Senior Delivery Design Director

About the role

The Senior Delivery Design Director leads the end‑to‑end design delivery function for Retal Urban Development’s portfolio of residential, mixed‑use, hospitality, commercial and master‑planned projects. Reporting to the Chief Projects Delivery Officer, the role ensures design activities are planned, coordinated and executed to meet schedule, cost, quality and sustainability goals.

Key responsibilities

• Define and implement design delivery strategies, governance frameworks and standards across multiple large‑scale developments.
• Oversee design execution for several projects simultaneously, monitoring progress, resource allocation and risk exposure.
• Chair executive design review committees and gateway approvals to guarantee quality, constructability and regulatory compliance.
• Lead selection, appointment and performance management of architects, engineers, urban designers and specialist consultants.
• Manage design budgets, consultant contracts and value‑engineering initiatives to optimise cost, quality and sustainability.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering or related discipline; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in architectural design and design management, with at least 8‑10 years in senior leadership of large‑scale development projects.
• Proven track record delivering major residential, mixed‑use, commercial or hospitality projects.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, RIBA/AIA, LEED AP or equivalent are preferred.
• Fluent in English; Arabic proficiency highly preferred.

Required skills

• AutoCAD
• Revit
• BIM platforms
• SketchUp
• Navisworks
• Microsoft Project
• Primavera P6
• Power BI (preferred)