Senior Vice President - Design

Responsibilities

• Provide overall design direction on feasibility studies and test-fits based on Development Manager inputs.
• Contribute innovative ideas to development management and manage creation of client design briefs with Development Managers.
• Participate in prequalification and consultant assessments; assist with RFP brief and scope.
• Oversee and approve tender evaluations, bidders recommendation reports and Project Implementation Plans.
• Establish and manage Aldar Design Guidelines with input from Development and PDT.
• Review and approve design submittals from concept through final delivery for vertical, residential and mixed-use projects.
• Manage consultant contracts, payments, variation orders and proposed value engineering options.
• Monitor design progress against programme and validate brief/code compliance in documentation reviews.
• Review and approve materials, substitutions and finishes; ensure adherence to Estidama standards.
• Liaise with consultants to ensure drawing submittals meet Aldar specifications and support project teams during execution and commissioning.
• Identify value engineering opportunities to reduce cost/time and coordinate design changes with Development and forecasting teams.
• Coordinate with Master Planning and Infrastructure teams to ensure design alignment with overall plans.
• Ensure issuance of required government permits, construction licenses and obtain design NOCs in conjunction with Stakeholder Management and Government Relations.
• Produce weekly and monthly progress reports and escalate issues to line manager.

Requirements

• 12+ years
• Architecture degree
• Construction planning
• Budget control
• Leadership skills
• Stakeholder management
• Design reviews
• Project management
• Contract management
• Estidama standards

Preferred Qualifications

• Technical postgraduate degree preferred (M.Arch, MSc or equivalent).
• Deep exposure to GCC and adjacent markets.
• Strong master planning and mixed-use design capabilities.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams across Business Planning, Master Planning, Design, Project Management, Procurement and Commercial functions.
• Excellent communication, analytical and conflict resolution skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Annual leave entitlement.
• Health insurance coverage.
• End of service gratuity as per UAE law.
• Hybrid working arrangement (office in Abu Dhabi with project site visits as required).

About the Company

Aldar Development is part of Aldar Properties PJSC, a leading Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer delivering integrated residential, mixed-use and vertical assets across the UAE. The role operates from Abu Dhabi and will work closely with Development, Master Planning, Infrastructure and Project Delivery teams to deliver design excellence across Aldar projects.