
Al Futtaim
Senior Design Manager | Real Estate | Asset Development
- Permanent
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Experience 10 - 15 yrs
Job expiry date: 28/11/2025
Job overview
Date posted
14/10/2025
Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Salary
AED 30,000 - 40,000 per month
Compensation
Comprehensive package + relocation
Experience
10 - 15 yrs
Seniority
Senior Manager
Qualification
Bachelors degree
Expiration date
28/11/2025
Job description
The Senior Design Manager at Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate (Dubai) leads design management across multiple complex projects, managing consultants and stakeholders while conducting technical evaluations of design quality, engineering systems, statutory considerations, constructability, and deliverables completeness. The role defines the Design Brief (physical characteristics, location, context, key design objectives) and creates detailed design briefs with product objectives and project descriptions; coordinates with Project Management on infrastructure, engineering, delivery, and statutory requirements; guides projects from design vision through tender documentation with advisory support; sets timeframes, design aspirations, and documentation requirements via meetings and workshops; leads reviews for compliance with development objectives, costs, user experience, functionality, and aesthetics; executes comprehensive technical reviews on design criteria, performance, engineering, systems, and statutory issues; prepares detailed commentary on design deliverables for executive presentations with visualizations and diagrams; assesses design change implications on time, cost, and quality with recommendations; ensures pre-contract approvals for design and financial feasibility; resolves conflicting feedback in the companyâs best interest with clear rationale; secures statutory approvals via consultants and coordinates with authority liaison; and develops marketing collateral (unit plans, lease drawings, renderings). The role also drives research and development on city design (smart city technologies, sustainability) and product design (smart living technologies, urban farming); develops departmental processes, guidelines, standards, and templates; supports market and economic analysis for new product types and positioning; advises on development potential, briefs, positioning, and statistics; conducts independent cost analysis and coordinates benchmarks with Commercial; supports ROI calculations for product design options; manages project schedules and progress reporting for executive leadership; leads contract and commercial management ensuring complete submissions and evaluations; defines procurement strategy and manages pre-qualification and assessment of consultants; and prepares all relevant RFP documents including scopes of work, services, and schedules. Required capabilities include advanced architecture and interior design skills (graphics/presentations), proficiency in MEP systems, structural engineering, civil works, executive presentation preparation, and expertise in CAD, BIM, Primavera, or Microsoft Project.
Required skills
Key responsibilities
- Define the Design Brief covering physical characteristics, location, context, and key design objectives and produce detailed design briefs with product objectives and project descriptions
- Coordinate with Project Management on infrastructure, engineering, delivery, and statutory considerations across project stages
- Guide projects from design vision to tender documentation and provide advisory support throughout
- Set timeframes, design aspirations, and documentation requirements with consultants via meetings and workshops
- Lead design reviews for compliance with development objectives, costs, user experience, functionality, and aesthetics
- Conduct comprehensive technical reviews on design criteria, performance, engineering systems, and statutory issues
- Prepare detailed commentary on design deliverables for executive presentations, including visualizations and diagrams
- Assess implications of design changes on time, cost, and quality and recommend actions
- Ensure pre-contract approvals for design and financial feasibility and resolve conflicting feedback in the companyâs best interest
- Secure statutory approvals via consultants and coordinate with statutory authority liaison
- Develop marketing collateral for project launches (unit plans, lease drawings, renderings)
- Lead research on smart city technologies and sustainability; research smart living technologies and urban farming
- Develop and refine departmental processes, guidelines, standards, and templates for design
- Support market and economic analysis for new product types and positioning strategies and advise on development potential
- Conduct independent cost analysis, coordinate with Commercial for benchmarks, and support ROI calculations for product design considerations
- Manage project schedules and progress reporting for executive leadership review
- Lead contract and commercial management ensuring completeness of submissions and evaluations
- Define procurement strategy, manage pre-qualification and assessment of consultants, and prepare RFP documents (scopes, services, schedules)
Experience & skills
- Masterâs or Bachelorâs degree in Architecture or related field
- Minimum 12 years of experience in design and management roles, mainly with leading developers or consultancy firms
- In-depth experience managing residential and commercial design projects; hospitality experience is a plus
- Fluent in English; Arabic proficiency is an advantage
- Advanced knowledge of building technical requirements including structural, MEP systems, and statutory authorities
- Advanced skills in architecture and interior design, including graphics and executive presentations
- Expertise in CAD, BIM, Primavera, or Microsoft Project; proficiency in Adobe Suite and MS Office