Senior Design Manager

Buro Happold; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive salary and benefits package

Career-defining project exposure

Collaborative project environment

Job summary

Buro Happold is looking for a Senior Design Manager – Architect to lead architectural design management on a major luxury project in Riyadh. You will ensure successful design execution and technical integrity throughout the project's lifecycle.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's in Architecture and significant experience in design management, particularly with luxury and high-value developments. Join us to shape the future of architectural excellence.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in architectural design management on high-value projects.
• Strong knowledge of design stages and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Excellent communication and report writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural design management across various stages.
• Manage architectural consultants and coordinate technical inputs.
• Review design deliverables for quality and compliance.

Skills

Architectural design management

Consultant coordination

Stakeholder management

Technical integrity oversight

Experience in luxury developments

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

BIM-led design management

Job description

Want to lead architectural design management on one of Riyadh’s most ambitious luxury developments? Your experience in architectural design leadership might make you our new Senior Design Manager – Architect.

Here, expect the exceptional.

This is a senior role with responsibility for leading architectural design delivery, consultant coordination and technical excellence across a landmark project.

Your next role

The purpose of this role is to provide proactive architectural design management to deliver a major luxury project in Riyadh. You will be responsible for successful design execution, consultant coordination, stakeholder management and ensuring the technical and aesthetic integrity of the architecture package throughout the design lifecycle.

Your key duties

• Lead architectural design management across concept, developed, detailed and IFC stages.
• Manage architectural consultants and coordinate inputs from specialist designers and technical advisors.
• Review and challenge design deliverables to ensure they meet project brief, quality expectations and technical requirements.
• Oversee multidisciplinary design coordination with interiors, MEP, structures, landscape and infrastructure.
• Lead design reviews, technical workshops and gateway submissions.
• Manage design risks, issues, changes and programme impacts related to the architecture package.
• Support value engineering, buildability and cost alignment exercises.
• Prepare and review reports, presentations and client-facing design updates.
• Contribute to consultant procurement, scope development and technical bid evaluations.
• Mentor junior team members and support consistent application of design management standards.
• Act as a key point of contact for architectural design matters with internal and external stakeholders.

Your Skills And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
• Significant experience in architectural design management on complex, high-value projects.
• Strong knowledge of design stages, consultant management and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Experience working on luxury, hospitality, cultural, residential or mixed-use developments is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication, report writing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong technical review capability and attention to detail.
• Familiarity with BIM-led design management workflows is preferred.
• Middle East experience, ideally within Saudi Arabia or the GCC, is strongly preferred.

What We Offer You

• A senior role on a flagship luxury project in Riyadh.
• Career-defining project exposure and the opportunity to shape high-quality design outcomes.
• An attractive salary and benefits package.
• A collaborative and ambitious project environment.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values individuals’ flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of the way you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers. Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. Embracing difference allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.