Facility Planning Manager

About Riyadh University of Arts (RUA)

RUA is an innovative institution dedicated to cross-cultural arts education and creative advancement in the Middle East. It inspires progress by fostering collaboration between industry and academia and reimagining arts education, providing a vibrant environment for global cultural exchange.

• Vision: To be a leading source of knowledge, integrating culture and arts to empower students in talent development and creative expression.
• Mission: To deliver pioneering educational programs that promote cultural and artistic engagement, enriching local and global communities.
• Aspiration: To rank among the top cultural universities in the MENA region and be recognized globally for cultural knowledge exchange.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive campus facility planning, overseeing space distribution, architectural design coordination, and design management across the campus.
• Serve as the university’s chief authority in facility planning and space management, aligning efforts with academic, operational, and long-term objectives.
• Maintain custody of campus design standards, master plans, CAD/BIM documents, and space planning data ensuring consistent and accurate information management.
• Collaborate with internal departments, external consultants, contractors, and shared service teams on facility planning and design projects.
• Oversee and update the university’s space inventory database detailing allocation, use, and occupancy for accurate reporting.
• Formulate and execute strategic space planning, allocation, and utilization policies in coordination with academic leadership to meet institutional growth.
• Set planning standards and specifications for spaces and furnishings used in all design activities.
• Contribute design and planning expertise to capital developments, renovations, and campus expansion initiatives.
• Define space planning principles, allocation benchmarks, and approval workflows.
• Assess future space demands, optimization strategies, and repurposing or expansion opportunities.
• Implement design review and change management processes to ensure proper approval and documentation of alterations.
• Supervise master planning efforts, spatial layouts, CAD/BIM drawings, and related design documentation.
• Approve space allocations, design proposals, and modifications while coordinating with facility management and project teams.
• Analyze space utilization metrics and suggest improvements to support data-driven space management.
• Manage planning of renovation projects, relocations, and modifications to spaces.

Qualifications and Skills

• Over 15 years of professional experience in architecture, facility planning, space management, or design leadership roles.
• Expertise with large-scale institutional, cultural, or campus developments, including arts-focused facilities like studios, galleries, performance venues, and academic spaces.
• Proficient knowledge and hands-on experience with CAD/BIM software, spatial planning, and design coordination processes.
• Academic credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture; a Master’s in Architecture, Urban Planning, Facility Management, or Real Estate is preferred.
• Professional architectural registration or equivalent certifications beneficial; Project Management Professional (PMP) or related credentials preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership skills managing multidisciplinary teams and external consultants.
• Advanced capabilities in space allocation, utilization analysis, and design governance including review and change control.
• Excellent communication skills for liaising effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders along with strong negotiation and decision-making abilities.

Reporting Structure

Position reports to the Facility Management Director.

Why Join RUA

RUA offers a platform to nurture talent and promote Saudi art and culture globally, playing a key role in developing Saudi Arabia’s cultural ecosystem in alignment with Vision 2030. Joining RUA means contributing to an unparalleled cultural future and inspiring worldwide creative growth.