Associate Design Director

About Mace Group

Mace Group integrates construction expertise with consultancy services to enhance projects and individuals. The company's values guide its consulting approach and define the professionals it seeks to join its team. This role is part of a landmark program in Riyadh, focusing on the delivery of premium buildings and supporting infrastructure for a prestigious private estate. The project involves a diverse portfolio of high-value developments requiring exceptional standards.

The Role of Associate Design Director

Mace Group is seeking an Associate Design Director/Design Lead for a part-time position in Riyadh. This role involves providing strategic leadership and direction for the design delivery of a confidential development program. Reporting to the Project Director, the Associate Design Director will act as the senior design authority, leading multidisciplinary design teams, ensuring design excellence, overseeing design governance, and aligning all design outputs with client vision, operational requirements, budget, program, and quality objectives. The position requires 2-5 years of experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall design strategy and delivery across a portfolio of building and infrastructure projects.
• Serve as the primary design interface among 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 to construction and 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.
• Significant experience (2-5 years) 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.

Application Information

Mace Group is an inclusive employer and encourages applications from a diverse range of candidates. Even if all criteria are not met, candidates are encouraged to apply. The company is open to discussing part-time, flexible, and hybrid working options where suitable for the role.