Job Description Overview

Atkins are searching for a Candidate to join our team with experience of managing large-scale multi-disciplinary projects within KSA and the GCC Region. The candidate is to have a minimum of 12 years postgraduate experience with 8+ years within the Middle East with significant experience in Design Management (minimum 5 years) or multidisciplinary design delivery. In addition a proven track record leading small to medium scale projects of medium to high complexity, or significant packages within larger projects and demonstrated experience managing and mentoring Design Management teams.

The role requires the ability to operate independently, leading multi‑disciplinary design teams with full accountability for design coordination, programme management, quality, and scope compliance.

Responsibilities

• Leads and manages the overall technical input of the multidisciplinary design team, ensuring design outputs are fully coordinated, compliant with contractual and regulatory requirements, and delivered to the required quality standards
• Creates, maintains, and actively manages the Design Management Plan (DMP), ensuring alignment with project scope, programme, organisation structure, communication protocols, and client requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
• Accountable for the design coordination and interface management process, ensuring effective integration between disciplines, subconsultants, third parties, and client requirements, and resolving coordination issues proactively.
• Develops, owns, and manages a multidisciplinary design programme, securing buying from Technical Leads and aligning design deliverables with client milestones, approvals, procurement strategy, and construction sequencing.
• Ensures that all design deliverables are reviewed, approved, and issued in accordance with the AtkinsRéalis Quality Management System (QMS), project procedures, and agreed document control processes.
• Integrates Safety in Design principles throughout all stages of the design process, ensuring hazards are identified, risks are managed, and design decisions support safe construction, operation, and maintenance outcomes.
• Responsible for confirming that contractual design deliverables have been achieved in accordance with the agreed scope and programme prior to the production of invoices.
• Identifies, coordinates, and supports the compilation of scope gaps and changes, working closely with the Project Manager, Lead Designer, and Discipline Leads to assess impacts on time, cost, and resources.
• Demonstrates a strong understanding of risk, contingency, and change management, applying commercial awareness and sound judgement to support overall project financial health.
• Manages and monitors design resources to ensure delivery is achieved in line with agreed budgets, programmes, and project priorities.
• Acts as the primary technical interface with the Client’s technical team, working closely with the Project Manager or Project Director as required to ensure alignment on design objectives, scope, and delivery expectations.
• Manages client expectations through clear, structured communication, timely reporting, and coordinated, high quality responses to client comments, queries, and technical requests.
• Provides appropriate technical advice and resources to address client requirements, ensuring issues are resolved efficiently and in accordance with project and contractual obligations.
• Leads or supports stakeholder and statutory authority engagement processes, ensuring design submissions meet client, regulatory, and approval requirements.
• Proactively escalates technical, programme, or scope related issues in a timely and structured manner, supporting effective resolution and minimizing impact on project outcomes.
• Provides day to day leadership and mentoring to Design Managers, Assistant Design Managers, and junior team members.
• Fosters a collaborative, high performance team culture, encouraging knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Supports performance development through coaching, feedback, and contribution to appraisals where required.
• Acts as a role model for AtkinsRéalis behaviours, values, and professional standards.
• Where required, acts as Bid Manager for small to medium proposals aligned with experience and capability.
• Contributes to bid preparation, including methodology development, programme input, and Design Management strategy.
• Supports wider Design Management marketing and business development initiatives, promoting best practice and capability.