Director of Design – Projects Management (Saudi)

Job Purpose

The Director of Design – Projects Management (Saudi) is a pivotal member of the ZFP management team, entrusted with the comprehensive leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight of all projects management activities within the design domain. This senior executive role is responsible for guiding, monitoring, and managing Project Managers (PMs) and Design Managers (DMs) across the organization to establish unified standards, optimize resource allocation, and enforce robust governance frameworks. The ideal candidate will ensure that design projects are delivered with unwavering commitment to quality, strict adherence to schedules, and strict financial discipline, thereby reinforcing ZFP’s reputation as a leader in excellence within the industry.

Key Responsibilities

Departmental Leadership and Management

As the head of the Project Management Department, you will be responsible for aligning departmental objectives with ZFP’s broader strategic vision. This includes:

• Providing visionary leadership to the Project Management Department, ensuring all activities are aligned with organizational goals and industry best practices.
• Directly supervising, mentoring, and developing a high-performing team of Project Managers and Design Managers, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Conducting regular performance evaluations to assess team competencies, identify skill gaps, and implement targeted training programs to enhance professional growth and departmental capability.
• Collaborating with Human Resources to strategically plan departmental resourcing, ensuring the optimal allocation of talent to meet current and future project demands across all ZFP offices.

Project Delivery Oversight

Your role will be instrumental in ensuring the successful execution of design projects from inception to completion. Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic direction and hands-on oversight to PMs and DMs throughout the project lifecycle, including planning, execution, monitoring, and final deliverable handover.
• Ensuring all design projects are delivered punctually, within budget, and in full compliance with contractual scope, quality benchmarks, and client expectations.
• Reviewing and approving critical project management documentation, such as project plans, design programs, resource allocation strategies, and risk registers, to maintain alignment with organizational standards.
• Monitoring project performance through rigorous analysis of progress reports, key performance indicators (KPIs), and real-time dashboards, intervening proactively to mitigate risks and resolve delays.
• Escalating critical project risks and issues to senior leadership, proposing and implementing corrective and preventive measures to safeguard project outcomes.
• Overseeing robust change management processes to ensure all variations, claims, and contractual modifications are accurately documented, controlled, and communicated to stakeholders.

Quality, Process, and Compliance

To uphold ZFP’s commitment to excellence, you will:

• Ensure consistent adherence to established Project Management procedures across all design project stages, fostering a culture of discipline and reliability.
• Partner with the Quality Assurance Department to support internal audits, maintain ISO 9001:2015 certification, and drive continuous improvement in project management processes.
• Verify that design quality control workflows are rigorously followed by all project teams, ensuring deliverables meet or exceed industry standards.

Client and Stakeholder Management

Your ability to cultivate strong client relationships and manage stakeholder expectations will be vital to ZFP’s success. This includes:

• Leading PMs and DMs in managing client interactions, resolving escalated issues, and ensuring consistently high levels of client satisfaction and trust.
• Representing the Project Management Department in high-level project management meetings, providing strategic insights and fostering collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborating with the Business Development team to contribute expertise in proposal preparation and project management inputs for new business opportunities, ensuring competitive and feasible bids.

Financial and Commercial Management

Financial acumen will be a cornerstone of your role, as you will:

• Oversee project budgets, fee utilization, and profitability across the entire portfolio of design projects managed by PMs, ensuring financial sustainability and value creation.
• Review project financial reports and forecasts to ensure timely invoicing, rigorous cost control, and accurate variance analysis, maintaining transparency and accountability.
• Support contract administration and commercial negotiations related to project scope, fees, and changes, safeguarding ZFP’s commercial interests.

Company-Wide Governance and Standardization

To drive organizational cohesion and efficiency, you will:

• Establish and enforce unified project management standards, practices, and reporting formats across all design projects, ensuring consistency and reliability in project delivery.
• Exercise executive authority over the Project Management function company-wide, ensuring all branches adhere to approved governance frameworks, tools, and reporting structures.
• Champion organization-wide process improvement initiatives, leveraging lessons learned from individual offices to enhance project management practices across the entire company.
• Ensure equitable resource allocation and workload balancing for PMs and DMs, optimizing team performance and mitigating burnout while meeting project demand.

Qualifications and Experience

To excel in this role, candidates must possess the following qualifications and experience:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a closely related discipline is required. A Master’s degree in a relevant field is highly desirable and will be considered a strong asset.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in project management within the design or construction industry, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or directorial role overseeing multidisciplinary design projects.
• Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale, complex design projects from inception to completion, with a demonstrated ability to deliver results within budget, on schedule, and to the highest quality standards.
• Strong leadership capabilities, with a track record of building, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams of Project Managers and Design Managers.
• Exceptional financial acumen, including experience in budget management, financial forecasting, and profitability analysis for design projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with clients, stakeholders, and senior leadership at all levels.
• Deep understanding of project management methodologies, tools, and frameworks, including but not limited to Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid approaches.
• Familiarity with quality management systems such as ISO 9001:2015 and a commitment to continuous improvement in project delivery processes.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools, such as MS Project, Primavera P6, or similar platforms, is essential.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience in contract administration, negotiation, and change management within the design or construction sector.