Architectural Project Manager

Job Summary

The Project Manager is responsible for the management of building design projects, including team management, schedule and cost control, quality management, risk management and client management throughout the design project lifecycle. He is accountable for the delivery of building design projects of in accordance with project budgets and schedules while satisfying all technical and quality projects requirements. While doing so, the jobholder is the main client counterpart and ensures client requirements are handled in a professional manner, while maintaining a positive and reputable company image in all interactions. The jobholder is expected to progressively support and work on more complex projects, as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop detailed project budgets for building design projects
• Manage project budgets and resource allocation, ensuring the adherence to allocated budgets
• Collect and analyze client requirements for building design projects
• Manage client relations, including managing project expectations and sharing project progress and issues / risks
• Ensure client satisfaction with building design deliverables
• Manage building design projects, including schedule and cost control, team management, client management and risk management
• Develop project management plans, including schedule baselines, project scope baselines, man-hour estimates, quality plans, budgets and risk plans for building design projects
• Develop scope baseline, detailed work breakdown structures, project activities and critical path charts for building design projects
• Provide input on project procurement needs, including external specialty suppliers, as needed
• Lead internal and external project kick-off meetings and ensure stakeholders are aligned
• Manage the design teams during the execution of design projects across all design stages, including concept design, schematic design, draft final design and construction documents
• Coordinate with technical design team leaders for addressing clients’ technical issues, reviewing designs, obtaining approvals, etc. for building design projects
• Lead the coordination with other design departments to integrate designs at all stages (e.g. Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Transportation, etc.) for building design projects
• Support the Quantity Surveying team with the preparation of tender documents, such as BOQs, specifications, Conditions of Contract, etc.
• Manage sub-consultants and ensure deliverables are in accordance with scope, schedule and budget
• Make sure that quality assurance procedure is applied promptly for all deliverables and make sure that the quality of design deliverables is consistent with K&A standards
• Manage design verification, peer reviews and other quality control activities
• Lead design validation and reviews with client counterparts and authorities, as needed
• Provide support during the tender process, including managing bid queries, support in evaluation of bids and support of clients during the negotiation and award process, as needed
• Support during the supervision stage, as needed, including responding to contractors’ RFIs and solving design conflicts, in coordination with local design support teams
• Work with design support in Geographies to support projects, such as client coordination, authorities approvals
• Liaise with the Contracts Department to resolve any contractual issues for projects
• Manage changes in project scope, potential risks and contingency plans, as needed
• Guide the preparation of invoices for K&A’s deliverables, in coordination with Resident Managers and local Finance teams
• Prepare periodic project progress reports, raising major issues

Required Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture
• Master’s Degree in Architecture, Engineering or Business Administration is preferred
• PMP certification
• 12+ years of industry experience in building and architectural design of which at least 3 years are in a leadership position
• Strong experience and track record in managing building design projects within one or more specializations (residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, healthcare, specialty facilities, education, sports and recreation)
• Significant experience within the Middle East
• Knowledge of building and architectural design
• Solid knowledge in all aspects of project management
• Excellent knowledge of project management software
• Strong budget management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Good understanding of quality control and risk management
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic