Director - Design Governance (CDU4) - 20004812

Director - Design Governance (CDU4) - The Director - Design Governance is a senior member of the Design Excellence (DEx) department within CDU. Design Governance is responsible for implementing and maintaining design governance frameworks that ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across all Qiddiya (QIC) projects.

The role requires an international professional with considerable design expertise across a broad range of building typologies and urban design. The successful candidate will lead an agile, high‑powered team, providing input to and communication with the Development and Projects teams, corporate functions, partners and stakeholders as required, to achieve excellence in design and to support Qiddiya’s corporate objectives and vision.

The Design Governance vertical of DEx acts as a custodian of design principles, ensuring alignment of the designs with QIC objectives and unique identity. The director will lead collaboration efforts with cross‑functional teams and their counterparts in various Business Units, and will manage the internal team in monitoring and ensuring adherence to the established governance processes.

The Director of Design Governance will also drive continuous improvement of the Department and established design practices through strong collaboration with members of the DEx Senior Management Team.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of Qiddiya‑wide processes for reviewing and monitoring projects’ adherence to Board‑approved CGIs and imagery, including concept and interior designs.

Champion the creation of a centralized repository of dated Board‑approved CGIs for reference and compliance tracking, and develop processes to ensure it is regularly updated and maintained.

Proactively participate in weekly departmental senior management meetings, ensuring the relevant parts of the agenda are implemented and resourced with subject‑matter expertise responsibilities.

Drive collaboration with design, project management, and other governance teams targeting the embedding of design standards and resolution of compliance issues.

Supervise preparation and approval of reports on compliance status, Design Governance audit findings, and recommendations for continuous improvement in design governance procedures.

Establish and manage workflows for Design Governance procedures.

Coordinate with Design Excellence (DEx) teams across business units to identify discrepancies and enforce corrective actions.

Provide input to the development and implementation of corporate programmes, continuous improvement and lessons learned.

Provide quality control reviews and coordinate feedback and comments, ensuring the information aligns with all activities.

Develop a culture of growth by mentoring and guiding team members in project coordination, document preparation and analytical tasks.

Qualifications Master’s degree in architecture, interior design, urban design, project management or another related design field – if supported by relevant working experience.

Professional Certifications and Experience

Holistic experience within the full lifecycle of the project, allowing for identification of opportunities for improvement and development of new processes.

Demonstrated real‑world problem‑solving skills with innovative and lateral thinking, identifying and resolving risks through effective management.

Knowledge of the existing KSA regulatory environment, relevant governing agencies and codes applicable to various design typologies.

Previous experience in tracking the progress of projects and adherence of the design to established vision and KPIs, as well as compliance with established delivery quality targets.

Familiarity with design management procedures, manuals and guidelines obtained while working with other giga‑projects in the region.

Excellence‑driven and constantly seeking to streamline processes and procedures to increase quality and efficiency.

Exceptional organizational, analytical, time‑management and communication skills.

Proficient in MS Office suite with advanced Excel skills.

Confident in stakeholder engagement at all organizational levels.

Fluent in English; Arabic proficiency is an advantage.

Accomplished leadership and technical experience.

Proactive, self‑driven, and solution‑oriented.

Previous background in creating a culture of empowerment and where others share knowledge, insights and learning.

Strong interpersonal skills and ability to lead in complex and matrixed organizations.

Comfortable working under pressure and managing multiple deadlines.

Professionally registered with an internationally recognised professional body or authority relevant to their discipline.

Years of Experience

18+ years of relevant experience in project coordination and governance, preferably within large‑scale projects and / or multidisciplinary environments.

Experience in the Middle East is essential.

Previous experience of working on the client side within the real estate sector is a distinct advantage.

Benefits Comprehensive benefits package.

Job Details

Seniority level : Director

Employment type : Full‑time

Job function : Other

Industry : IT Services and IT Consulting

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