My client a leading developer in the region has an urgent requirement for a Senior Design Manager - Masterplanning to join their Abu Dhabi team to deliver a wide range of projects in their impressive portfolio.
Candidates who meet the strict requirements are invited to apply with CV and up to date portfolio on request.
Educations and Experience:
Suitable candidates must possess:
- A Master's or Bachelor's degree in Master Planning, Urban Design Architecture, Urban Planning, or related fields.
- Advanced degrees in Urban Design or Landscape Architecture will be an added advantage.
- 12-15 years' experience in real estate design & development, including leadership roles in managing teams and projects.
- Minimum 7+ years' experience in the Middle East, especially in the UAE/ GCC Region.
- A diverse design portfolio showcasing multiple projects.
- Extensive knowledge of master planning design from visioning, idea generation to concept and detailed master planning stages.
- Proven experience working with and leading multi-disciplinary teams that include members from Business Planning, Master Planning Design, Project Management, Procurement and Commercial functions.
- Strong leadership skills with a history of driving team success through mentorship, inspiration, and the promotion of a positive and collaborative team culture.
- Proven ability to effectively lead and oversee project teams, demonstrating a collaborative approach that encourages the sharing of knowledge and expertise within the team.
- Demonstrated proficiency in preparing and delivering impactful presentations to senior executives and stakeholders, effectively communicating project objectives, milestones, and value propositions.
- Proficiency in Urban Design and Master Planning best practices and latest trends.
- Proficiency with master planning and urban design vision-level design thinking, communication, and sketching (hand sketch, digital sketch and CAD).
- Proficiency preparing master plan and urban design diagrams (Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator etc.).
- Skilled at synthesizing and presenting complex design and project data in a clear and compelling manner to facilitate informed decision-making by senior leadership and stakeholders.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, emphasizing collaboration, consensus-building, and the ability to interact effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Exemplary project, time, and design management skills.
- Proficiency in relevant design software and tools, including MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, and 3D modeling (SketchUp or Revit).
- Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
- Fluency in English is mandatory; proficiency in Arabic is beneficial.
- Excellent communication skills, written and spoken English (Arabic preferred)
Roles & Responsibilities
In overseeing the strategic design management of master planning projects, the Senior Manager, Master Planning translates the company's vision into comprehensive plans. Alongside their primary functions, they mentor the team, drive innovation, and set the benchmark for excellence. Their role encompasses the following core responsibilities:
- Internal team liaison to ensure coordination between all disciplines relevant to master planning (feasibility, architecture, infrastructure, and delivery)
- Development of land use datasets with design understanding of various land use products, all type of traffic network and circulation, types of open spaces and current real estate development trends and products updates.
- Review master plan deliverables during all master plan stages and familiar with DMT (Abu Dhabi Department of Municipality and Transportation) planning requirement (Vision, PCMP, Framework, CMP, and DMP, etc.)
- Ensure compliance with DMT and relevant stakeholders' requirements.
- Coordinate with external consultants to:
- Review the analysis of land use projects to determine the split between various sectors such as residential commercial industrial and community use and recommend changes.
- Review master plan deliverables during all master plan stages and be familiar with DMT planning requirement; review drawing submittals to ensure they align with approved project briefs.
- Provide regular design guidance.
- Translate strategic design intents into actionable project-level goals.
- Engage with senior leadership to align project deliverables and organizational objectives.
- Lead master planning design management endeavors, ensuring timely and quality-focused delivery.
- Provide critical support in the form of strategic guidance & problem-solving for high-importance projects to align with the company's objectives.
- Develop RFPs, design briefs, and scopes of work for master plan projects.
- Promote a culture of innovation and excellence within the design team.
- Support the wider design team, fostering innovation and growth.
- Ensure designs align with sustainability and environmental goals.
- Attend senior management meetings, preparing materials and participating in discussions.
- Collaborate with the Contracts and Delivery teams during consultant procurement and onboarding.
