Director - Design Real Estate

Job Functions:

Skill:

Core Responsibilities:

• Formulate a comprehensive design strategy that aligns with the company's long-term goals and objectives. 
• Setting design standards, guidelines, and benchmarks for master development projects on international scale, ensuring they reflect the company’s vision and market positioning.
• Manage large scale development (approx. 1 billion AED) reflecting the development and sales team input in accordance with the market study and feasibility study ensuring all the financial aspect and product profitability.
• Conduct comprehensive site analysis to understand the physical, environmental, and regulatory constraints and opportunities. Develop land use plans that optimize the use of available space, considering factors such as zoning regulations, infrastructure needs, environmental impact, and community requirements.
• Develop land use datasets with design understanding of various land use products, all type of traffic network and circulation, types of open spaces and current real estate development trends and products updates.
• Responsible for Master Planning / Architectural / Infrastructure / residential, mixed use, retail, hospitality design presentations and review all design related submittals from concept to final delivery.
• Manage the creation of client design briefs and review the scope of the RFP in conjunction with Real-Estate Development Department.
• Participate in prequalification process, tender evaluation, and contract negotiation. 
• Conduct regular reviews of design proposals, providing constructive feedback and ensuring that designs meet project requirements, regulatory standards, and budget constraints. Approve final designs before they are submitted for stakeholder review or construction.
• Address and resolve technical design challenges that arise during the design and construction phases.
• Conduct continuous audit to check design progress, and review consultants work submittals against project brief and recommend changes.
• Liaise with Sales Department and consultant for the real estate product inventory as per AD Ports guideline. 
• Ensure the issuance of all required government permits and construction licenses.
• Manage design documentation and reporting for the purpose of validating brief / code compliance.

People Management Responsibilities:

• Direct coordination between all disciplines relevant to master
  planning (feasibility, architecture, infrastructure, and delivery).
• Ensure that adequate level of support is provided to project teams during execution and commissioning through design reviews for constructability issues.

Strategic Responsibilities:

• Develop and articulate long-term design strategies that support the organization’s growth and development goals while adhering to organization’s overall business strategy and objectives.
• Identify and evaluate new design opportunities and market trends.
• Create and present business cases for new design initiatives, including financial projections and strategic benefits.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders to support design initiatives.
• Ensure all designs comply with local, regional, and international building codes and regulations.
• Ensure possible value engineering ideas are identified to cut costs/time and provide recommendations to project teams.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, Civil, Urban Planning, or a related field. 
• Professional certifications such as LEED AP, NCARB, Master planner Designation, PMP, RIBA or similar credentials are an advantage.
• English & Arabic Fluent (both written and verbal).
• Proficiency in other languages is a plus.
• A minimum of 18 years of experience in a similar role.
• Contract management, Real estate design and development, combining strategic planning, market analysis, and financial acumen.
• Proficiency in architectural design, compliance with regulations, and leading multidisciplinary teams is essential.
• Expertise in managing complex projects, ensuring profitability, and delivering innovative, sustainable designs is crucial.