Sr. Delivery Design Director

Role Overview

Senior Delivery Design Director at Retal, responsible for directing and governing the end-to-end design delivery function across the company's portfolio of residential, mixed-use, hospitality, commercial, and master-planned development projects.

Company Overview

Retal Urban Development Company delivers residential, mixed-use, hospitality, commercial, and master-planned development projects.

Role Purpose

The Senior Design Delivery Director is an executive leadership role responsible for ensuring the successful planning, coordination, management, and delivery of all design activities from project inception through construction completion. The position serves as the key interface between executive management, development, project delivery, consultants, and key stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered efficiently, cost-effectively, and to the highest standards of quality, innovation, sustainability, and customer value.

Key Responsibilities

Design Delivery Leadership

• Lead and oversee the design delivery function across multiple large-scale developments and project portfolios.
• Establish and implement design delivery strategies, standards, governance frameworks, and best practices.
• Ensure design programs support project schedules, commercial objectives, and development strategies.

Portfolio Management

• Direct the design execution of multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and business goals.
• Monitor overall portfolio performance, design progress, resource allocation, and risk exposure.

Design Governance & Quality Assurance

• Establish design review and approval processes across all project stages.
• Ensure consistency, quality, innovation, functionality, constructability, and customer-focused outcomes.
• Chair executive design review committees and gateway approval processes.

Strategic Design Management

• Guide project teams during concept design, schematic design, detailed design, tender documentation, and construction phases.
• Ensure design solutions align with market demands, customer expectations, operational requirements, and investment objectives.

Consultant & Stakeholder Management

• Lead the selection, appointment, and performance management of architects, engineers, urban designers, and specialist consultants.
• Foster collaborative relationships with government authorities, utility providers, investors, strategic partners, and key stakeholders.

Budget & Commercial Oversight

• Oversee design budgets and consultant contracts across the project portfolio.
• Ensure effective cost control and optimization throughout the design lifecycle.
• Monitor design-related expenditures and provide executive-level reporting.

Value Engineering & Optimization

• Drive value engineering initiatives to achieve optimal balance between quality, functionality, cost, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
• Identify innovative solutions that improve project feasibility and financial performance.

Design Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and mitigate design-related risks affecting cost, schedule, quality, approvals, and constructability.
• Ensure proactive resolution of design conflicts and project delivery challenges.

Regulatory & Code Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with Saudi Building Code, municipal regulations, zoning requirements, planning guidelines, and relevant industry standards.
• Maintain effective relationships with regulatory authorities to facilitate timely approvals.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Development, Project Delivery, Construction, Commercial, Procurement, Sales, Marketing, and Asset Management teams.
• Ensure seamless coordination between design development and project execution activities.

Construction Design Support

• Provide executive oversight of design support during construction.
• Ensure timely resolution of design-related issues, technical queries, variations, and site challenges.

Sustainability & Innovation

• Lead the integration of sustainability, smart technologies, ESG objectives, and innovative design practices across all developments.
• Promote environmentally responsible and future-ready development solutions.

Organizational Leadership

• Build, lead, mentor, and develop high-performing design delivery teams.
• Establish talent development programs, succession planning initiatives, and performance management frameworks.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, excellence, and continuous improvement.

Executive Reporting & Communication

• Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations, strategic reports, and project updates to senior leadership, board members, investors, and stakeholders.
• Communicate portfolio performance, key risks, opportunities, and strategic recommendations.

Cultural & Market Alignment

• Ensure all developments reflect Saudi Arabian cultural values, regulatory requirements, customer expectations, and market trends.
• Support Retal's vision of delivering innovative and sustainable communities.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Master's Degree in Architecture, Urban Design, Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 15+ years of progressive experience in architectural design, design management, and project delivery.
• Minimum 8–10 years in senior leadership positions overseeing large-scale development projects and multidisciplinary design teams.
• Proven track record in delivering major residential, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, or master-planned community projects.
• Extensive experience managing international and local design consultants.

Certifications (Preferred)

• PMP (Project Management Professional).
• RIBA, AIA, or equivalent professional registration.
• LEED AP, WELL AP, ESTIDAMA, or equivalent sustainability certification.
• PMI-PgMP or other executive program management certifications.

Skills & Competencies

Leadership & Strategy

• Executive Leadership.
• Portfolio & Program Management.
• Strategic Planning.
• Organizational Development.
• Stakeholder Engagement.
• Change Management.

Technical & Delivery

• Design Delivery Management.
• Architectural Design Leadership.
• Multidisciplinary Coordination.
• Design Governance.
• Construction Administration.
• Quality Assurance & Quality Control.
• Design Risk Management.
• Value Engineering.

Commercial & Financial

• Budget Management.
• Cost Optimization.
• Contract Management.
• Consultant Management.
• Commercial Awareness.
• Financial Acumen.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Saudi Building Code.
• Municipal Regulations.
• Planning & Zoning Requirements.
• Regulatory Approvals Management.

Communication

• Executive Presentation Skills.
• Negotiation & Influencing.
• Client Relationship Management.
• Written & Verbal Communication.

Digital Tools

• AutoCAD.
• Revit.
• BIM Platforms.
• SketchUp.
• Navisworks.
• Microsoft Project.
• Primavera P6.
• Power BI (Preferred).

Additional Information

Language Requirements

• Fluent in English (Written & Spoken).
• Arabic proficiency is highly preferred.

Reporting Line

Reports to: Chief Projects Delivery Officer (CPDO).

Direct Reports: Design Managers, Senior Design Managers, Design Delivery Managers, BIM Managers, Design Coordinators, Specialist Technical Leads.