Job description

Senior leadership role within a major mixed-use mega programme in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia involving sports facilities, entertainment, arts, residential developments, and associated infrastructure, delivered within a project management consultancy and delivery partner environment. The Design Director oversees multidisciplinary design across multiple neighbourhoods and community assets ensuring alignment with programme objectives, buildability, cost certainty, and world-class quality standards. The role directs the design management function, establishes design governance, defines long-term design strategy for the residential business unit, and ensures alignment with programme vision, technical requirements, cost plans, and master schedule priorities. Responsibilities include implementing governance structures such as Design Management Plan, design stage gates, design assurance protocols, and approval pathways; leading senior-level design and technical review forums; driving standardisation, modularisation, DFMA/MMC approaches; managing BIM and digital teams; coordinating consultants, contractors, and delivery partner stakeholders; owning design delivery programme; ensuring compliance with building safety standards, statutory requirements, and local regulations; coordinating with commercial teams for cost plan validation, change assessments, value engineering, and contract package strategies; supporting tendering, contractor engagement, technical clarifications, and review of shop drawings and submittals. The role requires extensive design management experience, leadership across diverse multidisciplinary teams, experience in large-scale residential or mixed-use masterplan developments, and track record delivering major programmes within PMC/delivery partner environments, along with chartered status such as RIBA, ICE, CIBSE, AIA, PMI preferred. The position operates within Mace values emphasizing safety, quality deliverables, compliance obligations, continuous improvement, innovation, and inclusive working environments.