Design Project Manager

Design Project Manager

About the Job

The Design Project Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating the complete design process for assigned real estate development projects, from concept development through detailed design, authority approvals, construction, and final handover.

The role ensures that the design meets the approved project vision, commercial objectives, programme, budget, quality standards, technical requirements, and applicable UAE regulations. The position acts as the primary coordination point among internal departments, architects, engineering consultants, specialist designers, contractors, and relevant authorities.

Key Responsibilities

Design Management

• Manage the design process across concept, schematic, detailed design, tender, construction, and handover stages.
• Translate the development brief and project objectives into clear design requirements and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain the design programme, responsibility matrix, submission schedule, and design deliverables tracker.
• Review architectural, structural, MEP, landscape, interior design, and specialist consultant submissions.
• Ensure coordination and consistency among all design disciplines.
• Monitor design development against the approved project brief, scope, budget, programme, and quality requirements.
• Identify design gaps, conflicts, constructability concerns, and technical risks and ensure their timely resolution.
• Manage design changes and maintain proper records of approvals, revisions, and their impact on cost and programme.
• Ensure drawings, specifications, schedules, and technical documents are complete, coordinated, and issued on time.

Consultant and Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate architects, engineering consultants, interior designers, landscape consultants, operators, and other specialist advisers.
• Establish clear consultant scopes, deliverables, milestones, and performance expectations.
• Chair design coordination meetings and issue clear minutes, action logs, responsibilities, and deadlines.
• Monitor consultant performance and escalate delays, quality concerns, or contractual non-compliance.
• Coordinate with Development, Commercial, Procurement, Construction, Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, and Facility Management teams.
• Present design progress, key decisions, risks, and recommendations to senior management.
• Ensure stakeholder comments are consolidated, assessed, and incorporated without causing uncontrolled changes.

Cost and Commercial Coordination

• Work closely with the Commercial and Cost Management teams to ensure the design remains within the approved budget.
• Support value engineering exercises while protecting the project's quality, functionality, and design intent.
• Assess the design, cost, programme, and operational implications of proposed changes.
• Support the preparation of consultant scopes of work, requests for proposals, technical evaluations, and appointment recommendations.
• Review consultant variations and additional-service requests in coordination with the Commercial and Contracts teams.
• Assist in the technical evaluation of contractors, suppliers, materials, finishes, and specialist packages.

Authority Approvals and Compliance

• Coordinate design submissions and approvals with relevant UAE authorities and utility providers.
• Ensure designs comply with applicable building codes, planning requirements, fire and life-safety standards, accessibility requirements, sustainability standards, and other statutory obligations.
• Maintain an authority approvals tracker and follow up on submissions, comments, revisions, and approvals.
• Coordinate with the Authority Liaison and Government Relations teams to prevent approval-related delays.
• Ensure all necessary permits, no-objection certificates, and design approvals are secured in line with the project programme.

Construction Support

• Support the Construction and Project Management teams during tendering and execution.
• Review technical queries, requests for information, shop drawings, material submissions, samples, and mock-ups.
• Coordinate responses from consultants and ensure technical matters are resolved within agreed timelines.
• Conduct regular site visits to verify that construction complies with the approved design, specifications, quality standards, and design intent.
• Address discrepancies between approved designs and site execution.
• Participate in inspections, mock-up reviews, testing, commissioning, snagging, and handover activities.
• Review as-built drawings, operation and maintenance manuals, and final project documentation.

Project Controls and Reporting

• Prepare regular reports covering design progress, outstanding decisions, approvals, risks, changes, cost implications, and programme status.
• Maintain design risk registers, decision logs, change registers, document-control records, and action trackers.
• Identify potential delays and recommend practical mitigation and recovery measures.
• Ensure all design decisions and approvals are properly documented and traceable.
• Monitor key design milestones and ensure timely escalation of critical issues.
• Contribute to post-project reviews and capture lessons learned for future developments.

Key Performance Indicators

• Achievement of design milestones within the approved programme.
• Completion of coordinated design packages within the approved budget.
• Timely closure of design comments, technical queries, and authority requirements.
• Number and value of design-related variations during construction.
• Reduction in design conflicts, omissions, rework, and site delays.
• Quality and completeness of tender and construction documentation.
• Timely achievement of authority approvals and permits.
• Consultant performance against agreed deliverables and timelines.
• Stakeholder satisfaction with design quality and project coordination.
• Compliance of completed works with the approved design intent.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• A Master's degree or recognized project management qualification, such as PMP, is an advantage.
• Professional membership or accreditation with a recognized architectural, engineering, or project management body is preferred.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of relevant experience in design management or project management.
• Demonstrated experience managing the design of large scale residential, hospitality, mixed use, commercial, or luxury real estate developments.
• Previous experience working with a real estate developer, design consultancy, or project management consultancy is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of UAE design processes, construction practices, authority requirements, and applicable codes.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary consultants from concept through construction and handover.
• Experience with high-end or luxury developments is an advantage.

Technical Competencies

• Design and project management.
• Multidisciplinary design coordination.
• Design programme and deliverables management.
• Architectural and technical drawing review.
• Authority approvals and statutory compliance.
• Cost control and value engineering.
• Construction methodology and constructability review.
• Contract administration and consultant management.
• Risk, change, and document management.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, BIM platforms, Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, and Microsoft Office.
• Strong understanding of sustainability, fire and life safety, accessibility, and building-code requirements.