Associate Design Director

About Mace

Mace combines construction expertise with consultancy services to enhance projects and individual potential. The company's values guide its consulting approach and define the professionals it seeks to join its team.

The Project and Role Overview

This full-time Associate Design Director role in Riyadh involves providing strategic leadership and direction for the design delivery of a prestigious and confidential development program. The project focuses on delivering premium buildings and supporting infrastructure for a private estate, encompassing a diverse portfolio of high-value developments that require exceptional standards in design, planning, and execution. The Associate Design Director will report to the Project Director and serve as the senior design authority for the project.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall design strategy and delivery across a portfolio of building and infrastructure projects.
• Act as the primary design interface between the client, PMC team, consultants, and other key stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain robust design governance, review, and approval processes.
• Direct multidisciplinary consultant teams to ensure design quality, integration, and consistency across the program.
• Provide leadership through all project stages, from concept development through construction and project handover.
• Drive design excellence while balancing program, commercial, operational, sustainability, and technical requirements.
• Chair design review meetings, technical workshops, and senior stakeholder presentations.
• Manage design risks, critical interfaces, and technical challenges affecting project delivery.
• Ensure all design packages are coordinated, compliant, buildable, and aligned with project objectives.
• Support procurement strategies and participate in consultant and contractor selection processes.
• Review and endorse key technical submissions and major design decisions.
• Lead and mentor design management teams, fostering high performance and professional development.
• Support client decision-making by providing strategic design advice and recommendations.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree qualified in architecture, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Over 10 years of significant experience in a senior design leadership position within a developer, PMC, consultancy, or client organization.
• Proven track record delivering major luxury residential, hospitality, mixed-use, estate, cultural, or landmark developments.
• Strong understanding of design management, design assurance, technical governance, and project delivery methodologies.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary consultant teams across multiple project phases.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to engage at the executive level.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of program, procurement, construction, and operational requirements.
• Ability to challenge, influence, and drive design outcomes while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.
• Middle East project experience is highly desirable.