Job Overview
Al-Futtaim Real Estate is seeking an experienced Assistant Design Manager to oversee design development and consultant management for real estate and construction projects in Dubai, UAE. This role involves managing the design process from the pre-concept stage through construction documentation, ensuring that project designs meet business objectives, quality standards, project schedules, and applicable building regulations.
The successful candidate will coordinate with design consultants, project leaders, and internal stakeholders to ensure smooth design delivery, control costs, manage design changes, and obtain the necessary statutory approvals and Non-Objection Certificates (NOCs).
This opportunity is suitable for an experienced architect or design professional with a strong background in design management, construction, consultant coordination, and architectural standards.
Job Details
- Job Title: Assistant Design Manager
- Company: Al-Futtaim Real Estate
- Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Industry: Real Estate, Property Development and Construction
- Experience Required: 10–15 years in design and construction
- Education: Architectural Honours Degree or equivalent, with professional architect qualification
Key Responsibilities
1. Design Consultant Management
- Identify, prequalify, evaluate, and recommend suitable design consultants based on project requirements and market conditions.
- Establish consultant selection criteria and assess technical presentations and proposals.
- Define design scopes, deliverables, and responsibilities in line with project objectives.
- Manage design consultancy contracts and monitor costs from pre-concept design to construction documentation.
- Maintain effective working relationships with consultants and project stakeholders.
2. Design Coordination and Compliance
- Coordinate design requirements and ensure all disciplines are properly integrated into the overall project design.
- Establish clear communication channels between architects, engineers, designers, and other project teams.
- Review design submissions to verify compliance with project requirements, applicable building codes, statutory regulations, and relevant design standards.
- Arrange design reviews and communicate clear, actionable feedback to consultants.
- Resolve design coordination issues and help maintain consistency across project deliverables.
3. Design Documentation and Approvals
- Review and verify design packages at each project stage to ensure they meet the agreed scope, quality standards, and submission requirements.
- Coordinate the preparation and submission of design documentation required for statutory approvals.
- Ensure designs comply with applicable regulations and support the acquisition of required approvals and Non-Objection Certificates (NOCs).
- Authorize the release of design documentation once compliance requirements have been satisfied.
- Maintain accurate records of design submissions, approvals, revisions, and related transactions.
4. Design Programme and Change Management
- Develop and manage design programmes aligned with the overall construction schedule.
- Monitor design progress against agreed milestones and identify critical-path deliverables.
- Identify potential design changes and evaluate their impact on project costs, timelines, and deliverables.
- Obtain the required approvals for design changes and communicate updates to relevant stakeholders.
- Take appropriate action to address design delays and support timely project delivery.
5. Team Coordination and Process Improvement
- Allocate work to design management personnel, CAD staff, and administrative team members according to their skills and workloads.
- Provide guidance and constructive feedback to drafting and design support teams.
- Monitor the quality and accuracy of design deliverables.
- Contribute to the improvement of design management procedures and project workflows.
- Prepare and update procedural documentation outlining the deliverables and responsibilities expected from design consultants.
Required Skills and Competencies
Candidates applying for Assistant Design Manager jobs in Dubai should demonstrate the following skills:
- Strong experience in design consultant prequalification, evaluation, and selection.
- Expertise in defining design scopes, deliverables, and consultancy requirements.
- Excellent architectural design coordination and consultant management skills.
- Knowledge of architectural design standards, building codes, and statutory regulations.
- Experience reviewing design submissions and managing technical documentation.
- Ability to monitor design programmes, project milestones, and critical-path activities.
- Understanding of design change management, cost control, and schedule implications.
- Strong communication, coordination, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to support and guide design management and CAD teams.
Qualifications and Experience
To qualify for this Assistant Design Manager position, applicants should have:
- An Architectural Honours Degree or an equivalent qualification.
- Professional qualification as an architect or an equivalent recognized credential.
- Approximately 10–15 years of hands-on experience in design and construction.
- In-depth knowledge of architectural design standards, building regulations, and applicable codes.
- Proven experience managing design consultants and coordinating design scopes and deliverables.
- Practical experience in design reviews, documentation, approvals, and project schedule management.
About Al-Futtaim Real Estate
Al-Futtaim Real Estate is part of the Al-Futtaim Group and has more than six decades of experience in real estate development and asset management. The company develops, owns, and manages a diversified portfolio of properties and projects across the Middle East, North Africa, and other markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the role of an Assistant Design Manager?
An Assistant Design Manager oversees design consultants, coordinates design documentation, monitors project schedules, reviews regulatory compliance, and supports the delivery of real estate and construction projects.
2. How much experience is required for this position?
The stated requirement is approximately 10–15 years of hands-on experience in design and construction.
3. What qualifications are required?
Candidates should have an Architectural Honours Degree or equivalent qualification and be a qualified architect or hold an equivalent professional credential.
4. Where is this job located?
The advertised job title targets Al-Futtaim Real Estate careers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Applicants should confirm the exact work location in the official vacancy listing.
5. Where can candidates apply?
Candidates should check the official Al-Futtaim careers portal for the current vacancy and application instructions.