Job Purpose

Reporting to the Project Director, the Design Manager – Infrastructure will be responsible for managing, coordinating, and delivering all horizontal and site infrastructure design packages across master-planned, mixed-use, residential, and commercial developments. This includes roads, grading, utilities, stormwater, earthworks, and off-site infrastructure.

The role represents the developer’s interests throughout the design lifecycle, ensuring that infrastructure designs are technically sound, coordinated with vertical developments, compliant with authority requirements, cost-effective, and aligned with project programme and delivery strategy. The position requires strong civil design knowledge, experience managing multidisciplinary consultants, and a solid understanding of the real estate development process.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage the full infrastructure design scope from concept and master planning through detailed design, authority approvals, and construction support. Ensure designs are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with the overall development strategy.
• Appoint, manage, and coordinate external infrastructure consultants, including civil engineers, utility specialists, traffic consultants, and surveyors. Define scopes of work, monitor deliverables, review outputs, and ensure consultant performance meets contractual and quality expectations.
• Coordinate infrastructure designs with architects, urban designers, landscape designers, and vertical design teams to ensure seamless integration between horizontal and vertical components. Resolve design interfaces, clashes, and technical conflicts proactively.
• Authority and Utility Coordination:
• Lead coordination with local authorities, municipalities, and utility providers to secure design approvals, NOCs, and permits. Ensure infrastructure designs comply with all local regulations, utility standards, and authority requirements.
• Develop and manage infrastructure design programmes aligned with project milestones. Monitor consultant fees, control design budgets, manage variations, and support cost optimisation through value engineering initiatives.
• Review and approve design submissions at all stages to ensure technical accuracy, constructability, compliance, and alignment with project standards. Ensure designs support efficient construction sequencing and long-term operational performance.
• Identify design-related risks, constraints, and opportunities early. Lead value engineering and optimisation exercises to improve cost efficiency, constructability, sustainability, and lifecycle performance.
• Provide design oversight and technical support during construction, including reviewing RFIs, shop drawings, and design changes. Ensure design intent is maintained while supporting practical site solutions.
• Ensure all as-built documentation, authority approvals, and infrastructure design deliverables are complete and accurate for handover to construction, asset management, or operations teams.

Qualifications, Experience & Core Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• 8–10 years of experience in infrastructure design and coordination, preferably within a real estate developer or consultancy environment.
• Proven experience managing horizontal infrastructure design for large-scale residential, mixed-use, or master-planned developments in the Middle East.
• Strong technical understanding of roads, grading, earthworks, drainage, stormwater systems, and utility networks.
• Demonstrated experience managing and coordinating external consultants on behalf of a developer.
• Strong knowledge of local authority regulations, utility requirements, approval processes, and permitting frameworks.
• Ability to manage multiple design packages, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Excellent coordination, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing consultant fees and supporting cost control.
• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with strong attention to detail and design quality.