Executive Director - Design Management

About the Role Aldar is seeking an Executive Director – Design Management to lead and govern the Design Management function across three product verticals: Upper & Luxury Residential; Commercial, Retail & Hospitality; and National Housing, Education & Civic. You will own the translation of commercial development briefs into high-quality, market-differentiated design outcomes, balancing design ambition with commercial and programme constraints, and build a world-class in-house design management capability serving D-Sell, D-Hold and Government clients. Key Responsibilities Design Leadership & Strategy • Establish the design vision, standards and governance frameworks across all three Design Management verticals and Aldar's full asset portfolio. • Direct the design response to commercial briefs, ensuring proposals meet target customer, price point, unit mix, key features, timeline and budget requirements. • Define design standards, material palettes and innovation opportunities for each product typology. • Chair design quality reviews at every stage gate, with authority to approve or escalate to the GDS Committee. Client & Stakeholder Engagement • Act as the primary executive interface between GDS Design Management and the three client groups, maintaining strong relationships with CDOs and Development Management Directors. • Present design recommendations and stage-gate outcomes to the GDS Committee, GCEO and BU CEO. • Manage escalations where Design Management and Development Management cannot agree on brief alignment. Design Consistency & Innovation • Drive design consistency within each typology while fostering innovation with Design Innovation and Interior Design teams. • Establish shared design knowledge frameworks and cross-vertical synergies. • Oversee integration of AI-assisted design tools and modular design thinking across teams. People & Capability • Lead, develop and retain a high-performing multi-disciplinary design management team across all verticals. • Define performance goals, succession plans and capability roadmaps aligned to GDS strategy. • Identify capability gaps and drive attraction of top-tier design talent. Required Qualifications and Experience • Minimum 16 years' experience in architectural design management or urban development, including at least 6 years in a senior executive leadership role. • Minimum 6 years managing large, multi-disciplinary design teams at senior manager level or above. • Proven experience leading design across multiple asset classes (residential, commercial, hospitality, civic) in the GCC or comparable markets. • Master's degree in architecture, Urban Design or a related discipline. Preferred Qualifications • Professional registration (RIBA, AIA or equivalent). • LEED AP or equivalent sustainability credential. Skills • Design management across residential, commercial, hospitality and civic typologies. • Ability to read and respond to commercial development briefs with financially grounded design proposals. • Executive communication and presentation skills at C-suite and board level. • Proficiency in BIM, design management platforms and AI-assisted design and review tools. • Stakeholder management and conflict resolution across multiple client groups.