Sr. Delivery Design Director

Retal; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Retal seeks a Senior Design Delivery Director to lead the end-to-end design process across diverse developments in Saudi Arabia. You will govern design strategy, manage cross-functional teams and external consultants, and ensure value, quality, and regulatory alignment from inception through construction.

You will drive multi-project design delivery, oversee budgets and contracts, and partner with executives to align design outcomes with strategic objectives and market needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related field.
• Master's degree preferred in Architecture, Urban Design or related field.
• Minimum 15+ years in architectural design, design management and project delivery.
• 8–10+ years in senior leadership overseeing large-scale developments.
• Proven track record delivering residential, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, or master-planned projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the design delivery function across multiple large-scale developments.
• Establish design governance, standards, and best practices.
• Direct design execution of projects, monitor progress, resources, and risks.
• Chair executive design review committees and gateway processes.
• Guide concept to construction phases aligning with market demands and investment objectives.
• Foster relationships with consultants, authorities, investors, and partners.
• Oversee design budgets, contracts, and cost control.
• Drive value engineering, sustainability, and innovation across portfolios.
• Identify and mitigate design risks affecting cost, schedule, and quality.
• Ensure compliance with Saudi Building Code and regulations.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Portfolio Management

Design Delivery

Stakeholder Engagement

Budget & Commercial

Regulatory Compliance

Team Development

Executive Communication

Education

Bachelor's in Architecture

Master's in Architecture/Urban Design

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

BIM Platforms

SketchUp

Navisworks

Microsoft Project

Primavera P6

Power BI

Job description

Job Purpose

The Senior Design Delivery Director is an executive leadership role responsible for directing and governing the end-to-end design delivery function across Retal Urban Development Company's portfolio of residential, mixed-use, hospitality, commercial, and master-planned development projects. The role ensures the successful planning, coordination, management, and delivery of all design activities from project inception through construction completion.

The Senior Design Delivery Director leads multidisciplinary design teams, manages external consultants, establishes design governance frameworks, drives value optimization, ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, and aligns design outcomes with Retal's strategic, financial, operational, and market objectives. The position serves as the key interface between executive management, development, project delivery, consultants, and key stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered efficiently, cost-effectively, and to the highest standards of quality, innovation, sustainability, and customer value.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

1. Design Delivery Leadership
   Lead and oversee the design delivery function across multiple large-scale developments and project portfolios.
   Establish and implement design delivery strategies, standards, governance frameworks, and best practices.
   Ensure design programs support project schedules, commercial objectives, and development strategies.
2. Portfolio Management
   Direct the design execution of multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and business goals.
   Monitor overall portfolio performance, design progress, resource allocation, and risk exposure.
3. Design Governance & Quality Assurance
   Establish design review and approval processes across all project stages.
   Ensure consistency, quality, innovation, functionality, constructability, and customer-focused outcomes.
   Chair executive design review committees and gateway approval processes.
4. Strategic Design Management
   Guide project teams during concept design, schematic design, detailed design, tender documentation, and construction phases.
   Ensure design solutions align with market demands, customer expectations, operational requirements, and investment objectives.
5. Consultant & Stakeholder Management
   Lead the selection, appointment, and performance management of architects, engineers, urban designers, and specialist consultants.
   Foster collaborative relationships with government authorities, utility providers, investors, strategic partners, and key stakeholders.
6. Budget & Commercial Oversight
   Oversee design budgets and consultant contracts across the project portfolio.
   Ensure effective cost control and optimization throughout the design lifecycle.
   Monitor design-related expenditures and provide executive-level reporting.
7. Value Engineering & Optimization
   Drive value engineering initiatives to achieve optimal balance between quality, functionality, cost, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
   Identify innovative solutions that improve project feasibility and financial performance.
8. Design Risk Management
   Identify, assess, and mitigate design-related risks affecting cost, schedule, quality, approvals, and constructability.
   Ensure proactive resolution of design conflicts and project delivery challenges.
9. Regulatory & Code Compliance
   Ensure full compliance with Saudi Building Code, municipal regulations, zoning requirements, planning guidelines, and relevant industry standards.
   Maintain effective relationships with regulatory authorities to facilitate timely approvals.
10. Cross-Functional Collaboration
    Collaborate closely with Development, Project Delivery, Construction, Commercial, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, and Asset Management teams.
    Ensure seamless coordination between design development and project execution activities.
11. Construction Design Support
    Provide executive oversight of design support during construction.
    Ensure timely resolution of design-related issues, technical queries, variations, and site challenges.
12. Sustainability & Innovation
    Lead the integration of sustainability, smart technologies, ESG objectives, and innovative design practices across all developments.
    Promote environmentally responsible and future-ready development solutions.
13. Organizational Leadership
    Build, lead, mentor, and develop high-performing design delivery teams.
    Establish talent development programs, succession planning initiatives, and performance management frameworks.
    Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.
14. Executive Reporting & Communication
    Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations, strategic reports, and project updates to senior leadership, board members, investors, and stakeholders.
    Communicate portfolio performance, key risks, opportunities, and strategic recommendations.
15. Cultural & Market Alignment
    Ensure all developments reflect Saudi Arabian cultural values, regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and market trends.
    Support Retal's vision of delivering innovative and sustainable communities.

Key Competencies

• Leadership & Strategy
• Executive Leadership
• Portfolio & Program Management
• Strategic Planning
• Organizational Development
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Change Management
• Technical & Delivery
• Design Delivery Management
• Architectural Design Leadership
• Multidisciplinary Coordination
• Design Governance
• Construction Administration
• Quality Assurance & Quality Control
• Design Risk Management
• Value Engineering
• Commercial & Financial
• Budget Management
• Cost Optimization
• Contract Management
• Consultant Management
• Commercial Awareness
• Financial Acumen
• Regulatory & Compliance
• Saudi Building Code
• Municipal Regulations
• Planning & Zoning Requirements
• Regulatory Approvals Management
• Communication
• Executive Presentation Skills
• Negotiation & Influencing
• Client Relationship Management
• Written & Verbal Communication
• Digital Tools
• AutoCAD
• Revit
• BIM Platforms
• SketchUp
• Navisworks
• Microsoft Project
• Primavera P6
• Power BI (Preferred)

Experience & Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master's Degree in Architecture, Urban Design, Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 15+ years of progressive experience in architectural design, design management, and project delivery.
• Minimum 8-10 years in senior leadership positions overseeing large-scale development projects and multidisciplinary design teams.
• Proven track record in delivering major residential, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, or master-planned community projects.
• Extensive experience managing international and local design consultants.

Certifications (Preferred)

• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• RIBA, AIA, or equivalent professional registration
• LEED AP, WELL AP, ESTIDAMA, or equivalent sustainability certification
• PMI-PgMP or other executive program management certifications

Language Requirements

• Fluent in English (Written & Spoken).
• Arabic proficiency is highly preferred.

Reporting Line

Reports To: Chief Projects Delivery Officer (CPDO)

Direct Reports

• Design Managers
• Senior Design Managers
• Design Delivery Managers
• BIM Managers
• Design Coordinators
• Specialist Technical Leads