Architect Lead (Retail and Advertising)

About SYSTRA

SYSTRA is a global engineering and consultancy group specializing in public transport and sustainable mobility. With over 10,300 employees, SYSTRA designs safe and sustainable transport solutions worldwide, aiming to connect people, foster social inclusion, and facilitate access to employment, education, and leisure. For 65 years, the Group has supported cities and regions in developing, improving, and modernizing infrastructure and transport systems across the project lifecycle, from design to deployment and maintenance. Operating in over 80 countries, SYSTRA generates 74% of its turnover internationally and supports clients in their digital, ecological, and energy transitions.

The Role: Architect Lead (Retail and Advertising)

SYSTRA is seeking an Architect Lead (Retail and Advertising) to join its team in Riyadh. This full-time role involves assisting a client with commercial strategies for retail and advertising elements as part of an extension to the Riyadh Metro project. The Architect Lead will provide commercial services consultancy and act as the primary interface with the client on these specific items.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide commercial services consultancy on items including retail areas, all types of internal and external advertisement, "click and collect" facilities, and ATMs.
• Review the design of retail areas, ensuring compliance with contract requirements, availability of properly sized connections for rental, and overall fitness for purpose.
• Review the project's advertisement scheme, ensuring appropriate advertisement elements are utilized and their distribution is optimized.
• Support the client in performing spatial planning, design review, and layout optimization for all retail zones and advertising spaces.
• Serve as the direct interface with the client for all aforementioned commercial and advertising aspects.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Real Estate Development, Commercial Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in retail development, mall management, or commercial asset optimization.
• Experience in retail and advertising integration within metro, rail, airport, or major transit hubs.
• Understanding of lease management frameworks, concession contracts, and revenue-share models.
• Proven track record working with major commercial developers or as an owner’s representative for shopping malls or lifestyle centers.
• Demonstrated experience in the spatial planning of retail layouts, commercial tenant zoning, and high-visibility advertising placements.

Required Skills

• Excellent stakeholder management and commercial negotiation abilities.
• Strong technical report-writing skills.
• Robust cross-disciplinary coordination skills, particularly in managing the interface between tenant fit-outs and core building infrastructure (MEP, structural, and ICT).

Location and Work Type

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.