Design Manager

Want to work with the most sought-after minds and the most talked-about projects? Your experience in Design Management might just make you our new Design Manager based in Riyadh

Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.

From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it'll be anything but ordinary.

Your next role

Buro Happold has a clear strategic plan, strong learning culture and entrepreneurial mindset that will allow you to thrive.

You'll be part of something bigger than us all where sustainability, equity, social and performance outcomes matter. All of Buro Happold is committed to doing the right thing, even when that's the hardest thing. This is a genuine opportunity to make impact and leave real legacy.

Buro Happold is seeking a Design Manager to join our Project Design Management team in Saudi Arabia.

Based in either Riyadh or Jeddah, you will provide proactive Design and Project Management leadership across major building, infrastructure and masterplanning projects throughout the Middle East. You will lead multidisciplinary design teams, coordinate global delivery resources and ensure projects are delivered safely, on programme, within budget and to the required quality standards.

Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Coordination

• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary design teams throughout the project lifecycle, establishing clear responsibilities, priorities, interfaces and delivery expectations.
• Manage design development, design interfaces and the timely flow of information across all project stages.
• Lead design coordination meetings and ensure timely closure of actions.
• Oversee BIM coordination and collaborative digital delivery processes.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design submissions and support technical assurance and gateway approvals, ensuring submissions are complete, coordinated and compliant with agreed scope, standards and quality procedures.

Project Delivery & Performance

• Monitor programme, budget, resources, risks, opportunities and project change to support successful project delivery.
• Develop, implement and maintain Project Execution Plans, Design Management Plans, responsibility matrices, design programmes and project-specific delivery protocols.
• Support value engineering, design optimisation and cost validation activities.
• Prepare and present project reports, dashboards, presentations and design status updates for internal and external stakeholders.
• Work closely with Project Leaders and Project Directors to support successful project outcomes.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a key design interface with clients, stakeholders, consultants and sub-consultants.
• Proactively manage expectations, resolve design issues and maintain effective working relationships.
• Support procurement activities including preparation and review of RFP documentation, technical evaluations, scope definition and sub-consultant selection.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Project and Design Management tools, processes, lessons learned and best practice.

Your skills and experience

You will be an experienced Design Management professional with a strong understanding of multidisciplinary project delivery within a collaborative engineering consultancy environment. You will also demonstrate:

• Strong understanding of the complete design lifecycle, multidisciplinary design management principles and stage-based project delivery.
• Experience delivering building, infrastructure and/or masterplanning projects within a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy environment.
• Ability to manage stakeholder expectations and coordinate multidisciplinary teams across multiple locations.
• Experience working within a BIM environment, including Revit, BIM 360/ACC and Navisworks.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex technical matters clearly.
• Strong planning, organisational, decision-making and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience managing programme, risk, change and design coordination activities.
• Commercial awareness including scope, fee performance, project controls, resource planning, contractual obligations and change management.
• Experience mentoring and supporting junior team members.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable professional experience, of which 3+ years working on Middle East projects.
• Demonstrable leadership, client-facing and stakeholder management skills.
• Professional membership, chartership, or active progress toward chartership preferred.

What we offer you

Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world's most respected consultancies.

• Hybrid working arrangements
• Attractive salary and benefits package
• A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you
• Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions
• An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won't be far from the exceptional.

At Buro Happold, everyone else's extraordinary is just our everyday.

Apply today and be a part of our legacy.

A place for everyone
Buro Happold values individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of the way you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.
Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other's differences is key, we want employees to feel they don't have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.
We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry.
Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact [email protected] so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.
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