Overview
Design Director Jobs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Confidential
Title: Design Director
Company: Confidential
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
A leading real estate developer in Saudi Arabia in their search for an experienced Design Manager to lead all design activities across their real estate development portfolio.
About the Role
Reporting to the COO, you will own the design process end-to-end — from concept and master planning through detailed design, authority approvals, tender documentation, and construction support — while managing internal design teams and multidisciplinary external consultants.
What You'll Do
🔹 Lead and manage the design process across multiple real estate development projects
🔹 Oversee master planning, architecture, engineering, landscape, and interior design disciplines
🔹 Manage and develop the internal Design Department team
🔹 Manage external consultants and ensure timely, quality-driven deliverables
🔹 Prepare and review design briefs, RFPs, and scopes of work
🔹 Coordinate authority submissions and secure regulatory approvals
🔹 Support value engineering and cost optimization initiatives
🔹 Manage a portfolio of projects simultaneously across various development stages
🔹 Provide executive-level reporting and presentations to senior management
What We're Looking For
✅ Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, Urban Planning, or related field
✅ 12–15 years of relevant experience, including 5+ years in a Design Manager leadership role
✅ Mandatory: Direct experience working for a Real Estate Developer (developer-side)
✅ Strong track record in residential communities, mixed-use, commercial, and master-planned developments
✅ Proven experience managing design from concept through construction support
✅ Extensive experience in the Saudi Arabian market is essential
⚠️ Please note: candidates with experience limited solely to architectural consultancy firms or contracting companies, without direct developer-side exposure, will not be considered for this role.