At Arada, we create communities that inspire healthier, happier and more meaningful lives. Through innovative developments, exceptional customer experiences and a commitment to sustainability, we are shaping places where people can live, work and thrive.

Joining Arada means becoming part of a collaborative, ambitious and forward-thinking team dedicated to delivering excellence across every aspect of our business.

Role Purpose:

The Director – Design will lead and manage the complete design process across multiple developments, from feasibility, concept and master planning through detailed design, authority approvals and construction support. The role is responsible for coordinating multidisciplinary consultants, ensuring design excellence, maintaining programme commitments and delivering commercially viable solutions that align with ARADA's development vision and brand standards.

Reporting within the Design function, the Director will work in close partnership with Development, Project Controls, Commercial and Delivery teams to successfully execute projects across Syria.

Key Responsibilities

1. Design Leadership & Management

• Lead the design management of multiple residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, mixed-use and master-planned developments across Syria.

• Manage the complete design lifecycle from feasibility and concept design through schematic, detailed design, IFC and construction support.

• Ensure all design deliverables meet ARADA's quality, operational and commercial objectives.

• Drive innovation while maintaining practicality, buildability and cost efficiency.

• Establish design governance processes, quality reviews and technical compliance across all projects.

• Embed sustainability and ESG principles across all developments, targeting recognised green-building certification (e.g., Mostadam, LEED) in line with the Syria Green Initiative and Vision 2030.

• Provide design input to feasibility, highest-and-best-use and master-planning studies to optimise GFA, saleable and leasable area efficiency, and return on investment.

2. Consultant Management

• Appoint, manage and coordinate architectural, engineering, landscape, infrastructure and specialist design consultants.

• Review consultant performance, deliverables and programme commitments.

• Lead multidisciplinary design coordination meetings and resolve design conflicts across disciplines.

• Ensure consultants comply with ARADA design standards, project briefs and technical requirements.

• Manage design consultancy budgets, fee proposals and scopes of services, and review and certify consultant fee applications, variations and additional-service claims.

• Lead consultant procurement in coordination with the Procurement function, including design briefs, RFPs, technical evaluation and recommendations for appointment.

3. Development & Stakeholder Coordination

• Partner closely with Development Directors to ensure design solutions support the overall development strategy and business objectives.

• Coordinate with Commercial, Procurement, Construction, Sales and Marketing teams, Development, Project Controls, Commercial, Procurement, Cost Management, Infrastructure, Landscape, Legal and Sales & Marketing teams throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support feasibility studies, product positioning and design optimisation from early project stages.

• Present design strategies and project updates to senior leadership and executive stakeholders.

4. Design Quality & Technical Governance

• Maintain design quality across architecture, landscape, interiors and engineering disciplines.

• Lead design reviews, value engineering workshops and technical compliance assessments.

• Ensure designs comply with Syria building regulations, planning requirements and international best practices.

• Oversee design risk management and resolve technical challenges throughout project delivery.

5. Programme & Authority Management

• Manage the design programme to ensure alignment with overall development milestones.

• Coordinate authority submissions and approvals with relevant government agencies and regulatory bodies across Syria.

• Monitor consultant performance against agreed programmes and proactively address delays.

• Support project teams during tendering, contractor procurement and construction stages through design clarifications and technical support.

6. Leadership

• Mentor and develop Design Managers, Architects and project design teams.

• Promote collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement within the Design function.

• Foster strong relationships with consultants, authorities and internal stakeholders.

• Champion ARADA's design philosophy, quality standards and customer-centric approach.

• Build, structure and resource the in-house design team, and define the design governance framework, to support the growth of Arada’s Syria portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Architectural Engineering or a related discipline.

• Master's Degree in Architecture, Urban Design, Construction Management or Business Administration is desirable.

• Professional registration or chartered membership with recognised professional architectural institutions is advantageous.

• Project or design management certification (e.g., PMP) and/or sustainability accreditation (e.g., LEED AP, Mostadam) is desirable.

Experience

• 18+ years of progressive client-side design management experience within leading real estate developers or international architectural practices.

• Proven experience managing the design of large-scale residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, mixed-use and master-planned developments.

• Strong background in coordinating multidisciplinary consultant teams throughout all project phases.

• Experience working closely with Development teams on feasibility, product definition and project execution.

• Previous experience delivering projects within Syria or the GCC is highly desirable.

• Demonstrated experience managing design budget, consultancy fees and value-engineering exercises on projects of significant scale and complexity.

• Strong knowledge of local Syria authority approval processes, building codes and local design standards and construction methodologies.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Design management across the full development lifecycle, from feasibility and concept through detailed design, construction support and handover.

• Architecture and multidisciplinary engineering (structural, MEP, civil/infrastructure) coordination.

• Urban planning and master planning, including land-use, density and phasing optimisation.

• Sustainability and ESG principles, including green-building certification (Mostadam, LEED) and climate-responsive design.

• Local and international design standards and codes, including Syria building codes and authority approval requirements.

• Materials knowledge, specification, mock-up review and lifecycle/durability assessment.

• Design review, technical compliance and design risk management.

Leadership & Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic thinking and the ability to translate development vision into deliverable design strategy.

• Commercial and financial awareness, balancing design quality against cost, programme and return on investment.

• Negotiation and influencing skills with consultants, contractors and authorities.

• Sound, decisive judgement under commercial and programme pressure.

• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills in English (Arabic is an advantage).

• Stakeholder management across internal departments, external consultants and government authorities.

• Team leadership, mentoring and talent development.

Using GenAI in Your Application Process

To support a fair and consistent experience for all candidates, we ask that assessments and interviews are completed independently and without assistance from generative AI tools. This ensures we understand your strengths, your thinking, and how you approach real situations.

Why join Arada?

At Arada, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that transform communities while working alongside talented professionals in a culture that values innovation, collaboration and continuous growth. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Arada is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and make employment decisions based on merit, experience and business needs.