301 Design Director jobs in the United Arab Emirates

Based in Dubai
Excellent Salary Offered

Responsible for leading and managing the design team for all residential and commercial projects including overseeing the design process from concept to construction, ensuring that all designs are innovative, functional, and meet the project's budget and timeline. The role will involve the coordination of master planning, architectural, structural, engineering (MEP), landscape and interior design disciplines as well as sustainable and health and safety design.

Requirements

1. Minimum 15 years of experience in design management in the real estate industry.
2. Degree in Architecture, and/or Engineering, post-graduate degree preferred.
3. Experience in MS Office, AutoCAD, Adobe In-Design, and Photoshop.

RMJM is seeking to appoint a Senior Design Director to support the continued growth of our Dubai Design Studio.

Responsibilities will include:

1. Manage and inspire a multi-cultural, multi-disciplined design teams through energetic and dynamic leadership
2. Sustain and develop relationships with existing and new clients
3. Develop designs that are firmly rooted in a strong narrative, pragmatic and respond to brief and context
4. Strong presentation of design ideas and design progress, supported by a design team, to the Client
5. Lead major projects by providing design and technical leadership
6. Able to effectively manage project commercial and financial responsibilities
7. Mentor staff and guide them towards professional excellence

Qualifications and Skills:

1. Master's degree in architecture
2. 20+ years of experience in architecture
3. Fluent, articulate and succinct presentation skills
4. A creative and enthusiastic leader to work with our existing team based in our Dubai Studio
5. Previous experience of working within leading international architectural design practices
6. Experience designing and delivering high-end Hospitality, Residential and Commercial projects
7. Have an existing portfolio of clients and contacts
8. A proven track record of winning and developing new business
9. Have detailed knowledge of the market in the Middle East region
10. Ability to lead bids and opportunities
11. In-depth understanding of Project Commercial and Financial Management
12. Conversant with BIM and other design technology

Include subject title "Design Director (20+ Years of Experience)"

The Design Manager oversees all aspects of the studio's design output, including project management, scheduling, team coordination, client relations, and administrative tasks. This role involves close collaboration with designers, clients, vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure timely project delivery, adherence to contracts, budget management, and maintaining the highest quality standards.

Success in this role requires extensive experience in luxury residential, hospitality, and commercial markets within the UAE, strong creative and management skills, and the ability to translate client briefs into exceptional designs.

Responsibilities:

1. Lead a team of designers and production staff, prioritizing client management and ensuring effective communication, clearly defined production schedules and deadlines.
2. Collaborate with HR to define roles, performance management, participate in interviews, and assist in the selection of new team members.
3. Collaborate with Sales Team on proposals and deliverables for scheduling new business.
4. Collaborate with Marketing team for content creation, opportunities and final project photos, videos, etc.
5. Manage deliverables for the design team, including interns, provide training, performance management, and development of KPIs, and identify growth opportunities.
6. Communicate the company's brand message through design, presentations, and professional conduct.
7. Create, implement, and maintain processes to optimize deliverables, streamline workflows, and improve software management, ensuring high system performance and production efficiency.
8. Represent the company at industry events, speaking engagements, and through social media platforms.
9. Foster strong relationships with clients to encourage repeat business and referrals for business development.
10. Effectively communicate with clients, vendors, and team members to understand design needs, preferences, and objectives, translating them into actionable project requirements.
11. Manage your own projects from concept to completion, ensuring alignment with client expectations and timely delivery of presentations and drawings.
12. Oversee project supervision both onsite and remotely, maintaining communication with clients and contractors.
13. Negotiate pricing, contracts, and terms with suppliers to secure cost-effective solutions while maintaining high quality standards.
14. Conduct regular project meetings to review progress, address challenges, and provide leadership and support to the team, maintaining a positive and collaborative work environment.
15. Oversee project documentation, invoicing, budget tracking, and resource allocation, ensuring accurate records are maintained.
16. Manage and organize the materials library, regularly reviewing samples to ensure they meet the studio's needs, while maintaining strong relationships with suppliers to facilitate timely procurement and updates on new materials.
17. Provide regular progress and performance reports to management, along with solutions to any issues.
18. Stay updated on industry trends to ensure the studio remains relevant and competitive.

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design / Architecture.
• Proven experience as a Design Manager or Senior Interior Designer with a strong passion for creative design.
• Expertise in luxury residential, hospitality, and commercial interior design.
• Proficient in software such as AutoCAD, Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Excel / word, PowerPoint, SketchUp and 3DS Max.
• Strong creative, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a large team of staff with strong leadership, mentoring, and interpersonal skills.
• Valid UAE driving license and vehicle.
• Must be flexible and available for international travel based on business needs.

Based in Dubai
Excellent Salary Offered
Responsible for leading and managing the design team for all residential and commercial projects including overseeing the design process from concept to construction, ensuring that all designs are innovative, functional, and meet the project’s budget and timeline. The role will involve the coordination of master planning, architectural, structural, engineering (MEP), landscape and interior design disciplines as well as sustainable and health and safety design.
Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of experience in design management in the real estate industry.
• Degree in Architecture, and/or Engineering, post-graduate degree preferred.
• Experience in MS Office, AutoCAD, Adobe In-Design, and Photoshop.

We are looking for a talented and experienced Design Director / Design Principal that can bridge the link between creative architects and clients. This is a senior role for leaders who can interpret client briefs, turning them into award-winning innovative solutions and delivering timeless and sustainable projects. As a Design Director / Design Principal, you will be responsible for leading our creative teams and inspiring by developing new design ideas, looking at challenges from fresh viewpoints. In addition to communicating our company’s creative vision to design teams and stakeholders, you should be able to adhere to deadlines and manage budget constraints to deliver to the highest standards of quality.

The Experience team at AKQA are at the forefront of new thinking and techniques. Responsible for the development of innovative customer experiences across a wide variety of channels and devices, the team uses their own research, ideation and design, with minimal direction.

As an Experience Design Director at AKQA, you will lead our approach to experience in the region, while managing the wider experience team. You will be responsible for the creation of innovative customer experiences across a wide variety of channels and devices. You will work in an autonomous and collaborative manner, leading team members in collaboration with other disciplines. You will be expected to come up with ideas of how best to deliver your work in line with AKQA standards and you will be the key experience champion/liaison with your clients, helping to share ideas while managing client expectations and participation in the UX design process.

From our location in the heart of Dubai, AKQA offers our staff the opportunity to produce meaningful work for world-class. You will work in an environment which fosters a meritocratic culture and encourages ownership.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Lead teams to concept, design, and deliver standout digital products, activations and ecosystems


• Set the creative direction for experience-led briefs and bring them to life through systems thinking and design craft.


• Translate business opportunities into compelling experience strategies and prototypes that excite clients and move work forward


• Partner with Strategy, Visual Design, Copy, Tech, and Accounts to ensure creative intent holds across every touchpoint


• Build narratives and storytelling that elevate how we present and sell our design work to clients


• Mentor and develop experience and UI designers, building a team culture grounded in experimentation, rigor, and ambition


• Champion innovation through AI-enhanced experiences, adaptive design systems and data-driven interfaces

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Global knowledge of where experience design is going across UX and UI.


• Experience of the MENA region, specifically UAE and KSA.


• Extensive information architecture/content strategy/user experience/usability experience for blue-chip clients.


• Experience of line management and team development.


• Experience of working with standard IA and UCD tools and processes.


• Solid understanding of innovative technologies and specifically AI.


• Experience of content management systems and e-commerce.


• Experience of cross-platform design.

Please include your portfolio or work samples in the application.

AKQA is an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe that diversity is vital to AKQA’s ability to provide our clients with the best recommendations and are committed to fostering a varied and inclusive work environment. Your race, colour, ancestry, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or veteran status have no bearing on our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Explore our extensive range of benefits here .

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

Design Leadership Opportunity

We seek a highly accomplished Design Director to spearhead our design team in Dubai.

About the Role:

• Lead and motivate a diverse, multi-disciplinary design team through visionary leadership.
• Foster and develop strong relationships with clients.
• Create designs that are grounded in a compelling narrative, practical and responsive to brief and context.
• Present design ideas and progress effectively to the client.
• Drive major projects by providing strategic design and technical guidance.
• Successfully manage project commercial and financial responsibilities.
• Mentor staff and guide them towards professional excellence.

Requirements:

• Master's degree in architecture or a related field.
• 20+ years of experience in leading architectural design projects.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• A creative leader to work with our existing team based in our Dubai Studio.
• Previous experience in working within prominent international architectural design practices.
• Experience designing and delivering high-end Hospitality, Residential and Commercial projects.
• An established portfolio of clients and contacts.
• A proven track record of securing and developing new business.
• Detailed knowledge of the Middle East market.
• Ability to lead bids and opportunities.
• In-depth understanding of Project Commercial and Financial Management.
• Proficiency in BIM and other design technology.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Demonstrates exceptional design expertise.
• Can drive business growth.
• Has excellent interpersonal skills.

Objective : Design Manager

Main Responsibilities :

• Responsible for all engineering activities within a multidisciplinary project from the proposal phase until the hand-over to the client.
• As a member of the project team, you will have close contacts with lead engineers, clients, engineering sub-contractors, classification society, and other project management team members, such as project control, construction, procurement, and commissioning managers.
• Assist in developing and implementing project business plans.
• Attend and participate in all project planning and coordination meetings.
• Provide regular verbal and / or written communication to Division Manager and Project Managers on engineering objectives and status.
• Provide verbal and / or written communication with project team, accounting team, and all other corporate staff as necessary.
• Create and aggressively manage engineering schedules.
• Manage and lead project engineering team members (e.g., CAD engineers, CAD operators, each ELV system engineers).

Reporting to : Director

Subordinates : N / A

Other Interactions : N / A

Number Required : 2

Duration : Permanent

Desired Start Date : As soon as possible

Probation : Negotiable

Working Hours : 8 hours a day, 5 days per week

Travel Requirements : None

Gross Monthly Base Salary : Negotiable

Commission / Bonus : Yes

Other Benefits : Insurance

University Qualifications : Bachelor's degree in art

Other Certifications : N / A

Previous Experience : 5 years

Specialist Knowledge : N / A

Other Skills : N / A

Ideal Age Range : None

Gender Preference : None

Nationality Preference : None

Language Skills : English fluent

Current Residence : UAE

About The Company :

Since its establishment in 1962 as part of Korea's first 5-year Economic Plan, KOTRA has been dedicated to creating new export markets and increasing Korea's trade value, which reached $1 trillion in 2011. In the late 1990s, the agency helped Korea overcome the Financial Crisis by starting its foreign direct investment promotion division. And in the last half century, KOTRA has played a significant role in supporting Korean companies expanding overseas.

Today, the world economy is more volatile than ever due to the European financial crisis, China's hindered economic growth, upcoming elections in 15 countries, and security issues in the Middle East. In preparation for a rapidly changing market environment, and using Korea's expansive FTA network, KOTRA is focusing on the globalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of the Korean economy, by providing them with customized support related to global business establishment and export.

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Objective: Design Manager

Main Responsibilities:

1. Responsible for all engineering activities within a multidisciplinary project from the proposal phase until the hand-over to the client.
2. As a member of the project team, you will have close contacts with lead engineers, clients, engineering sub-contractors, classification society, and other project management team members, such as project control, construction, procurement, and commissioning managers.
3. Assist in developing and implementing project business plans.
4. Attend and participate in all project planning and coordination meetings.
5. Provide regular verbal and/or written communication to Division Manager and Project Managers on engineering objectives and status.
6. Provide verbal and/or written communication with project team, accounting team, and all other corporate staff as necessary.
7. Create and aggressively manage engineering schedules.
8. Manage and lead project engineering team members (e.g., CAD engineers, CAD operators, each ELV system engineers).

Reporting to: Director

Subordinates: N/A

Other Interactions: N/A

Number Required: 2

Duration: Permanent

Desired Start Date: As soon as possible

Probation: Negotiable

Working Hours: 8 hours a day, 5 days per week

Travel Requirements: None

Gross Monthly Base Salary: Negotiable

Commission / Bonus: Yes

Other Benefits: Insurance

University Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in art

Other Certifications: N/A

Previous Experience: 5 years

Specialist Knowledge: N/A

Other Skills: N/A

Ideal Age Range: None

Gender Preference: None

Nationality Preference: None

Language Skills: English fluent

Current Residence: UAE

About The Company:

Since its establishment in 1962 as part of Korea's first 5-year Economic Plan, KOTRA has been dedicated to creating new export markets and increasing Korea's trade value, which reached $1 trillion in 2011. In the late 1990s, the agency helped Korea overcome the Financial Crisis by starting its foreign direct investment promotion division. And in the last half century, KOTRA has played a significant role in supporting Korean companies expanding overseas.

Today, the world economy is more volatile than ever due to the European financial crisis, China's hindered economic growth, upcoming elections in 15 countries, and security issues in the Middle East. In preparation for a rapidly changing market environment, and using Korea's expansive FTA network, KOTRA is focusing on the globalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of the Korean economy, by providing them with customized support related to global business establishment and export.