Design Manager - Sports Adventure

Atkins Realis Group; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Atkins Realis Group seeks a Design Manager for sports and leisure facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role involves overseeing designs for projects like stadiums and training facilities, ensuring they meet international standards while leading diverse design teams.

The ideal candidate will have over 12 years of experience in sports facility design or management with strong leadership skills. This position promises an engaging environment aligned with high international standards of design and operation.

Qualifications

• 12-15+ years of experience in sports facility design or design management.
• Experience in stadiums, major events, or large-scale sports developments.
• Previous experience in PMC or complex multidisciplinary projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead design activities for sports facilities from concept to construction.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design teams and review compliance.
• Ensure compliance with international sports standards and operational functionality.

Skills

Sports facility design

Design management

Multidisciplinary coordination

Leadership

Knowledge of international sports standards

Education

Bachelor or Master degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Job Description Overview

The Design Manager Sports is responsible for leading and managing the design of sports and leisure facilities across projects, ensuring delivery of high-quality, compliant, and technically coordinated solutions. This role combines design management expertise with specialized knowledge of sports venues such as stadiums, training facilities, and community sports complexes within a Project Management Consultancy (PMC) environment. The role focuses on design governance, coordination, and technical assurance, acting as the client’s representative to ensure that sports facility designs meet international standards, operational requirements, and legacy objectives.

Your role

• Lead and manage design activities for sports facilities from concept through detailed design and construction stages.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams: architecture, structure, MEP, sports specialists, venue planners, and consultants.
• Review and validate design deliverables to ensure compliance with project requirements, international standards, and best practices.
• Establish and monitor the design programme aligned with overall project milestones.
• Lead design reviews, workshops, and coordination meetings.
• Provide expert input on sports facility planning and design.
• Ensure compliance with international sports standards (e.g., FIFA, IOC, World Athletics).
• Review field court layouts, spectator sightlines, circulation, and operational functionality.
• Ensure integration of athlete facilities, media zones, VIP areas, and back-of-house operations.
• Validate materials, surfaces, lighting, acoustics, and equipment specifications.
• Promote sustainable and legacy-driven sports design solutions.
• Act as the key interface between client operators, sports consultants, and design teams.
• Coordinate with governing bodies and authorities to secure approvals and certifications.
• Facilitate stakeholder alignment on operational and functional requirements.
• Participate in client presentations and technical decision-making forums.
• Monitor design progress against budget and schedule.
• Assess impact of design changes on project cost, programme, and functionality.
• Support value engineering initiatives specific to sports infrastructure.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to design coordination, compliance, and constructability.
• Provide technical design support during construction, including review of shop drawings and RFIs.
• Ensure the design intent for sports facilities is maintained on site.
• Coordinate with site supervision teams and contractors for issue resolution.
• Support testing, commissioning, and handover of sports facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 12 - 15+ years of experience, including:
• Sports facility design and/or design management.
• Experience in stadiums, major events, or large-scale sports developments.
• Previous experience in PMC, consultancy, or complex multidisciplinary projects.
• Strong knowledge of international sports design standards and venue requirements.
• Strong leadership and multidisciplinary coordination skills.
• Deep understanding of sports facility planning and operations.