Senior Director - Project Design

About the Role

Qiddiya Investment Company is looking for an accomplished Senior Director to spearhead the design initiatives within their Strategic Development Unit (SDU). This leadership position involves overseeing the design process of major projects to ensure their successful completion aligned with Qiddiya's strategic vision and brand identity.

Key Duties

• Develop and maintain design and consultancy management frameworks, governance models, and operating procedures for the QDC HQ team, extending implementation to all business units and sectors.
• Provide leadership for specific HQ special projects, ensuring adherence to quality, timelines, budget, and health, safety, security, and environment standards.
• Formulate or revise policies, procedures, manuals, templates for design and consultancy including project management consultancy across various delivery methods such as self-delivery, delivery partner models, and construction management.
• Define governance structures with detailed RACI matrices across project stages.
• Collaborate with HQ Operations Director and Project Director (Delivery) to establish governance and operational models throughout the program lifecycle.
• Create standardized design strategy requirements and templates applicable to all projects and delivery mediums.
• Manage technical and peer review protocols for design management in coordination with the Technical Director.
• Update health, safety, security, and environmental management requirements related to the design phase, coordinating with respective managers.
• Oversee sustainability management requirements during design phases alongside Sustainability Managers.
• Support the MMC Director in establishing overall MMC strategy and design integration for all delivery models.
• Assist the Procurement Director in defining design and consultancy criteria for prequalification and requests for proposal processes, including consultant selection participation.
• Aid the HQ Executive Director in presentations and submissions for business lines, project approvals, and budget endorsements.
• Responsible for delivery, approvals, reporting, stakeholder management, financial closure, and handover of assigned HQ special projects.
• Ensure compliance of assigned projects with QDC policies and standards concerning HSE, budget, schedule, and quality requirements.
• Support business units on project delivery through peer reviews, consultant management, project audits ensuring conformance with design and consultancy standards.
• Coordinate business unit inputs on management and governance frameworks, contributing to process documentation updates for continuous improvement.
• Lead or support preparation of training materials and presentations for policy and process implementation, including participation in mentoring and capability building programs.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering is mandatory; a Master’s degree in a related discipline is highly preferred.
• Minimum of 20 years of professional experience, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles related to procurement, commercial, or supply chain functions overseeing major programs or giga-projects.
• At least 5 years of significant experience within Saudi Arabia on large-scale developments.

Required Expertise

• In-depth knowledge of procurement governance, strategic sourcing, and supply chain management principles.
• Proven ability to establish procurement frameworks, policies, and assurance models for complex multi-project programs.
• Understanding of various delivery models, including Self-Delivery, Construction Management, Delivery Partner, and traditional contracting.
• Experience with strategic long-lead procurement, market engagement, and supplier capacity management.
• Strong leadership providing central procurement services to internal business units and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent stakeholder management across executive leadership, project teams, consultants, contractors, and suppliers.
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal.
• High standards of professionalism, judgment, and commercial insight.
• Superior problem-solving and risk management abilities.
• Effective time management and ability to perform well under pressure.

Additional Information

Applications close on July 1, 2026. The successful candidate will receive a competitive compensation package along with comprehensive benefits.