Lead Architect Sports Stadiums

Client on One95 Global; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Client on One95 Global is seeking a senior architectural design leader to guide multiple stadium projects from concept through detailed design, construction support and handover.

You will ensure designs meet FIFA, AFC and international standards, uphold design quality and act as the architectural authority coordinating with client engineers and stadium consultants.

Lead design reviews, mentor teams, and manage integration with structural, MEP, seating, roofing and overlays across the programme.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Architecture from an internationally recognised, accredited institution
• Chartered/registered status with a recognised international body (e.g. RIBA, AIA, ARB, RAIC or equivalent)
• Minimum 15+ years post-qualification experience, including significant time in a senior design leadership role
• Demonstrable, verifiable experience delivering FIFA World Cup or other FIFA/AFC-sanctioned stadium projects
• Deep working knowledge of FIFA and AFC stadium design and technical guidelines
• Experience delivering mega-scale sports infrastructure projects (multi-billion SAR/USD value)
• Fluent English and strong experience operating within international, multidisciplinary design and delivery teams
• Prior experience working in the GCC, ideally Saudi Arabia, is highly advantageous
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and leadership skills

Responsibilities

• Provide senior architectural design leadership across multiple stadium projects from concept through detailed design construction support and handover
• Ensure all stadium designs meet FIFA AFC and relevant international federation technical standards and guidelines
• Set and uphold design quality consistency and technical rigour across the stadium portfolio
• Act as the primary architectural authority in coordination with client engineering and specialist stadium-design consultants
• Lead design reviews and approvals ensuring alignment with programme budget and quality requirements
• Oversee integration of architectural design with structural MEP seating bowl pitch roofing and overlay systems
• Manage relationships with international design consultants contractors and governing-body technical delegates
• Resolve complex technical and design-compliance issues as they arise across the programme
• Support testing commissioning and pre-event readiness from a design-compliance perspective
• Lead mentor and direct a team of architects and design managers across the programme

Skills

Architectural design leadership

Stakeholder management

Leadership of design teams

International coordination

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture

Job description

Responsibilities

• Provide senior architectural design leadership across multiple stadium projects from concept through detailed design construction support and handover


• Ensure all stadium designs meet FIFA AFC and relevant international federation technical standards and guidelines


• Set and uphold design quality consistency and technical rigour across the stadium portfolio


• Act as the primary architectural authority in coordination with client engineering and specialist stadium-design consultants


• Lead design reviews and approvals ensuring alignment with programme budget and quality requirements


• Oversee integration of architectural design with structural MEP seating bowl pitch roofing and overlay systems


• Manage relationships with international design consultants contractors and governing-body technical delegates


• Resolve complex technical and design-compliance issues as they arise across the programme


• Support testing commissioning and pre-event readiness from a design-compliance perspective


• Lead mentor and direct a team of architects and design managers across the programme

Qualifications

• Bachelor s or Master s degree in Architecture from an internationally recognised, accredited institution


• Chartered/registered status with a recognised international body (e.g. RIBA, AIA, ARB, RAIC or equivalent)


• Minimum 15+ years post-qualification experience, including significant time in a senior design leadership role


• Demonstrable, verifiable experience delivering FIFA World Cup or other FIFA/AFC-sanctioned stadium projects


• Deep working knowledge of FIFA and AFC stadium design and technical guidelines


• Experience delivering mega-scale sports infrastructure projects (multi-billion SAR/USD value)


• Fluent English and strong experience operating within international, multidisciplinary design and delivery teams


• Prior experience working in the GCC, ideally Saudi Arabia, is highly advantageous


• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and leadership skills