Senior Manager Design Management (Sports Assets) (SPA )📣 Job Ad

About Qiddiya Investment Company

Qiddiya Investment Company is seeking a Senior Manager - Design Management (Sports Assets) to join its team. This is a full-time position focused on the technical design development of major sports infrastructure assets within the Qiddiya project.

The Role of Senior Manager - Design Management

The Senior Manager will lead and oversee the technical design development for a range of sports infrastructure, including stadiums, multipurpose arenas, elite performance centres, training facilities, and associated sports-related developments. This role acts as the technical authority throughout the design lifecycle, ensuring all sports assets achieve the highest standards of architectural, engineering, operational, and sporting excellence. The position is responsible for ensuring projects meet objectives related to quality, programme, cost, sustainability, and future operational performance, working closely with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure fully coordinated and compliant designs.

Technical Design Leadership and Oversight

• Lead multidisciplinary technical design management activities across various sports facilities.
• Provide technical oversight of architectural, structural, civil, MEP, sports systems, and specialist consultant deliverables.
• Ensure design solutions align with project objectives, operational requirements, asset strategies, and business case expectations.
• Act as the primary technical interface between development teams, consultants, contractors, and operators.
• Drive design excellence across all project stages, from concept through detailed design and construction support.
• Support the development of design briefs and technical requirements for sports assets.

Design Management and Project Assurance

• Manage and coordinate Lead Design Consultants and specialist designers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Chair and lead technical design workshops, design reviews, and coordination meetings.
• Ensure integration between architecture, structure, MEP, technology, security, crowd management, sports operations, and venue-specific systems.
• Monitor consultant performance against contractual obligations, deliverables, and programme milestones.
• Establish clear design governance processes and reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure designs comply with requirements of FIFA, AFC, IOC, FIBA, World Athletics, and other relevant international sports federations, as well as all relevant codes, regulations, accessibility, and life-safety standards.
• Lead technical reviews of design submissions, drawings, reports, BIM models, and specifications.
• Implement quality assurance processes to maintain consistency and compliance throughout design development.
• Identify design risks and coordinate mitigation strategies, and review value engineering proposals without compromising operational functionality or design intent.
• Collaborate with Development, Delivery, Commercial, Asset Management, and Operations teams, and engage with governing bodies, operators, end users, and specialist sports consultants.
• Provide technical support during procurement, tender evaluation, contractor appointment, and site issue resolution.
• Participate in inspections, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture.
• Chartered or professionally accredited status is preferred (*, RIBA, ARB, ICE, IStructE, PMI, CIOB or equivalent).
• At least 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Proven track record delivering large-scale sports and entertainment venues, including stadiums, arenas, elite training centres, sports complexes, or major public assembly buildings.
• Experience within both client-side and PMC or Tier-1 contractors.
• Experience managing international design teams and multidisciplinary consultants.

Desired Attributes and Expertise

• Major project experience in the Middle East is highly desirable.
• Exposure to FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, AFC, Formula 1, or equivalent major sporting infrastructure programmes would be advantageous.