Design Manager - Infrastructure

WSP USA; Riyad Al Khabra; On-site; SAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP in Saudi Arabia seeks an experienced Design Manager to lead complex infrastructure and land development projects, including master-planned communities. You will coordinate multidisciplinary teams, manage design from concept through construction, and engage clients, authorities, and stakeholders to ensure quality, schedule, and commercial success.

The role requires a strong consultancy background with large-scale master plans, highways, urban expansions and public sector projects in Saudi

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 15 years' experience in engineering consultancy environments.
• Proven experience as a Design Manager, Design Lead, or similar leadership role on major multidisciplinary infrastructure projects.
• Significant experience delivering infrastructure associated with large-scale master-planned developments and land development projects.
• Strong KSA project experience with an in-depth understanding of local authority requirements.
• Demonstrated experience working for leading international engineering consultancies.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams across roads, utilities, drainage, transportation, and public realm disciplines.
• Strong understanding of project delivery methodologies and design management processes.
• Excellent stakeholder and client relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams across infrastructure and land development projects.
• Manage end-to-end design from concept through construction support, ensuring quality at all stages.
• Develop and implement design management plans, design programmes, and delivery strategies.
• Ensure coordination between roads, utilities, drainage, public realm, transportation and structures.
• Monitor progress against scope, schedule, budget and quality objectives.
• Drive collaboration between technical discipline leads to integrated design solutions.
• Serve as the primary interface with clients, authorities and stakeholders on design delivery matters.
• Support business development and client engagement activities.
• Provide strategic technical leadership and drive value initiatives across project teams.

Job description

Due to continued growth in Saudi Arabia, WSP are seeking an experienced Design Manager to lead the delivery of complex multidisciplinary infrastructure projects, with a particular emphasis on land development and master-planned communities.

As Design Manager, you will be responsible for leading and coordinating multidisciplinary design teams on major infrastructure and land development projects across Saudi Arabia. You will act as the key interface between clients, internal technical teams, authorities, and external stakeholders, ensuring that projects are delivered to the highest standards of quality, programme, and commercial performance.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background working within leading engineering consultancies and substantial experience managing infrastructure design associated with large-scale master-planned developments, major highways and complex interchanges, urban expansions, mixed-use communities, and public sector projects in Saudi Arabia.

Project Leadership & Design Management

• Lead multidisciplinary design teams across infrastructure and land development projects.
• Manage the end-to-end design process from concept through detailed design and construction support, ensuring quality is achieved throughout all stages.
• Develop and implement design management plans, design programmes, and delivery strategies.
• Ensure coordination and alignment between various disciplines including roads, utilities, drainage, public realm, transportation, and structures.
• Monitor project progress against scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives.
• Drive collaboration between technical discipline leads to achieve integrated design solutions.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients regarding design delivery matters.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with KSA government entities, developers, and key stakeholders.
• Lead client meetings, technical workshops, design reviews, and progress presentations.
• Manage coordination with regulatory authorities and utility providers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support business development initiatives and contribute to client engagement activities.

Technical Oversight

• Provide strategic technical leadership on major infrastructure and land development projects.
• Monitor resources employed by each discipline to ensure designs are undertaken efficiently.
• Review design submissions to ensure compliance with project requirements, local regulations, and industry standards.
• Ensure design solutions support project objectives relating to functionality, sustainability, constructability, and cost efficiency.
• Identify project risks and implement mitigation strategies throughout the design process.
• Champion development of project value initiatives, innovation and best practice across project teams.

Commercial & Project Controls

• Support project directors and project managers in project planning and resource management.
• Monitor design budgets, staffing plans, deliverables, and project profitability.
• Manage design change processes and ensure scope control.
• Support proposal preparation, technical methodologies, and fee submissions.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary design teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to talent development, succession planning, and technical capability growth within the business.
• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 15 years' experience in engineering consultancy environments.
• Proven experience as a Design Manager, Design Lead, or similar leadership role on major multidisciplinary infrastructure projects.
• Significant experience delivering infrastructure associated with large-scale master-planned developments and land development projects.
• Strong KSA project experience with an in-depth understanding of local authority requirements.
• Demonstrated experience working for leading international engineering consultancies.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams across roads, utilities, drainage, transportation, and public realm disciplines.
• Strong understanding of project delivery methodologies and design management processes.
• Excellent stakeholder and client relationship management skills.

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