Architectural Design Director

Function & Scope
 
The Architectural Design Director shall act as Atkins Ambassador for design, promoting and developing the very highest standards of Atkins Architectural and Urban Design with a focus on our 4 key values of Innovation, Safety, Collaboration and Integrity. They will achieve this by developing strategic client relationships both for the Business in the Middle East and for the wider Atkins Group. Design Director is also responsible for networking and gathering market, client, project and competitor intelligence. They shall act as the primary client interface with respect to project design issues and ensure that client expectations are fully understood, conveyed and managed, whilst defending Atkins commercial interests.

Continue to grow and develop Atkins’s design practices in coordination with the various practice leaders, particularly in KSA. Become an identifiable leader, both externally and internally, in the Middle East & Internationally with our global Architecture network. Create more visibility for Akins as global thought and design leaders in the region on whom clients can rely for expert advice and support
 
Through an agreed level of involvement, they will provide advice and support to ensure that design intent is achieved through all stages of design.
 
Responsibilities

The Design Director shall engage with prospective and existing key clients to develop a pipeline of strategic opportunities for the business and the wider Atkins Group. It is anticipated that they shall hold a senior relationship with relevant individuals within the client organization and be aware and advise the business of relevant activity within the client organization. It is anticipated that the Design Director shall develop a deep relationship, sufficiently robust to endure periods where strong client management skills are necessary, including conveying matters at odds with client expectations.

Design Leadership

• Acting as a responsible and knowledgeable senior level ‘face’ of Atkins when interacting with potential clients, presenting a compelling value proposition for hiring the firm
• Attracting, mentoring and retaining valued staff
• The Design Director shall provide strategic thought leadership to identify new market trends and opportunities and galvanise the business expertise in order to capitalise on these trends in addition to providing effective leadership and motivation to the wider business. They shall promote design excellence and best practice in the fields of architectural, urban and landscape design
• Completing projects which are stellar in all ways: profitability, design excellence, reputation enhancement, employee satisfaction, client satisfaction, etc.
• Demonstrate an innovate and collaborative multi-disciplinary approach to planning and design
• Incorporate sustainable design principles into client solutions as a matter of course
• Communicate proactively with internal and external teams and clients
• Lead periodic project meetings and presentations
• Ensure that clients and team members are adequately briefed on projects throughout the planning process

Winning Work

• Continuing to build a substantial portfolio of award-winning projects
• Coordinate with the relevant members of the Business with respect to necessary input during the Bidding and Commercial Stage Gate process including attending Stage Gate reviews as necessary in order to convert identified target opportunities to projects.

Targets

• The Design Director shall use their best endeavours to achieve agreed targets, which shall include project conversion and revenue generation.
• Developing overall project acquisition targets and monitoring performance to meet or exceed them

 
Key Account Director

• The Design Director where agreed shall assume the role of Key Account Director and be responsible for specific Key Account management.

Entrepreneurial ship  

• The Design Directors shall apply an entrepreneurial approach to the growth and reputation of the business and play a continuous pivotal role.

Staff Development  

• The Design Director shall assist in identifying, hiring, mentoring, challenging and growing staff

Technical Competencies / Experience
Essential

• Architect with at least 15 years of international experience working in a high profile design consultancy on medium to large scale projects.
• Excellent Client engagement and presentation skills
• Passion for design and sustainability
• Effective leader with high Emotional Intelligence 
• Strategic thinker – ability to spot opportunities and galvanise the resource and the expertise in order to capitalise on them.
• Experience of interpreting and understanding local rules, regulations and design guides across the region
• Commitment to sustainable design 
• Entrepreneurial outlook – keen interest to play a pivotal role in growing the business
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Experience with firms that Atkins admires for thoughtful design 
• Knowledge of relevant design leaders, trends, benchmark and challenges
• A recognised thought leader in the ME and/or globbally: published articles on trends and issues confronting potential clients is preferred 
• Strong oral, written and graphic communications skills
• An entrepreneurial spirit coupled with the pragmatism to convert that business passion into long term client relationships
• Comfort with executives in positions of significant authority

Qualifications

• Degree qualified (Master degree)
• Member of a recognised professional institution
• Chartered/Certified  or equivalent
• Experience in similar type of role.

Rewards & Benefits:

• A competitive salary will be offered to the right candidate 
• Medical and life insurance cover 
• Company gratuity scheme
• Discretionary Bonus scheme
• Annual leaves
• Annual flight allowance to point of origin
• Employee assistance Programme – 24 hour free advice on financial, legal and family care specialists and also access to personal health, fitness and nutrition consultants.

SNC Lavalin's Atkins business is one of the largest multidisciplinary, multi sector engineering design consultancies in the world and is part of the SNC Lavalin Group.

As one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies with a leading track record in the defence sector, Atkins are ideally placed to respond to this market. We have a broad establishment and proud, 50 year history throughout the Middle East region.

We provide a full range of design, engineering and project management services for buildings, transportation and other infrastructure programmes.

Atkins in the Middle East now employs around 2,000 staff serving Gulf clients across all market sectors from offices in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh, and Sharjah.