Senior Design Manager

Senior Design Manager – Architect

Apply for Senior Design Manager at Buro Happold in الرياض, S01, SA.

This Full time on site position offers great opportunities for career growth.

The purpose of this role is to provide proactive architectural design management to deliver a major luxury project in Riyadh. You will be responsible for successful design execution, consultant coordination, stakeholder management and ensuring the technical and aesthetic integrity of the architecture package throughout the design lifecycle.

• Lead architectural design management across concept, developed, detailed and IFC stages.
• Manage architectural consultants and coordinate inputs from specialist designers and technical advisors.
• Review and challenge design deliverables to ensure they meet project brief, quality expectations and technical requirements.
• Oversee multidisciplinary design coordination with interiors, MEP, structures, landscape and infrastructure.
• Lead design reviews, technical workshops and gateway submissions.
• Manage design risks, issues, changes and programme impacts related to the architecture package.
• Support value engineering, buildability and cost alignment exercises.
• Prepare and review reports, presentations and client‑facing design updates.
• Contribute to consultant procurement, scope development and technical bid evaluations.
• Mentor junior team members and support consistent application of design management standards.
• Act as a key point of contact for architectural design matters with internal and external stakeholders.

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
• Significant experience in architectural design management on complex, high‑value projects.
• Strong knowledge of design stages, consultant management and multidisciplinary coordination.
• Experience working on luxury, hospitality, cultural, residential or mixed‑use developments is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication, report writing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong technical review capability and attention to detail.
• Familiarity with BIM‑led design management workflows is preferred.
• Middle East experience, ideally within Saudi Arabia or the GCC, is strongly preferred.

A senior role on a flagship luxury project in Riyadh. Career‑defining project exposure and the opportunity to shape high‑quality design outcomes. An attractive salary and benefits package. A collaborative and ambitious project environment.