Design Manager Sports Adventure📣 Job Ad

About the Role

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Design Manager – Sports Adventure to lead and manage the design of sports and leisure facilities within projects in Riyadh. This full-time position requires a minimum of 10 years of experience and involves working within a Project Management Consultancy (PMC) environment. The role focuses on ensuring the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and technically coordinated design solutions that meet international standards and operational requirements.

Role Overview

The Design Manager – Sports Adventure will be responsible for design governance, coordination, and technical assurance for sports venues, including stadiums, training facilities, and community sports complexes. Acting as the client's representative, this role ensures that designs align with international standards, operational needs, and legacy objectives, covering all project stages from concept through to construction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage design activities for sports facilities from concept to construction.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, including architects, structural engineers, MEP specialists, sports consultants, and venue planners.
• Review and validate design deliverables for compliance with project requirements, international standards, and best practices.
• Establish and monitor the design program in alignment with overall project milestones.
• Lead design reviews, workshops, and coordination meetings.
• Provide expert input on sports facility planning and design, ensuring compliance with relevant international sports standards (*, FIFA, IOC, World Athletics).
• Review field/court layouts, spectator sightlines, circulation, and operational functionality.
• Ensure the integration of athlete facilities, media zones, VIP areas, and back-of-house operations.
• Validate specifications for materials, surfaces, lighting, acoustics, and equipment.
• Promote sustainable and legacy-driven sports design solutions.
• Serve as the primary interface between the client, operators, sports consultants, and design teams.
• Coordinate with governing bodies and authorities for approvals and certifications.
• Facilitate stakeholder alignment on operational and functional requirements.
• Participate in client presentations and technical decision-making forums.
• Monitor design progress against budget and schedule, and assess the impact of design changes.
• Support value engineering initiatives specific to sports infrastructure.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to design coordination, compliance, and constructability.
• Provide technical design support during construction, including review of shop drawings and RFIs, ensuring design intent is maintained on site.
• Coordinate with site supervision teams and contractors for issue resolution and support testing, commissioning, and handover of sports facilities.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven experience in leading and managing design processes for sports and leisure facilities.
• Experience within a Project Management Consultancy (PMC) environment is required.
• Specialized knowledge of sports venues such as stadiums, training facilities, and community sports complexes.
• Familiarity with international sports standards and best practices.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh. The role operates within a Project Management Consultancy framework, requiring close collaboration with various stakeholders, including clients, operators, consultants, and design teams.