Senior Design Manager – Contracts & Technical Review
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Role Overview
An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Senior Architect / Senior Design Manager / Contract Design Manager to support major mixed-use, hospitality, entertainment, cultural, and infrastructure developments across Saudi Arabia.
The successful candidate will act as a key technical and strategic interface between consultants, contractors, client stakeholders, and project leadership teams. The role will focus on design governance, contract compliance, material strategy, logistics coordination, and technical review rather than day-to-day site delivery or construction supervision.
Key Responsibilities
Design & Technical Management
- Review and manage architectural and multidisciplinary design packages through all project stages.
- Ensure design compliance with client requirements, project briefs, international standards, Saudi codes, and authority requirements.
- Lead technical reviews of consultant submissions, drawings, specifications, reports, and material schedules.
- Coordinate design interfaces between architecture, engineering, infrastructure, landscape, and specialist consultants.
- Identify design risks, inconsistencies, clashes, and compliance issues and drive resolution strategies.
- Support value engineering initiatives while maintaining design intent, quality, functionality, and operational requirements.
- Monitor design progress against programme milestones and contractual deliverables.
Contract & Commercial Design Management
- Review consultant and contractor obligations in relation to design deliverables and technical scope.
- Administer design-related contractual processes including RFIs, technical submittals, deviations, and design change management.
- Assess technical compliance of contractor proposals, shop drawing strategies, and material submissions.
- Support commercial teams in evaluating design-related claims, variations, and contractual risks.
- Ensure all design documentation aligns with contractual obligations and project execution strategies.
Materials & Logistics Strategy
- Review material procurement strategies and long-lead item planning.
- Assess material specifications for suitability, durability, sustainability, cost efficiency, and supply chain considerations.
- Coordinate with procurement and logistics teams regarding design-driven material requirements and delivery sequencing.
- Support strategic planning for phased construction, off-site fabrication, modular components, and logistics integration.
- Evaluate alternative materials and systems to mitigate programme and procurement risks.
Stakeholder & Coordination Management
- Act as a technical liaison between client representatives, consultants, contractors, and specialist suppliers.
- Lead design coordination workshops and technical review meetings.
- Prepare executive-level technical reports, presentations, and design status updates.
- Ensure alignment between project vision, operational requirements, and design implementation strategies.
- Support senior leadership in strategic planning and decision-making across project packages.
Candidate Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, or related discipline.
- Minimum 8 years experience in architecture, design management, or contract design management.
- Previous experience on mixed-use, hospitality, entertainment, infrastructure, or large-scale development projects.
- Strong knowledge of design contracts, technical specifications, procurement processes, and multidisciplinary coordination.
- Experience working for consultancies, PMCs, developers, or international contractors.
- Understanding of material strategies, supply chain coordination, and technical compliance processes.
- Experience in the Middle East and familiarity with major Saudi developments is highly desirable.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and presentation skills.
- Proficiency in design management systems and common industry software platforms.
Preferred Background
- Experience working on complex masterplan or giga-project developments.
- Background in hospitality, entertainment, sports, cultural, or mixed-use developments.
- Experience managing multidisciplinary consultants and project stakeholders.
- Membership of a recognised professional body (RIBA, AIA, PMP, CIOB, etc.) is advantageous.
Key Competencies
- Strategic Design Management
- Contract Administration & Compliance
- Technical Design Review
- Material & Procurement Strategy
- Multidisciplinary Coordination
- Risk & Change Management
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Value Engineering
- Executive Reporting
- Problem Solving & Decision Making
