Director of Project Design Management

Want to work with the most sought-after minds and most talked-about projects? Your experience of Design Management in Engineering Consultancy might just make you our new Director of Project Design Management.

Job Description

Here at Buro Happold, expect the exceptional.

From the projects you will work on to the clients we work with. From career-defining opportunities to an inclusive and diverse practice where we all contribute to a more equitable world. From our reputation to our relationships. Wherever your Buro Happold career takes you, it’ll be anything but ordinary.

Your next role

Buro Happold has a clear strategic plan, strong learning culture and entrepreneurial mindset that will allow you to thrive.

You’ll be part of something bigger than us all where sustainability, equity, social and performance outcomes matter. All of Buro Happold is committed to doing the right thing, even when that’s the hardest thing. This is a genuine opportunity to make impact - and leave real legacy.

Your key duties

The Director of Project Design Management will provide strategic leadership and management of the Project Design Management team, overseeing major infrastructure and building projects in the Middle East. This role is responsible for ensuring the successful execution of projects, maintaining high standards of technical and financial performance, and fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. The individual will serve as the primary interface with clients, supported by the local partner at the executive level. Additionally, this role involves mentoring staff within the office and driving the acquisition of new opportunities.

Strategic Project Delivery

• Scope Management: Oversee the definition and management of project scopes, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and client expectations.
• Schedule Management: Ensure the development and maintenance of comprehensive project schedules, facilitating timely completion of all project phases.
• Quality Assurance: Establish and uphold quality control processes to guarantee that all deliverables meet the highest standards.
• Financial Oversight: Provide strategic oversight of project budgets, ensuring financial health and addressing potential issues proactively.
• Governance: Implement and enforce rigorous commercial operations and governance practices across the project portfolio.
  
  
  

Leadership

• Client Engagement: Lead high-level client meetings, ensuring effective communication and alignment with client needs.
• Negotiation: Strategically negotiate project outcomes, fostering strong client relationships and ensuring mutually beneficial agreements.
• Mentorship: Guide and mentor senior team members, promoting professional growth and development.
• Solution Delivery: Oversee the development of innovative solutions to project challenges, integrating multidisciplinary perspectives.
• Service Promotion: Identify and promote additional Buro Happold service offerings to clients.
• Quality Review: Ensure all work produced by the team meets high standards and is thoroughly reviewed.
• Team Management: Provide strategic leadership and management to the team, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
  
  
  

Collaboration

• Cross-Discipline Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration across business units, disciplines, and regions to leverage expertise and resources to delivery work and enable work winning opportunities
• Contribution: Proactively contribute to the wider firm, sharing knowledge and best practices.
• Teamwork: Act as a role model for teamwork, encouraging collaboration and cooperation to achieve organisational goals.
  
  
  

Technical Competence

• Technology Integration: Advise on the strategic impact of technology on projects and its implementation for the benefit of our clients and stakeholders.
• Deliverable Quality: Ensure the production of high-quality reports, presentations, models, and drawings that meet Buro Happold and our client standards.
• Quality Assurance: Enforce compliance with Buro Happold’s internal quality assurance procedures, ensuring all work delivered by the team meets required standards.
• Professional Development: Promote ongoing learning and Continuing Professional Development staying updated on technical advances and industry trends and internal learning opportunities.
  
  
  

Your Skills And Experience

• Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or Master Planning.
• Proven experience in a senior leadership role with at least 5 years in the Middle East.
• Project management qualification (e.g., PMP) or significant project delivery experience.
• Professional accreditation from a recognised organisation.
• Strong technical background in multidisciplinary building and infrastructure design.
• Proven experience in strategic project delivery and team leadership, including managing remote teams.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging with senior clients and collaborators.
• Understanding of Middle East policies and regulations.
• Experience in managing multidisciplinary LDC projects, overseeing financial and technical performance, and creating and managing programmes.
• Experience in developing long term relationships with clients and collaborators, and leading fee estimates, proposals, and negotiating terms and conditions.
• Familiarity with Project Management information systems (e.g., Aconex).
  
  
  

What We Offer You

• Bring your knowledge and expertise to one of the world’s most respected consultancies.
• Hybrid working arrangements
• Attractive salary and benefits package
• A strong commitment to your continuous development. Whatever stage in your career, we have a learning and development programme that will enable and empower you
• Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions
• An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from the exceptional.
  
  
  

At Buro Happold, everyone else’s extraordinary is just our everyday.

Apply today and be a part of our legacy.

A place for everyone

Buro Happold values individual's flexible approaches to working patterns as an important part of the way you work and achieve balance. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers.

Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key, we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive.

We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing difference allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions.

Please let us know if there are any adjustments, we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact [email protected] so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.