Sr. Leading Architect

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Al Khobar; On-site; SAR 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Assystem is seeking a Sr. Leading Architect to oversee architectural design for buildings and infrastructure within Saudi Arabia.

You will lead architectural teams, coordinate with multidisciplinary groups, and ensure compliance with Saudi codes while delivering high-quality documentation and design packages. The role emphasizes leadership, technical direction, and collaboration with authorities, clients, and stakeholders to drive projects from concept to construction while maintaining design

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture from a recognized university.
• 12–15 years of relevant architectural design experience.
• Strong experience in building and infrastructure architectural design.
• Demonstrable experience leading architectural teams.
• Significant experience with multidisciplinary engineering consultancy or design organizations.
• Strong experience in concept, schematic, detailed design, tender documentation, and construction support.
• Experience with large-scale and complex projects.
• Experience with Saudi Arabian projects is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architectural team across assigned projects.
• Allocate architectural activities to architects, senior architects, and architectural designers based on project priorities, workload, and competence.
• Provide technical direction, mentoring, and support to architectural team members.
• Review workload and resource requirements and report requirements to management.
• Monitor design productivity, deliverable progress, and project milestones.
• Ensure consistent design standards, architectural principles, and engineering practices are implemented across projects.
• Support recruitment, technical interviews, and assessment of architectural candidates when required.
• Support professional development and competency improvement within the architectural team.
• Establish and maintain high standards of architectural design quality and documentation.

Skills

Team leadership

Architectural coordination

Project management

Technical direction

Quality assurance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

AutoCAD

Revit

Navisworks

Microsoft Visio

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Type of contract ASSYSTEM: Fixed-Term Contract
• ASSYSTEM Sector: Infrastructure / Building

Company Description

Assystem is an international company with one mission: accelerate the energy transition around the world.
Every day, our 6,500 switchers located in 12 countries (Europe, Middle East, Pacific Asia & Africa) connect their six thousand billion neurons to tackle the task of the century: switching to low-carbon energy.
We are a collective committed to the actors who are making the energy switch. Sharing our knowledge, expertise and values allows us to innovate and think differently about the energy transition.
Drawing on more than 55 years' experience in highly regulated sectors subject to strict security and safety requirements, we provide our customers with engineering and project management services, as well as digital services and solutions to optimize the performance of complex infrastructure projects throughout their life cycle. The Group is currently ranked second in the world for nuclear engineering.
To ensure a viable, efficient, and reliable energy future for all

Job Description

• Lead the architectural team across assigned projects.
• Allocate architectural activities to architects, senior architects, and architectural designers based on project priorities, workload, and competence.
• Provide technical direction, mentoring, and support to architectural team members.
• Review workload and resource requirements and report requirements to management.
• Monitor design productivity, deliverable progress, and project milestones.
• Ensure consistent design standards, architectural principles, and engineering practices are implemented across projects.
• Support recruitment, technical interviews, and assessment of architectural candidates when required.
• Support professional development and competency improvement within the architectural team.
• Establish and maintain high standards of architectural design quality and documentation.

Lead and oversee the development of architectural designs for buildings, infrastructure, and master planning projects, including as applicable:

• Concept and feasibility studies.
• Master planning and site planning.
• Space planning and functional planning.
• Detailed architectural design.
• External works and hardscape coordination.
• Public realm and landscape coordination.
• Vertical transportation coordination.
• Accessibility and universal design.
• Life‑safety and egress planning.
• Fire and life‑safety coordination.
• Building entrances and circulation.
• Core planning and vertical circulation.
• Typical floor planning.
• Roof and plant‑room planning.
• Material and finish selection.
• Sustainable and energy‑efficient design solutions.
• Heritage and contextual design considerations where applicable.
• Temporary and permanent works interfaces where applicable.

Ensure appropriate development and technical review of:

• Site plans.
• Roof plans.
• Elevations.
• Sections.
• Enlarged plans and details.
• Door and window schedules.
• Room data sheets.
• FF&E coordination where applicable.
• Accessibility layouts.
• Life‑safety plans.
• Egress and evacuation plans.
• Design presentations and visualization materials.
• Architectural specifications.
• Bills of Quantities.
• Authority submission packages.

Ensure all architectural documentation is coordinated, technically accurate, and suitable for the relevant project stage.

Lead preparation and review of:

• Design Basis Reports.
• Detailed design packages.
• Architectural specifications.
• Material and finish specifications.
• Architectural drawings.
• Plans, sections, and elevations.
• Door and window schedules.
• Room data sheets.
• Bills of Quantities.
• Technical reports.
• Authority submission packages.
• Presentation and client approval documents.

5. Saudi Regulatory and Authority Compliance

Ensure architectural designs comply with applicable requirements including:

• Saudi Building Code and applicable architectural requirements.
• Accessibility requirements and applicable regulations.
• Municipality and local authority requirements.
• Royal Commission requirements where applicable.
• Project-specific authority requirements.
• Planning and zoning requirements where applicable.
• Saudi regulations governing building occupancy, fire safety, accessibility, and means of egress.
• Applicable SASO requirements relating to architectural materials and building products.

International standards and guidelines shall be applied where applicable and where consistent with project and Saudi requirements, including relevant:

• IBC.
• NFPA.
• ICC standards.
• ISO standards.
• BS / BS EN standards.
• ASTM standards.
• Relevant international accessibility and architectural standards.

The Sr. Leading Architect shall identify any conflicts between standards and ensure that the governing project requirement is clearly established.

6. Authority and Municipality Coordination

• Lead technical coordination with relevant Saudi authorities and municipalities.
• Coordinate architectural submissions and approval requirements.
• Prepare and review authority submission packages.
• Respond to authority technical comments.
• Attend technical meetings with authorities and stakeholders.
• Coordinate revisions required to achieve timely approvals.
• Ensure authority requirements are incorporated into the design and project documentation.

7. Multidisciplinary Coordination

Coordinate architectural requirements with:

• Civil Engineering.
• Electrical Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering.
• HVAC.
• Public Health / Plumbing.
• Telecom and ICT.
• Security.
• Infrastructure.
• Utilities.
• Landscape.
• Interior Design.
• Sustainability.
• BIM.
• Specialist consultants.
• Process engineering where applicable.

The Sr. Leading Architect shall ensure:

• Building layouts are coordinated with structural systems.
• MEP requirements are properly integrated within architectural spaces.
• Plant rooms and technical spaces are appropriately sized and located.
• Equipment access and maintenance requirements are considered.
• Shafts, risers, ceiling voids, and service zones are properly coordinated.
• Required penetrations and openings are coordinated.
• Accessibility requirements are incorporated.
• Fire and life‑safety requirements are integrated.
• Vertical and horizontal circulation is properly coordinated.
• Architectural interfaces with infrastructure and external works are resolved.

8. BIM and Digital Design Coordination

• Lead implementation of BIM requirements within the architectural discipline.
• Coordinate with BIM Managers and BIM Coordinators.
• Ensure architectural models comply with project LOD/LOI requirements.
• Participate in multidisciplinary clash‑detection reviews.
• Review model-based design issues affecting architectural systems.
• Ensure alignment between BIM models, drawings, specifications, schedules, and design information.
• Promote effective use of BIM and digital design tools throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure architectural information is developed in accordance with the project BIM Execution Plan.

9. Technical Assurance and Quality

• Perform technical reviews of architectural designs.
• Ensure designs undergo appropriate checking and approval before issue.
• Conduct interdisciplinary design reviews.
• Participate in technical assurance and project gateway reviews.
• Identify architectural design risks and ensure they are mitigated.
• Ensure technical comments are properly addressed before final submission.
• Review design compliance with project requirements and applicable codes.
• Promote lessons learned and standardization across projects.
• Maintain compliance with Assystem's Quality Management System.
• Ensure consistency and quality across all architectural deliverables.

10. Client and Stakeholder Interface

• Represent the architectural discipline during Client meetings.
• Present architectural design concepts, solutions, and recommendations.
• Respond to Client technical and design comments.
• Coordinate with Client technical and design teams.
• Attend authority and stakeholder meetings.
• Support the Project Manager in resolving architectural and design-related stakeholder issues.
• Provide clear architectural recommendations where multiple solutions are available.
• Manage architectural design presentations and approval workshops.
• Maintain effective communication with Clients and project stakeholders.

11. Tender and Construction Support

When included within project scope:

• Respond to bidder technical queries.
• Review architectural technical submissions.
• Assist with tender technical evaluations.
• Review material and finish submissions.
• Respond to RFIs.
• Support technical resolution of site issues.
• Review proposed substitutions and value‑engineering proposals.
• Review mock‑ups and material samples where applicable.
• Participate in site inspections when required.
• Support testing, commissioning, and project handover activities where applicable.
• Review architectural snagging and close‑out requirements.

12. Value Engineering, Sustainability and Innovation

• Identify opportunities to optimize architectural design solutions.
• Evaluate alternative design solutions considering CAPEX, OPEX, functionality, constructability, durability, and maintainability.
• Promote sustainable and energy‑efficient architectural solutions.
• Support low‑carbon and sustainability objectives.
• Optimize building layouts and space utilization.
• Evaluate materials based on performance, durability, availability, cost, and sustainability.
• Encourage appropriate use of digital design and visualization tools.
• Support standardization of architectural solutions across projects.
• Promote innovative architectural approaches while maintaining technical and commercial feasibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture from a recognized university.
• 12–15 years of relevant architectural design experience.
• Strong experience in building and infrastructure architectural design.
• Demonstrable experience leading architectural teams.
• Significant experience with multidisciplinary engineering consultancy or design organizations.
• Strong experience in concept, schematic, detailed design, tender documentation, and construction support.
• Experience with large-scale and complex projects.
• Experience with Saudi Arabian projects is strongly preferred.

Professional Registration

• Valid or eligible professional registration with the Saudi Council of Engineers.
• Professional Architect, Chartered Architect, or equivalent international professional registration is advantageous.

Additional Information

Software and Digital Skills

Working knowledge of relevant tools such as:

• AutoCAD
• Revit
• Navisworks
• Microsoft Visio
• Network planning/design tools
• Wi‑Fi survey/design software where applicable
• CCTV design tools where applicable
• Microsoft Office

The candidate shall demonstrate:

• Strong telecommunications engineering knowledge.
• Strong ICT and ELV design capability.
• Knowledge of both building and infrastructure telecom systems.
• Team leadership.
• Technical problem solving.
• Design coordination.
• Technical checking and review.
• Client-facing communication.
• Service-provider coordination.
• Authority coordination.
• Planning and organization.
• Quality awareness.
• Ability to manage several design packages simultaneously.

Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.

We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter !.