Design Manager

About the Role

Compass Project Consulting is seeking a Design Manager to join their team in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. This full-time, site-based position requires a professional with extensive experience in design management, particularly on major development projects. The role focuses on leading client-side design management functions to ensure project alignment and successful delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the client-side design management function, ensuring design outputs align with project brief, development strategy, budget, programme, authority requirements, and end-user objectives.
• Manage and coordinate multidisciplinary design consultants and specialist advisors throughout all design stages.
• Lead design reviews, technical workshops, design governance, interface management, and design risk management.
• Ensure design deliverables are coordinated, complete, compliant, and buildable at each stage gate.
• Coordinate authority approvals, stakeholder requirements, operator inputs, and developer standards.
• Review design packages, scopes, Employer’s Requirements, and technical deliverables during procurement and tender stages.
• Manage design-related tender queries and coordinate technical responses.
• Maintain design decision logs, risk registers, and key design interfaces.
• Coordinate closely with the client, consultants, contractors, and PMC teams to resolve design issues and maintain project progress.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 18+ years of relevant design management experience, preferably on major development projects.
• Strong PMC/client-side design management experience is essential.
• Proven experience managing multidisciplinary consultants on large-scale mixed-use, masterplan, commercial, residential, hospitality, or major development projects.
• Strong understanding of design development, coordination, authority approvals, procurement, tender documentation, and construction interfaces.
• Demonstrated experience in design governance, value engineering, risk management, and stakeholder coordination.
• Strong knowledge of relevant Saudi codes, regulations, authority requirements, and development standards.
• Saudi/GCC experience is highly preferred.

Required Skills

• Excellent leadership, communication, coordination, and stakeholder-management skills.

Work Environment

This position is site-based in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and requires full-time commitment.

Application Process

Candidates meeting the qualifications are encouraged to apply. Salary details will be discussed during the interview process.