Head of Innovation & Design

🚀 Key Responsibilities | Head of Innovation & Design 🚀

• Advise the Chief Development Officer on design-related matters impacting the implementation of the company’s strategy.

• Ensure design strategies align with business objectives, innovation goals, and long-term development plans.

• Manage design budget preparation and contribute to the overall budgeting process.

• Monitor design-related expenditures to ensure cost efficiency and value optimisation.

• Represent the Section before senior leadership, internal departments, and external stakeholders.

• Provide technical leadership across development and asset management projects, ensuring consistency in design principles and standards.

• Maintain a strong understanding of the organisation’s business structure, operations, and departmental functions to support strategic decision-making.

• Lead the development and implementation of internal policies, systems, processes, and procedures within the Section.

• Identify learning and development needs of team members and support succession planning and competency development.

• Support nationalisation initiatives and contribute to the development of UAE national talent.

• Conduct continuous research into innovative materials, systems, and products that enhance sustainability, comfort, and quality.

• Prepare innovative concept designs aligned with the company’s vision and brand positioning.

• Support Development teams during project feasibility and opportunity appraisal by clarifying design principles and standards.

• Integrate innovation, sustainability, and smart-living concepts where commercially viable.

• Lead the preparation of consultant design briefs and scopes of work.

• Develop and maintain design standards across different market tiers and project types.

• Review schematic and conceptual consultant proposals against approved design principles and standards.

• Recommend and manage the appointment and engagement of design consultants.

• Ensure timely delivery of architectural drawings and consultant deliverables.

• Approve designs and oversee design change management, ensuring formal approval of variations.

• Contribute to project and portfolio risk registers, ensuring effective identification and mitigation of design-related risks.

• Propose and implement systems, applications, and tools that support innovation and design management.

• Ensure project teams effectively utilise approved systems and technologies.

• Ensure all designs, works, and processes comply with legal, regulatory, and internal requirements.

• Provide guidance to team members on compliance-related matters and industry standards.

🎓 **Qualifications & Requirements**

✔ Emirati National (required)

✔ Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture (required)

✔ Master’s Degree in Engineering, Architecture, or related field (preferred)

✔ 9+ years of experience in the development industry, including at least 4 years in a managerial role

💡 **Core Skills & Expertise**

• Strategic Management

• Engineering Practices

• Value Engineering

• Building Codes & Standards

• Real Estate & Property Management

• Budgeting & Cost Control

• Project Management

• Legal, Regulatory & Compliance Knowledge