Senior Design Manager Public Realm MAS

About the Role

Qiddiya is seeking a Senior Design Manager - Public Realm to lead the planning, design coordination, and delivery of public realm projects within assigned districts and citywide initiatives in Riyadh. This full-time role involves managing consultant teams, providing technical leadership, and coordinating multidisciplinary inputs to ensure designs align with approved masterplans, citywide standards, and the Public Realm Design Manual (PRDM).

Role Context and Objectives

The Senior Design Manager acts as the primary day-to-day public realm lead for district delivery teams, supporting the Public Realm Director in achieving project outcomes. The position is responsible for ensuring public realm designs adhere to Stage Gate requirements, People First Principles, project spirit teams, and in-house design support, while also contributing to the development of citywide public realm standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Lead Public Realm Design Manager for assigned districts and project portfolios.
• Manage public realm design development through Conceptual Master Plan (CMP), Detailed Master Plan (DMP), Land Servicing, and detailed design stages.
• Coordinate and review consultant deliverables to ensure compliance with approved masterplans, design standards, and technical requirements.
• Support the implementation of citywide public realm strategies, standards, and PRDM requirements.
• Coordinate public realm interfaces with infrastructure, mobility, utilities, irrigation, sustainability, environmental, and operational teams.
• Review design submissions and provide technical recommendations to support Stage Gate approvals.
• Monitor programme delivery, design risks, and key project dependencies.
• Support procurement activities, consultant management, scope development, and Request for Proposal (RFP) reviews.
• Mentor junior team members and promote consistency in public realm delivery and governance.
• Contribute to the development of public realm standards, technical guidance, and best-practice design solutions across the city.

Accountabilities

• Delivery of coordinated and compliant public realm design packages.
• Achievement of district programme milestones and Stage Gate requirements.
• Effective management of consultant performance and design quality.
• Successful integration of public realm requirements with wider district infrastructure and development programmes.
• Identification and mitigation of design, programme, and technical risks.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture.
• Over 10 years of experience managing multidisciplinary consultants through all design stages.
• Strong technical understanding of public realm systems, including parks, streetscapes, irrigation, hardscape, softscape, and infrastructure interfaces.
• Experience working on large-scale mixed-use developments, master-planned communities, or mega-projects.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The role involves working within a dynamic team focused on delivering significant public realm projects for Qiddiya.