Design Manager

Client of S&K HR Consulting; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 420,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Client of S&K HR Consulting is seeking a highly experienced Design Manager with 12+ years to lead the design team from briefing to handover, balancing creative leadership with strong technical delivery in Riyadh.

The role involves managing complex, high-value projects, coordinating with clients, consultants and suppliers, and guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver exceptional outcomes on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design, or related design discipline.
• More than 12 years progressive professional experience in senior design leadership.
• Proven success leading multidisciplinary teams on high-value projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead mentor and develop a multidisciplinary design team with clear responsibilities and standards.
• Establish the creative direction and maintain the design vision through all development stages.
• Manage multiple complex projects including scope, schedules, budgets, resources, and quality.
• Act as senior client contact, building relationships and managing expectations.
• Lead client meetings, workshops, and design approval sessions.
• Translate client requirements into actionable design and project tasks.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationship management

Project management

Design leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Architecture/Design

Tools

Design software

Project management software

Presentation software

Job description

Job Summary We are seeking a highly experienced Design Manager with more than 12 years of professional experience to lead the design team and manage complex client projects from initial briefing and concept development through technical coordination execution and final handover The successful candidate will combine creative leadership technical expertise commercial awareness project management and excellent client-facing skills This is a senior hands‑on role for a confident leader who can inspire teams manage demanding stakeholders make effective decisions under pressure and ensure projects are delivered to the highest standards on time and within budget

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mentor and develop a multidisciplinary design team setting clear responsibilities priorities and performance standards
• Establish the creative direction for projects and maintain the design vision throughout all stages of development and delivery
• Manage multiple complex projects including scope schedules budgets resources deliverables risks and quality
• Act as the primary senior contact for clients building strong relationships and managing expectations professionally
• Lead client meetings workshops presentations and design-approval sessions
• Translate client requirements and feedback into clear practical actions for the design and project teams
• Provide creative and technical guidance while remaining hands‑on during critical project stages
• Review and approve concepts presentations drawings specifications material selections and technical packages
• Coordinate with consultants contractors suppliers production teams and other project stakeholders
• Ensure designs are creative functional technically accurate commercially viable and compliant with relevant standards
• Identify and resolve design technical commercial and coordination risks before they affect project delivery
• Manage design changes and communicate their impact on scope fees schedules and resources
• Support proposals fee submissions tenders resource planning cost control and business‑development activities
• Maintain high standards of quality control documentation communication and project reporting
• Contribute to the company s design strategy reputation operational improvement and business growth
• Proficiency in relevant design documentation presentation collaboration and project‑management software
• Ability to remain calm professional and effective under pressure
• Hands‑on proactive adaptable detail‑oriented and accountable working style
• Fluency in English additional languages are an advantage

Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor's or master's degree in Architecture, Interior Design, Product Design, Graphic Design, or a related design discipline.
• More than 12 years of progressive professional experience, including substantial experience in a senior design leadership position.
• Proven success leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering complex, high-value, or high-profile projects.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating creative excellence, technical capability, and successful project execution.
• Extensive experience managing senior clients, presenting design solutions, negotiating requirements, and handling challenging situations.
• Comprehensive understanding of the full design and project-delivery process.
• Strong technical knowledge of relevant materials, detailing, specifications, production, construction, and industry standards.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness, including budgets, fees, resource planning, cost control, and change management.
• Advanced planning, decision-making, problem-solving, and risk-management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, clients, teams, budgets, and deadlines simultaneously.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a confident and accomplished design leader who combines creativity with technical depth, commercial judgment, and strong project-management capabilities. They can operate strategically while remaining closely involved in the details, inspire high-performing teams, build trusted client relationships, and take full ownership of projects from concept to completion.