VP- Technical and Design; Architecture

We are partnering with a prominent real estate developer to appoint a Vice President – Design & Technical
, a strategic leadership role responsible for the full governance, direction, and performance of the design function across a portfolio of large-scale developments.

This role sits at executive level and will drive design excellence, commercial performance, innovation, compliance, and cross-functional integration from concept through construction and project handover.

The VP will lead multidisciplinary technical teams, oversee international design consultants, and ensure world-class delivery aligned with corporate objectives and board-level expectations.

The Vice President – Design & Technical will:

• Provide strategic leadership for all design and technical operations
• Establish governance frameworks and enforce Design Management Processes (DMP)
• Oversee consultant procurement, performance, and commercial management
• Drive value engineering, cost optimisation, and constructability strategies
• Ensure timely project delivery in alignment with executive approvals
• Serve as a key advisor to the Chairman, Managing Director, and VP Projects

• Define and implement the organisation’s design vision, standards, and technical strategy
• Oversee development of Project Briefs and secure executive-level approvals
• Establish professional services procurement strategies for all projects
• Lead consultant selection, negotiation, contracting, and fee evaluation
• Ensure alignment of design objectives with commercial and brand strategy
• Champion innovation, sustainability, and efficiency across all developments

• Oversee preparation and approval of Project Design Management Plans (PDMP)
• Ensure compliance with scope, timelines, quality standards, and cost parameters
• Monitor variation orders, change management processes, and risk mitigation
• Review and endorse major design submissions and technical decisions
• Lead Design Stage Gateway approvals with senior leadership
• Oversee tender documentation strategy and management
• Drive value engineering initiatives throughout the project lifecycle
• Ensure constructability optimisation and cost-efficiency measures
• Partner with Commercial and QS teams to validate cost estimates at each design stage
• Oversee consultant and contractor progress validation for payments
• Manage professional fee evaluations and negotiations
• Ensure financial discipline within the design and technical function
• Monitor scope changes and ensure proper executive approvals

Ensure the design function provides strategic support to:

• Marketing (brand alignment, visual materials, show units)
• Commercial (tender and procurement documentation)
• Hospitality (operational design compliance)
• Projects (construction-stage technical governance, mockups, RFIs)

Act as the primary technical advisor to the Project VP and executive leadership during construction phases.

• Establish, structure, and scale the Design & Technical Department
• Define roles, responsibilities, and performance metrics
• Lead recruitment strategy in collaboration with HR
• Implement leadership development and succession planning initiatives
• Conduct executive-level performance reviews and goal setting
• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and innovation

• Ensure strict adherence to DMP, HSE policies, and corporate governance standards
• Oversee authority approvals and regulatory compliance processes
• Ensure robust documentation, reporting systems, and digital tracking tools
• Coordinate closely with commissioning teams to ensure world-class project handover
• Maintain real-time transparency of technical performance metrics

• Maintain executive alignment with Project Management teams
• Advise senior leadership on design risks, deviations, and corrective strategies
• Present design stage reports and strategic updates to Chairman and MD
• Ensure design performance meets corporate brand and quality benchmarks

• Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related discipline (Master’s preferred)
• 15+ years of progressive experience in design leadership within large-scale real estate development
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and international consultants
• Strong commercial acumen and cost governance experience
• Deep understanding of authority approvals and regulatory processes in Dubai
• Executive presence with strong board-level communication skills
• Strategic thinker with operational depth