Design Manager

Job Summary

The Design Manager will lead and oversee the complete design lifecycle, ensuring each project achieves exceptional quality, commercial value, and alignment with the company’s brand and strategic objectives. The role demands a balanced combination of creative vision, technical expertise, commercial insight, and stakeholder coordination to deliver design excellence within approved cost and schedule

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Oversight and Design Development:

· Lead design team to oversee the design development from concept through to tender and construction, ensuring all designs align with the company’s brand, goals, and high-quality standards.

· Collaborate closely with internal teams (development, construction, marketing) to ensure their requirements are reflected in the design and adjust plans to meet evolving project needs.

· Review, approve, and monitor design deliverables to guarantee they meet expectations and project requirements.

· Lead design coordination meetings and workshops with consultants, contractors, and internal teams to maintain design integrity and technical clarity.

· Engage and manage external consultants, architects, engineers, and contractors to ensure smooth coordination and communication across teams.

· Facilitate design workshops and review sessions, ensuring the design intent is maintained throughout all stages.

· Provide design leadership during site execution ensuring that design intent is upheld through ongoing technical reviews, inspections, and field coordination.

· Handle design-related queries from construction teams and work to resolve any issues promptly to avoid delays.

· Monitor progress and coordinate with construction teams to resolve design-related challenges and material selection during the construction phase.

2.Quality Assurance and Compliance:

· Ensure that designs comply with relevant regulations, building codes, and safety standards.

· Implement quality control processes, including design reviews and inspections, to maintain high standards throughout the project lifecycle.

· Conduct periodic site visits to ensure designs are correctly interpreted and executed on-site.

· Drive the adoption of sustainable and digital design practices (BIM, coordination models, lifecycle tracking) into the design and construction workflow.

3.Budget and Schedule Management:

· Work closely with Cost Control and Planning teams to ensure design solutions meet budgetary and schedule constraints.

· Identify opportunities for design efficiency and cost savings through smart detailing and material optimization.

· Lead value engineering reviews to balance performance, cost, and aesthetics without compromising quality.

· Anticipate and mitigate design-related risks and schedule impacts through proactive coordination with consultants and contractors.

4.Tender/Commercial support:

· Prepare detailed design briefs and RFPs in collaboration with Development and Product teams.

· Evaluate consultant proposals, providing technical assessments and recommendations.

· Review design deliverables, drawings, and specifications for completeness and constructability prior to tender.

· Participate in the technical evaluation and prequalification of consultants, suppliers, and contractors.

· Support negotiation and finalization of consultant agreements, ensuring scope clarity and deliverable alignment.

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture.

· Minimum 10 years of experience in design management for large-scale real estate or Design consultancies within the UAE.

· Strong background in site supervision and post-contract coordination, including direct interface with construction teams.

· Deep understanding of Dubai authority regulations, building codes, and permitting processes.

· Experience with Abu Dhabi authorities (DMT, ADM, ADCD, Estidama) and their design approval processes is a strong advantage

· Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and contractors from concept to handover.

· Excellent leadership, communication, and coordination skills.

· Proficiency in BIM, Revit, and other design coordination tools, with strong project management capability.

Job Type: Full-time