Principal Design Manager

Job Description

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy committed to delivering impactful work that shapes the future.

We are a team of over 20,000 experts working across the world in more than 50 countries.
We are proud to be part of an ever-changing global industry, delivering transformative work that’s defining our future. It’s our people who power that performance. As an employee-owned business, we invest in creating a space for everyone to feel safe and valued and empowered with the right tools and support.

Whether you want to pursue excellence in your specialism or broaden your experience with flexible roles across our business, you’ll be connected to a community of global experts championing you to be your best. Join us and shape your story with Mott MacDonald, where everyone has the opportunity to be brilliant.

About the role

The Principal Design Manager is accountable for the end‑to‑end delivery of complex high‑rise, mixed‑use and luxury developments, integrating design management, innovation, quality, compliance and stakeholder leadership. The role provides single‑point accountability across the project lifecycle, ensuring design excellence, risk management and client satisfaction, in line with Mott MacDonald’s governance and best practice.

Key responsibilities and duties are listed, but not limited to, the below:

• Lead and manage the end to end design process from requirements definition through to delivery, establishing and controlling scope, basis of design, competencies, compliance with client briefs, quality assurance, risk management, and governance.

• Act as Design Manager and/or Project Principal in accordance with Mott MacDonald management systems, policies, and QA/QC procedures.

• Lead, coordinate, and integrate multidisciplinary design teams, overseeing design reviews, technical assurance, and independent checks to ensure robust and high-quality outcomes.

• Ensure full compliance with applicable codes, standards, statutory requirements, and client specifications across all design disciplines.

• Maintain overall ownership of design solutions, managing change control, reporting, and authority approvals throughout the project lifecycle.

• Build and sustain strong client and stakeholder relationships, acting as a trusted advisor and primary point of escalation on design related matters.

• Lead, mentor, and develop teams, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high performance culture that promotes technical excellence and professional growth.

• Proactively identify, manage, and mitigate project, technical, commercial, and reputational risks, while identifying opportunities to enhance value and outcomes.

• Understand of sustainability frameworks (LEED, Estidama) and integration into design development.

• Champion innovation and digital enablement, working closely with discipline leads and digital teams to embed efficient, futureready design solutions.

Candidate specifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or architecture. MSc is a plus

• Chartered Engineer / Architect or equivalent professional registration preferred.

• Extensive experience across design management within the built environment.

• Proven delivery of high‑rise, mixed‑use and luxury developments.

• Experience working in the Middle East / Gulf region.

• Strong understanding of project controls, contracts (including FIDIC), commercial and design management.

• Experience in design to budget approach, working closely with cost consultants

• Excellent leadership, client‑facing and communication skills.

• Experience working within a consultancy environment.

• Arabic speaking and writing will be of benefit to the role but is not a mandatory requirement

Our Purpose

At Mott MacDonald, our purpose is to improve society by considering social outcomes in everything we do; relentlessly focusing on excellence and digital innovation, transforming our clients’ businesses, our communities and employee opportunities.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is at the heart of our organisation. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate, rather take positive steps towards creating a diverse and inclusive working environment.

Flexible Working

At Mott MacDonald, we support our staff to create work-life balance which works for them and welcome candidates looking for career flexibility. We are open to discussing flexible working at interview stage.

We can offer:

• 90 calendar days’ paid maternity leave

• Competitive annual leave

• An annual professional institution subscription

• Annual company performance bonus scheme – Subject to company performance