design process, stakeholder relationships, and fostering innovation. A Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture is required, along with Chartered status preferred. Mott MacDonald offers a supportive and inclusive working environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Architecture is mandatory.
• Chartered Engineer / Architect or equivalent professional registration is preferred.
• Significant experience in design management within high‑rise development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and control the end‑to‑end design process.
• Integrate and lead multi‑disciplinary design teams.
• Proactively manage technical, commercial, programme and reputational risk.

Skills

Leadership

Design Management

Stakeholder management

Project controls

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Architecture

Chartered Engineer / Architect or equivalent

Job description

About the Role

This role is accountable for the end‑to‑end leadership and delivery of complex, high‑rise, mixed‑use and luxury developments across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Principal Design Manager provides single‑point accountability for design excellence, integrating design management, technical assurance, innovation, compliance and stakeholder leadership across the full project lifecycle. The role plays a critical advisory position with clients, ensuring outcomes are delivered safely, efficiently and in line with Mott MacDonald governance, best practice and regional standards.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

• Lead and control the end‑to‑end design process, from requirements definition through to delivery, including scope, basis of design, risk, quality assurance and statutory compliance.
• Act as Design Manager and/or Project Principal, applying Mott MacDonald management systems, QA/QC processes and governance requirements.
• Integrate and lead multi‑disciplinary design teams, ensuring robust coordination, independent checks and high‑quality technical outputs.
• Maintain overall ownership of design solutions, including change control, authority approvals, reporting and escalation management.
• Build and sustain trusted client and key stakeholder relationships, acting as a senior advisor and point of escalation on design‑related matters.
• Proactively manage technical, commercial, programme and reputational risk, while identifying opportunities to enhance value and delivery outcomes.
• Champion innovation, digital enablement and sustainability, embedding future‑ready solutions and applying frameworks such as LEED and Estidama.
• Lead, mentor and develop teams, fostering a high‑performance, inclusive culture aligned with technical excellence and professional growth.

Candidate Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Architecture (Master’s degree advantageous).
• Chartered Engineer / Architect or equivalent professional registration preferred.
• Significant experience in design management within the built environment, including delivery of high‑rise and mixed‑use developments.
• Proven experience working in the Middle East / Gulf region within a consultancy environment.
• Strong understanding of project controls, commercial management and contracts, including FIDIC.
• Experience working to design‑to‑budget principles in collaboration with cost consultants.
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management and client‑facing communication skills.
• Arabic language capability is beneficial but not mandatory.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of our organisation. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate, rather take positive steps towards creating a diverse and inclusive working environment.

Flexible Working

At Mott MacDonald, we support our staff to create work‑life balance which works for them and welcome candidates looking for career flexibility. We are open to discussing flexible working at interview stage.

Benefits

• 90 calendar days’ paid maternity leave
• Competitive annual leave
• An annual professional institution subscription
• Annual company performance bonus scheme – subject to company performance.

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: Full Time

Market: Buildings

Discipline: Civil

Job Ref: 14526