Design Manager

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Position Overview AECOM is seeking an experienced Design Manager to join its team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This leadership role focuses on developing design strategies, managing design operations, and delivering innovative solutions that align with project requirements and customer expectations.

The successful candidate will bring 15 years of professional design experience, including at least 8 years in leadership.

Qualifications

• 15 years of professional design experience.
• At least 8 years in leadership or management.
• Proven experience in design management, team leadership, and project oversight.
• Ability to develop design strategies and establish design standards.
• Experience advising senior leadership on design-related matters.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive design strategies, plans, and criteria for assigned projects and initiatives.
• Align design objectives with organizational priorities, project requirements, and customer expectations.
• Evaluate proposed design concepts for feasibility, quality, innovation, and potential impact.
• Establish appropriate design approaches to support project delivery.
• Develop recommendations for improving design effectiveness and consistency.
• Lead, mentor, and support a team of design professionals.
• Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of design activities.
• Review design deliverables to assess their suitability against project objectives.
• Establish and maintain design standards and quality benchmarks.
• Monitor design activities for compliance with applicable requirements and regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Design management

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Project oversight

Design strategy

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Sketch

Job description

Design Manager Job Snapshot - Role: Design Manager - Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Industry: Construction - Function: Design - Experience: 15 years of professional design experience, including at least 8 years in leadership or management - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

Position Overview AECOM is seeking an experienced Design Manager to join its team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This leadership position focuses on developing design strategies, managing design operations, and delivering innovative solutions that align with project requirements, organizational objectives, and customer expectations. The Design Manager will oversee design initiatives, evaluate proposed concepts, establish quality standards, and guide a team of design professionals. The role involves collaborating with engineering, product, marketing, and other departments to ensure that design solutions are technically sound, commercially appropriate, and consistent with the organization 's vision. The successful candidate will bring 15 years of professional design experience, including at least 8 years in a leadership or management capacity. Strong design management capabilities, strategic thinking, technical proficiency, and stakeholder communication skills are essential.

Job Details - Country: Saudi Arabia - City: Riyadh - Industry: Construction - Function: Design - Salary: Not disclosed - Gender: No Preference - Candidate Nationality: Not specified - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

Key Responsibilities

Design Strategy and Planning

• Develop and implement comprehensive design strategies, plans, and criteria for assigned projects and initiatives.


• Align design objectives with organizational priorities, project requirements, and customer expectations.


• Evaluate proposed design concepts for feasibility, quality, innovation, and potential impact.


• Establish appropriate design approaches to support project delivery.


• Develop recommendations for improving design effectiveness and consistency.


• Adapt design strategies to changing project requirements and business needs.


• Maintain awareness of relevant industry developments and emerging design practices.

Design Management and Project Delivery

• Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of design activities.


• Manage multiple design initiatives while maintaining established quality expectations.


• Supervise specialized design functions, including large-scale design projects, brand development, and design system implementation.


• Review design deliverables to assess their suitability against project objectives.


• Identify technical and operational issues that may affect design outcomes.


• Coordinate resources and priorities to support effective project execution.


• Monitor design progress and recommend corrective measures when required.


• Support timely completion of design assignments.

Design Quality and Compliance

• Establish and maintain appropriate design standards and quality benchmarks.


• Monitor design activities for compliance with applicable requirements and regulations.


• Evaluate the consistency and quality of design deliverables.


• Identify opportunities to strengthen design review and quality assurance processes.


• Provide guidance on maintaining design integrity throughout project execution.


• Support the implementation of improvements to design procedures and standards.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of design professionals.


• Provide technical direction and guidance on design-related matters.


• Encourage collaboration, creative thinking, and knowledge sharing.


• Evaluate team performance and identify opportunities for professional development.


• Support junior designers in developing their technical and creative capabilities.


• Promote an inclusive working environment that values different perspectives.


• Help team members maintain high standards of quality and professional performance.

Technical Design Evaluation

• Assess the technical feasibility and effectiveness of proposed design solutions.


• Review design concepts against established project criteria.


• Evaluate alternative approaches and recommend suitable solutions.


• Apply analytical and problem-solving skills to complex design challenges.


• Provide specialist advice to project teams and management.


• Support the use of appropriate design software, tools, and methodologies.


• Recommend improvements that strengthen design quality and project outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with product, marketing, engineering, and other relevant departments.


• Coordinate design requirements with internal stakeholders.


• Ensure design activities support broader organizational objectives.


• Communicate technical concepts and proposed solutions to diverse audiences.


• Address design-related concerns through effective stakeholder engagement.


• Support consistent design approaches across relevant business activities.


• Maintain productive working relationships with project participants and leadership teams.

Stakeholder Management and Advisory Support

• Serve as a technical advisor on design-related matters.


• Provide strategic recommendations to management and senior leadership.


• Present design concepts, evaluations, and proposed improvements.


• Advise stakeholders on emerging industry trends and design practices.


• Evaluate customer requirements and recommend appropriate design responses.


• Balance project needs, design quality, and organizational expectations.


• Support informed decision-making through clear technical communication.

Budget and Resource Management

• Manage assigned design budgets and resources.


• Monitor resource allocation across design initiatives.


• Evaluate operational requirements to support efficient delivery.


• Identify opportunities to improve resource utilization.


• Maintain design quality while managing available budgets.


• Coordinate priorities across concurrent assignments.


• Provide management with relevant information on resource requirements.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

• Evaluate design operations, project activities, and team performance.


• Monitor progress against established objectives and quality expectations.


• Identify operational inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.


• Prepare reports covering design initiatives and project outcomes.


• Present relevant operational metrics and performance observations.


• Develop actionable recommendations to improve design processes.


• Support continuous improvement through performance evaluation and feedback.

Brand Consistency and Customer-Focused Design

• Support design solutions that reflect organizational identity and brand requirements.


• Adapt design approaches to meet different customer needs.


• Maintain consistency across relevant design applications.


• Evaluate design concepts against customer expectations and business objectives.


• Support the development of coherent design systems and standards.


• Consider relevant market developments when recommending design improvements.

Required Experience

• 15 years of professional design experience.


• At least 8 years of experience in a leadership or management capacity.


• Proven experience in design management, team leadership, and project oversight.


• Demonstrated ability to develop design strategies and establish design standards.


• Experience managing multiple design projects or initiatives simultaneously.


• Experience in budget management and resource allocation.


• Proven ability to collaborate across departments and manage stakeholder relationships.


• Experience advising senior leadership on design-related matters.

Required Technical and Professional Skills

• Advanced proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch, or equivalent tools.


• Strong understanding of design strategy, planning, and implementation.


• Ability to assess design feasibility, quality, and potential impact.


• Design project management and operational oversight.


• Team leadership, mentoring, and performance management.


• Design standards development and quality monitoring.


• Budget management and resource planning.


• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.


• Excellent communication and presentation skills.


• Ability to explain design concepts to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.


• Effective cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder management.


• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.


• Ability to manage competing priorities and evolving project requirements.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor 's degree in Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or a related field.


• Experience applying design thinking methodologies and user‑centered design principles.


• Knowledge of design compliance, accessibility standards, and quality assurance processes.


• Experience working in a fast‑paced and innovative organizational environment.


• Familiarity with design tools and platforms used for digital and print media.


• Experience mentoring and developing junior designers.


• Understanding of market trends and competitive design analysis.

Leadership and Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinking and the ability to establish a clear design direction.


• Ability to inspire and motivate design teams.


• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.


• Sound judgment and decisive problem‑solving under pressure.


• Effective time management and organizational skills.


• Supportive and inclusive leadership approach.


• Transparent communication and willingness to consider team input.


• Adaptability to changing project priorities and business requirements.


• Commitment to measurable results and continuous improvement.

Additional Employment Information

• All newly hired AECOM employees are required to attend in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.


• AECOM is committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and takes fraudulent hiring activity seriously.

Benefits and Professional Development

AECOM offers employee benefits that vary according to employment status and eligibility. Depending on applicable arrangements, benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life and disability coverage, paid time off, leave arrangements, employee assistance programs, well‑being resources, retirement savings plans, and other employee benefits. The company provides professional training and development programs designed to support technical expertise, leadership skills, and career progression.

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering professional services across buildings, transportation, water, environment, and energy. The company works with public- and private‑sector clients throughout the project lifecycle, providing advisory, planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management services. With a global workforce of more than 50,000 professionals, AECOM brings together engineers, designers, planners, scientists, digital specialists, and project managers to deliver infrastructure solutions that support communities and long‑term development. AECOM is a Fortune 500 company that reported revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. The company promotes equal employment opportunity, collaboration, professional development, and a workplace built on respect.