Senior Design Manager - Public Realm

Role Overview

Senior Design Manager – Public Realm at Qiddiya Investment Company. The role leads the planning, design coordination, and delivery of public realm projects within assigned districts and citywide initiatives.

Role Purpose

Lead the planning, design coordination, and delivery of public realm projects within assigned districts and citywide initiatives. Manage consultant teams, provide technical leadership, coordinate multidisciplinary inputs, and ensure public realm designs align with approved masterplans, Stage Gate requirements, citywide standards, the Public Realm Design Manual (PRDM), People First Principles, project spirit teams, and in-house design support. Act as the primary day-to-day public realm lead for district delivery teams and support the Public Realm Director in driving successful project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Design Leadership & Coordination

• Act as Lead Public Realm Design Manager for assigned districts and project portfolios.
• Manage public realm design development through CMP, DMP, Land Servicing, and detailed design stages.
• Coordinate and review consultant deliverables to ensure compliance with approved masterplans, design standards, and technical requirements.
• Review design submissions and provide technical recommendations to support Stage Gate approvals.
• Contribute to the development of public realm standards, technical guidance, and best-practice design solutions across the city.

Stakeholder & Consultant Management

• Manage consultant teams and ensure effective consultant performance and design quality.
• Coordinate public realm interfaces with infrastructure, mobility, utilities, irrigation, sustainability, environmental, and operational teams.
• Mentor junior team members and promote consistency in public realm delivery and governance.
• Support procurement activities, consultant management, scope development, and RFP reviews.

Standards & Strategy Implementation

• Support the implementation of citywide public realm strategies, standards, and PRDM requirements.

Programme & Risk Management

• Monitor programme delivery, design risks, and key project dependencies.
• Identify and mitigate design, programme, and technical risks.

Key Accountabilities

• Delivery of coordinated and compliant public realm design packages.
• Achievement of district programme milestones and Stage Gate requirements.
• Successful integration of public realm requirements with wider district infrastructure and development programmes.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture.
• 10–15 years' experience in landscape architecture, public realm, urban design, or large-scale development projects.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary consultants through all design stages.
• Experience working on large-scale mixed-use developments, masterplanned communities, or mega-projects.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical understanding of public realm systems, parks, streetscapes, irrigation, hardscape, softscape, and infrastructure interfaces.