Overview
Atkins are searching for a Candidate to join our team with experience of managing large-scale multi-disciplinary projects within KSA and the GCC Region. The candidate is to have a minimum of 12 years postgraduate experience with 8+ years within the Middle East with significant experience in Design Management (minimum 5 years) or multidisciplinary design delivery.
In addition a proven track record leading small to medium scale projects of medium to high complexity, or significant packages within larger projects and demonstrated experience managing and mentoring Design Management teams.
The role requires the ability to operate independently, leading multi ‑disciplinary design teams with full accountability for design coordination, programme management, quality, and scope compliance.
The Senior Design Manager works closely with the project delivery team to establish project objectives, develop the Design Management Plan, and oversee project scheduling, ensuring the project team remains aligned throughout the project lifecycle and achieves agreed objectives and milestones in accordance with project management standards.
The role includes managing the relationship with the Client's technical team, proactively managing client expectations, and ensuring that project outcomes meet or exceed client requirements.
The Senior Design Manager is responsible for assigning and managing tasks across the design team, ensuring appropriate resources, tools, and technical support are in place, actively overseeing the quality of deliverables prior to submission, maintaining project documentation, ensuring compliance with regulatory and company requirements, and upholding AtkinsRéalis Design Management principles, tools, and best practice. In addition, the role contributes to bid delivery and business development activities while mentoring Design Managers and Assistant Design Managers.
Your role
- Leads and manages the overall technical input of the multidisciplinary design team, ensuring design outputs are fully coordinated, compliant with contractual and regulatory requirements, and delivered to the required quality standards
- Creates, maintains, and actively manages the Design Management Plan (DMP), ensuring alignment with project scope, programme, organisation structure, communication protocols, and client requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
- accountable for the design coordination and interface management process, ensuring effective integration between disciplines, subconsultants , third parties, and client requirements, and resolving coordination issues proactively.
- Develops, owns, and manages a multidisciplinary design programme, securing buying from Technical Leads and aligning design deliverables with client milestones, approvals, procurement strategy, and construction sequencing.
- Ensures that all design deliverables are reviewed, approved, and issued in accordance with the AtkinsRéalis Quality Management System (QMS), project procedures, and agreed document control processes.
- Integrates Safety in Design principles throughout all stages of the design process, ensuring hazards are identified, risks are managed, and design decisions support safe construction, operation, and maintenance outcomes.
- . Responsible for confirming that contractual design deliverables have been achieved in accordance with the agreed scope and programme prior to the production of invoices.
- Identifies, coordinates, and supports the compilation of scope gaps and changes, working closely with the Project Manager, Lead Designer, and Discipline Leads to assess impacts on time, cost, and resources.
- Demonstrates a strong understanding of risk, contingency, and change management, applying commercial awareness and sound judgement to support overall project financial health.
- Manages and monitors design resources to ensure delivery is achieved in line with agreed budgets, programmes, and project priorities.
- Acts as the primary technical interface with the Client's technical team, working closely with the Project Manager or Project Director as required to ensure alignment on design objectives, scope, and delivery expectations.
- Manages client expectations through clear, structured communication, timely reporting, and coordinated, high quality responses to client comments, queries, and technical requests.
- Provides appropriate technical advice and resources to address client requirements, ensuring issues are resolved efficiently and in accordance with project and contractual obligations.
- Leads or supports stakeholder and statutory authority engagement processes, ensuring design submissions meet client, regulatory, and approval requirements.
- Proactively escalates technical, programme, or scope related issues in a timely and structured manner, supporting effective resolution and minimizing impact on project outcomes.
- Provides day to day leadership and mentoring to Design Managers, Assistant Design Managers, and junior team members.
- Fosters a collaborative, high performance team culture, encouraging knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
- Supports performance development through coaching, feedback, and contribution to appraisals where required.
- Acts as a role model for AtkinsRéalis behaviours, values, and professional standards.
- Where required, acts as Bid Manager for small to medium proposals aligned with experience and capability.
- Contributes to bid preparation, including methodology development, programme input, and Design Management strategy.
- Supports wider Design Management marketing and business development initiatives, promoting best practice and capability.
About You
- Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a relevant design / engineering discipline.
- Strong capability in multi‑disciplinary design coordination and interface management.
- Sound knowledge of design and construction processes, including Safety in Design requirements.
- Proficient in digital delivery and BIM‑enabled environments, including Revit, Navisworks, and design coordination tools.
- Advanced proficiency in MS Project, Excel, and Word.
- Strong understanding of Quality Management requirements.
- Demonstrates structured, methodical, and proactive leadership.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and emotional intelligence skills.
- Able to lead without reliance on authority, influencing outcomes through credibility and clarity.
- Results‑oriented with a continuous improvement and growth mindset.
- Upholds the highest standards of integrity, safety, and professionalism.
Rewards & benefits
Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career.
This Includes
- Tax-free salary.
- Life insurance coverage.
- Medical insurance.
- Annual leave balance.
- Company gratuity scheme.
- Discretionary bonus program.
- Annual flight contribution.
- Transportation & housing allowances.
- Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.
Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make.
About AtkinsRéalis
We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.
Find out more.
