Design Director

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we’re delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of nearly 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We’re one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

The Role:

A great opportunity has arisen for a Design Director to work on our flagship project in the Middle East. This role will be London based. NEOM is a flagship project of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a strategic initiative aimed at diversifying the country’s economy and reducing its dependence on oil. The development of NEOM is a massive and ambitious undertaking, and it is expected to be implemented in phases over the coming years. The success of NEOM is closely tied to the broader Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to transform Saudi Arabia into a more diversified and modern economy. One of the primary objectives of NEOM is to diversify the Saudi economy by creating a hub for various industries, including technology, biotech, manufacturing, and renewable energy. NEOM aims to be a global center for innovation and technology. The city plans to leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and renewable energy to create a smart and sustainable urban environment. NEOM is designed with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability. The project aims to be powered by renewable energy sources, with a focus on solar and wind power. Additionally, efforts are being made to preserve the natural beauty of the region.

Key Responsibilities:

The Design Director will be responsible for leading our design team, shaping the creative vision, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, innovative design solutions. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in design leadership, a deep understanding of design principles, and the ability to translate business objectives into compelling visual experiences.

Design Leadership: Provide strategic direction and leadership for the design team, ensuring alignment with the company’s overall objectives.Inspire, mentor, and manage a team of designers, fostering a creative and collaborative work environment.

Project Oversight: Lead the design process from concept to execution, ensuring the delivery of high-quality design solutions on time and within budget.Oversee multiple projects simultaneously, balancing priorities and resources effectively.

Collaboration: Work closely with stakeholders, including marketing, product development, and executive teams, to understand and address design needs across the organization.Foster strong relationships with internal and external partners, agencies, and vendors. Able to oversee multi-disciplinary design teams. Contributes as an in-house expert on specific technologies or processes. Responsible for ensuring design disciplines working on projects collaborate effectively to develop comprehensive technical solutions. Resolves issues or problems concerning conflicting requirements and complex coordination.

Quality Assurance: Ensure the consistency, quality, and adherence to brand guidelines across all design projects.Conduct regular design reviews to provide constructive feedback and drive continuous improvement.

Innovation: Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and design best practices. Introduce and champion innovative design concepts that elevate the brand and user experience.

Commercial Management: Delivers planned profit margins and completes projects without write-downs or margin erosion. Typically manages projects involving RTF (Risk Triggering Factors). Has decision-making authority and directs other Project Managers in recognising risk and uncertainty with plans to mitigate such. Minimises exposure to claims.

Technical Excellence: Has experience in design elements and a good understanding of safety in design principles. Ensures technical quality reviews, including documentation in the project record, as per policies and procedures. Ensures that the technical approach satisfies the client scope of services and expectations. Engages with project technical teams within a field of expertise to confirm project approach and reviews deliverables.

Team Management: Provides day to day management, recruits, trains, mentors, and evaluates project delivery staff’s performance. Has formal supervisory responsibilities defining project team operating standards and meeting essential procedural requirements.

Qualifications

• 25 years’ experience of relevant design experience on mega projects/programmes

• Advance degree in relevant field

Additional Information

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $13.1 billion in fiscal year 2022. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

ReqID: REF24644I

Business Line: B&P – Buildings & Places

Business Group: DCS

Strategic Business Unit: Europe & India

Career Area: Design

Work Location Model: Hybrid