Senior Design Manager (Utilities + Support Facilities)

Description

• Develop and maintain technical delivery strategies, design criteria, and performance standards.
• Liaise with Abu Dhabi Airports, design consultants, regulatory authorities, and other key stakeholders.
• Support professional development and capability building within the design team.
• Coordinate with Program Director and Deputy Program Director to align design activities with overall program objectives.
• Lead and manage the technical design delivery of all utilities and support infrastructure works, ensuring alignment with IDDP objectives and operational requirements.
• Ensure effective use of BIM 360, Navisworks, and other digital platforms for clash detection and coordination.
• Capture and document lessons learned to inform future project phases and enhance organizational capability.
• Lead federated model reviews and coordinate resolution of design conflicts.
• Monitor design deliverables and ensure alignment with overall project schedule and milestone targets.
• Ensure all designs comply with ICAO standards, local building codes, ESTIDAMA requirements, and airport operational standards.
• Manage design consultants and specialist sub-consultants to deliver high-quality design outputs.
• Maintain design risk register and implement mitigation strategies.
• Lead coordination and resolution of interface issues across utilities and support infrastructure and adjacent systems.
• Coordinate with other Senior Design Managers to resolve cross-discipline interfaces and dependencies.
• Secure necessary technical approvals and client sign-offs for design deliverables.
• Report design progress and performance metrics to program leadership.
• Prepare and present technical reports, design review outcomes, and decision papers to senior management.
• Ensure design solutions support efficient construction sequencing and logistics.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and knowledge sharing across design disciplines.
• Facilitate collaboration among project teams to resolve technical challenges and maintain alignment.
• Coordinate with Program Controls Manager to track progress, identify deviations, and implement corrective actions.
• Promote innovative design solutions that improve efficiency, sustainability, and constructability.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary design activities across utilities, power, water, and related systems.
• Lead identification and mitigation of design-related risks that may impact cost, schedule, or performance.
• Review and approve technical specifications, design criteria, and engineering documentation.
• Coordinate with regulatory authorities and obtain necessary design approvals and permits.
• Ensure seamless integration between all technical disciplines and specialist systems.
• Mentor design engineers, technical staff, and support teams, fostering technical excellence and collaborative teamwork.
• Promote digital engineering practices and innovation in design delivery.
• Ensure timely completion of design submissions to support procurement and construction schedules.
• Monitor design deliverables to ensure compliance with project standards, quality benchmarks, and regulatory requirements.
• Promote Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles to enhance construction efficiency.
• Facilitate technical coordination meetings to address integration challenges and maintain project alignment.
• Coordinate with construction teams and contractors during Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) phase.
• Ensure design deliverables meet quality, schedule, and budget targets.
• Lead constructability reviews to ensure designs are practical, buildable, and optimized for construction.
• Facilitate value engineering and design optimization workshops to enhance project value.
• Oversee BIM implementation and digital design coordination for all design packages.
• Ensure designs are optimized for performance, maintainability, life-cycle efficiency, and sustainability.
• Lead design review workshops to assess technical completeness, constructability, and compliance with standards.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in airport terminal, airside, or aviation infrastructure projects with successful project delivery outcomes.
• Constructability & Design for Manufacture
• Professional registration or certification (e.g., P.E., CEng, PMP, CCM, or equivalent) is highly advantageous.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work under pressure, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding of sustainability standards (e.g., ESTIDAMA, LEED, BREEAM) and their integration into airport infrastructure.
• Experience working in GCC region or Middle East with familiarity of local construction practices and regulatory environment.
• Extensive experience in design management, coordination, and stakeholder engagement within IDDP or similar delivery models.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or related technical discipline (Master's degree preferred).
• Strong leadership and communication skills with a collaborative, team-oriented approach.
• Proficiency in design coordination tools and project management software (e.g., BIM 360, Revit, Navisworks, Primavera P6, MS Project).
• Excellent understanding of international design and construction codes, including ICAO, NFPA, IBC, ESTIDAMA, and local Abu Dhabi authority standards.
• Proven track record of managing multi-disciplinary technical teams and overseeing large, complex projects.
• Knowledge of Integrated Design Delivery Partnership (IDDP) or Design-Build delivery models.
• Minimum of 15 years' experience in utilities and support infrastructure design, engineering, and delivery within major airport or infrastructure projects.
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making abilities with strong attention to detail.
• Prior experience delivering major airport terminal projects, including design delivery, systems integration, and stakeholder coordination.
• Strong knowledge of utilities and support infrastructure systems and interdependencies between utilities, power, water, drainage, and related disciplines.

Benefits

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance