Arada | Design Director, Riyadh

About the Role:
The Design Director will lead and manage the complete design process across multiple developments, from feasibility, concept and master planning through detailed design, authority approvals, and construction support. This role is responsible for coordinating multidisciplinary consultants, ensuring design excellence, maintaining programmed commitments, and delivering commercially viable solutions that align with the development vision and brand standards.
Reporting within the Design function, the Director will work in close partnership with Development, Project Controls, Commercial, and Delivery teams to successfully execute projects across Saudi Arabia.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and delivery of large-scale residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, mixed-use, and master-planned developments across Saudi Arabia.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and concept design through detailed design, construction support, and project completion.
• Drive design excellence, innovation, sustainability, and ESG initiatives while ensuring commercial viability and operational success.
• Manage and coordinate leading architectural, engineering, landscape, infrastructure, and specialist consultants across multiple projects.
• Partner closely with Development, Commercial, Procurement, Legal, Infrastructure, and Sales & Marketing teams to align design solutions with business objectives.
• Establish and maintain robust design governance, quality assurance, value engineering, and technical compliance processes.
• Ensure projects comply with Saudi regulations, authority requirements, and international best practices.
• Lead design reviews, stakeholder presentations, authority approvals, and multidisciplinary coordination workshops.
• Support project procurement, tendering, contractor selection, and construction delivery through technical leadership and guidance.
• Mentor and develop Design Managers and Architects while championing collaboration, innovation, and the design vision across the KSA portfolio.
• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering or a related discipline.
• Master's Degree in Architecture, Urban Design, Construction Management or Business Administration is desirable.
• Professional registration or chartered membership of a recognised professional architectural institution is advantageous.
• Project or design management certification (e.g., PMP) and/or sustainability accreditation (e.g., LEED AP, Mostadam) is desirable.

Experience:

• 18+ years of progressive client-side design management experience within leading real estate developers or international architectural practices.
• Proven experience managing the design of large-scale residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, mixed-use and master-planned developments.
• Strong background in coordinating multidisciplinary consultant teams throughout all project phases.
• Experience working closely with Development teams on feasibility, product definition, and project execution.
• Previous experience delivering projects within Saudi Arabia or the GCC is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience managing design budgets, consultancy fees, and value-engineering exercises on projects of significant scale and complexity.
• Strong knowledge of KSA authority approval processes, the Saudi Building Code, and local design standards and construction methodologies.

Skills & Competencies:

• Technical Competencies

  • Design management across the full development lifecycle, from feasibility and concept through detailed design, construction support and handover.
  • Architecture and multidisciplinary engineering (structural, MEP, civil/infrastructure) coordination.
  • Urban planning and master planning, including land-use, density and phasing optimisation.
  • Sustainability and ESG principles, including green-building certification (Mostadam, LEED) and climate-responsive design.
  • Local and international design standards and codes, including the Saudi Building Code (SBC) and authority approval requirements.
  • Materials knowledge, specification, mock-up review and lifecycle/durability assessment.
  • Design review, technical compliance and design risk management.

• Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

  • Strategic thinking and the ability to translate development vision into deliverable design strategy.
  • Commercial and financial awareness, balancing design quality against cost, program and return on investment.
  • Negotiation and influencing skills with consultants, contractors, and authorities.
  • Sound, decisive judgement under commercial and programmed pressure.
  • Excellent communication and executive presentation skills in English (Arabic is an advantage).
  • Stakeholder management across internal departments, external consultants and government authorities.
  • Team leadership, mentoring and talent development.

Using GenAI in Your Application Process:
To support a fair and consistent experience for all candidates, assessments and interviews should be completed independently and without assistance from generative AI tools. This ensures a clear understanding of your strengths, your thinking, and your approach to real situations.

Why Join?
You'll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that transform communities while working alongside talented professionals in a culture that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous growth. There is a commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Equal Opportunity Statement:
An inclusive workplace is a priority, welcoming applications from all qualified individuals, with employment decisions based on merit, experience, and business needs.