Associate Director​/Project Lead

Position: Associate Director / Project Lead Job Description Project Oversight & Delivery • Lead the design development and successful delivery of projects while continuously monitoring overall project health. • Manage project teams and resources across large-scale projects or defined scopes within complex developments. • Drive effective team coordination through regular client meetings, issue-focused workshops, internal reviews, and interdepartmental collaboration. Project Control & Reporting • Coordinate closely with Project Control and Project Management (PC/PM) teams to develop and maintain dashboards, design management plans, project execution strategies, and progress reports. • Ensure accurate and timely reporting (daily, weekly, and monthly) to proactively identify risks, bottlenecks, and scheduling conflicts. • Monitor project performance, resources, and expenditures against approved plans to maintain schedule and budget compliance. Client & Stakeholder Management • Maintain strong relationships with the client’s senior management, addressing and resolving stakeholder conflicts effectively. • Provide leadership throughout project execution to sustain positive working relationships with sub-consultants, internal teams, project managers, and clients. • Ensure all external interactions reflect the highest professional and ethical standards. Quality Management • Lead the implementation of the company’s quality management systems across all project activities. • Promote quality awareness and conduct regular (monthly) QA/QC reviews. • Identify, address, and resolve non-conformances while ensuring preventative measures are implemented. • Participate in biannual quality audits as required. Team Leadership & Development • Support career development through mentoring, performance management, and promotion planning. • Foster a collaborative and high-performing team culture aligned with project and organizational goals. • Guide architects, senior architects, design managers, associates, and directors in achieving KPIs, quality standards, and performance targets. Collaboration & Strategic Oversight • Collaborate with other architectural practices within the organization to coordinate workloads, align project stages, and ensure delivery excellence. • Advise senior management on operational improvements, risk mitigation strategies, and strategic financial matters, including cash flow and collections. Financial Coordination • Provide timely and accurate project updates to the accounts team to support invoicing and facilitate prompt payment collection. • Undertake additional responsibilities as assigned by the Managing Principal and Managing Directors in accordance with company policies. Business Development & Partnerships • Identify, assess, and pursue new business opportunities aligned with the company’s strategic objectives. • Lead deal execution activities, including partner prioritization, strategic and financial analysis, deal structuring, negotiation, and implementation. • Build and maintain strong relationships with senior executives within partner and client organizations. • Act as a local architectural representative, protecting and promoting the company’s brand and market presence. Qualifications Key Requirements & Qualifications • Professional degree in Architecture (Bachelor’s or Master’s) from an accredited institution (mandatory). • Minimum 19 years of experience in architectural design consultancy, including at least 9 years of local/regional experience . • At least 9 years of experience in design development and documentation within an architectural consultancy environment. • Strong grounding in architectural principles and practices, with comprehensive knowledge of the design and construction industry . • General understanding of BIM workflows and methodologies . • Thorough knowledge of local and international building codes , building materials, and product standards. • Broad understanding of related disciplines, including MEP systems, master planning, infrastructure, landscape, interior design (), and stakeholder coordination. • Proven experience managing large, multidisciplinary design teams , demonstrating strong leadership and coordination skills. • Experience delivering high-profile international projects , including (but not limited to): • Hospitality developments • High-rise residential buildings • Hospitals • Family Entertainment Centers (FECs) • Science museums • Shopping malls • Mixed-use developments • Active involvement in organizational and business processes, including: • Staff interviews, mentoring, and performance evaluations • Technical input for bidding processes • RFP evaluations and bid/no-bid decision-making • Demonstrated ability to develop design systems and processes that enhance quality and efficiency, including templates and shared resources for global office use. • Excellent communication, client management, and leadership skills , with the ability to build trust and alignment across diverse stakeholders. • Membership with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) or the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is preferred. #J-18808-Ljbffr