Senior Design Manager

Mace; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in people and projects, delivering high-value developments in the Middle East. We seek a senior Design Manager to lead the design management process on a landmark private estate project in Saudi Arabia, coordinating diverse consultants from concept to construction.

You will drive design quality, coordinate stakeholders, and mentor junior team members, ensuring buildable, compliant designs on time.

Qualifications

• Degree in architecture or related discipline.
• Extensive design management experience in PMC, consultancy, developer or client organisations.
• Experience delivering high-end residential, hospitality, mixed-use, estate, or landmark developments.
• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary building design and infrastructure interfaces.
• Experience managing international design consultants and specialist designers.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead design teams in challenging, fast-paced environments.
• Knowledge of design governance, design assurance, and quality management processes.
• Experience on major Middle East projects is highly desirable.
• Professional membership (RIBA, CIOB, PMI, ICE, IStructE, or equivalent) preferred.
• Necessary visa criteria for Saudi Arabia and relevant work experience for immigration/client approvals.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design management process across multiple concurrent buildings and infrastructure packages.
• Manage and coordinate multidisciplinary design consultants throughout concept, schematic, detailed design, and construction stages.
• Ensure designs are fully coordinated, buildable, compliant, and aligned with project requirements.
• Review and challenge design proposals to optimise quality, functionality, programme, and value.
• Facilitate design workshops, technical reviews, and stakeholder meetings.
• Monitor design progress against agreed deliverables and programme milestones.
• Identify and manage design risks, issues, and interfaces across the project.
• Coordinate with project management, commercial, procurement, construction, and client teams to ensure effective project delivery.
• Manage change control related to design development and scope amendments.
• Review consultant deliverables, technical submissions, specifications, and design reports.
• Support procurement activities including consultant and contractor technical evaluations.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to junior design management team members.
• Ensure compliance with relevant codes, standards, governance requirements, and industry best practices.

Skills

Design management

Stakeholder management

International design consultants

Leadership

Governance & quality management

Fast-paced environments

Middle East project knowledge

Mentoring juniors

Coordination & buildability

Education

Architectural degree

Job description

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy to unlock potential in every person or project and redefine the boundaries of ambition. Our values shape the way we consult and define the people we want to join us on our journey.

The Project

A landmark programme involving the delivery of premium buildings and supporting infrastructure for a prestigious private estate. The project encompasses a diverse portfolio of high-value developments, requiring exceptional standards of design, planning, and execution.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Lead the design management process across multiple concurrent buildings and infrastructure packages.
• Manage and coordinate multidisciplinary design consultants throughout concept, schematic, detailed design, and construction stages.
• Ensure designs are fully coordinated, buildable, compliant, and aligned with project requirements.
• Review and challenge design proposals to optimise quality, functionality, programme, and value.
• Facilitate design workshops, technical reviews, and stakeholder meetings.
• Monitor design progress against agreed deliverables and programme milestones.
• Identify and manage design risks, issues, and interfaces across the project.
• Coordinate with project management, commercial, procurement, construction, and client teams to ensure effective project delivery.
• Manage change control related to design development and scope amendments.
• Review consultant deliverables, technical submissions, specifications, and design reports.
• Support procurement activities including consultant and contractor technical evaluations.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to junior design management team members.
• Ensure compliance with relevant codes, standards, governance requirements, and industry best practices.

You’ll Need To Have

• Degree qualified in architecture or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in design management within PMC, consultancy, developer, or client organisations.
• Demonstrable experience delivering high-end residential, hospitality, mixed-use, estate, or landmark developments.
• Strong understanding of multidisciplinary building design and infrastructure interfaces.
• Experience managing international design consultants and specialist designers.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead design teams through challenging and fast-paced project environments.
• Sound knowledge of design governance, design assurance, and quality management processes.
• Experience working on major projects in the Middle East is highly desirable.
• Professional membership (RIBA, CIOB, PMI, ICE, IStructE, or equivalent) preferred.
• Necessary visa criteria for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and relevant work experience working on high-value projects/programmes for a project management consultancy business, which are required for immigration and client approval.

Our values

Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse, and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of well-being in every team.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables and strategic outcomes and build long-term relationships with our clients.

Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfill all the criteria,

We are also open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.

• site