***Salary up to 90,000 AED***Open to relocation We are partnering with a prominent real estate developer to appoint a Vice President – Design & Technical, a strategic leadership role responsible for the full governance, direction, and performance of the design function across a portfolio of large-scale developments. This role sits at executive level and will drive design excellence, commercial performance, innovation, compliance, and cross-functional integration from concept through construction and project handover. The VP will lead multidisciplinary technical teams, oversee international design consultants, and ensure world-class delivery aligned with corporate objectives and board-level expectations. The Vice President – Design & Technical will:Provide strategic leadership for all design and technical operations Establish governance frameworks and enforce Design Management Processes (DMP) Oversee consultant procurement, performance, and commercial management Drive value engineering, cost optimisation, and constructability strategies Ensure timely project delivery in alignment with executive approvals Serve as a key advisor to the Chairman, Managing Director, and VP Projects Core Responsibilities Strategic Design Leadership Define and implement the organisation’s design vision, standards, and technical strategy Oversee development of Project Briefs and secure executive-level approvals Establish professional services procurement strategies for all projects Lead consultant selection, negotiation, contracting, and fee evaluation Ensure alignment of design objectives with commercial and brand strategy Champion innovation, sustainability, and efficiency across all developments Executive Oversight of Project Delivery Provide executive governance over design delivery across multiple concurrent projects Oversee preparation and approval of Project Design Management Plans (PDMP) Ensure compliance with scope, timelines, quality standards, and cost parameters Monitor variation orders, change management processes, and risk mitigation Review and endorse major design submissions and technical decisions Lead Design Stage Gateway approvals with senior leadership Oversee tender documentation strategy and management Drive value engineering initiatives throughout the project lifecycle Ensure constructability optimisation and cost-efficiency measures Provide executive-level reporting on project design performance Commercial & Financial Accountability Partner with Commercial and QS teams to validate cost estimates at each design stage Oversee consultant and contractor progress validation for payments Manage professional fee evaluations and negotiations Ensure financial discipline within the design and technical function Monitor scope changes and ensure proper executive approvals Cross-Functional Executive Integration Ensure the design function provides strategic support to:Sales (unit layouts, design data, product optimisation) Marketing (brand alignment, visual materials, show units) Commercial (tender and procurement documentation) Hospitality (operational design compliance) Projects (construction-stage technical governance, mockups, RFIs) Act as the primary technical advisor to the Project VP and executive leadership during construction phases. Organisational Leadership & Capability Building Establish, structure, and scale the Design & Technical Department Define roles, responsibilities, and performance metrics Lead recruitment strategy in collaboration with HRImplement leadership development and succession planning initiatives Conduct executive-level performance reviews and goal setting Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and innovation Compliance, Governance & Quality Assurance Ensure strict adherence to DMP, HSE policies, and corporate governance standards Oversee authority approvals and regulatory compliance processes Ensure robust documentation, reporting systems, and digital tracking tools Coordinate closely with commissioning teams to ensure world-class project handover Maintain real-time transparency of technical performance metrics Stakeholder & Board-Level Engagement Maintain executive alignment with Project Management teams Advise senior leadership on design risks, deviations, and corrective strategies Present design stage reports and strategic updates to Chairman and MDEnsure design performance meets corporate brand and quality benchmarks Candidate Profile Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or related discipline (Master’s preferred)15+ years of progressive experience in design leadership within large-scale real estate development Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and international consultants Strong commercial acumen and cost governance experience Deep understanding of authority approvals and regulatory processes in Dubai Demonstrated success delivering complex, high-value developments Executive presence with strong board-level communication skills Strategic thinker with operational depth REF: FL V-159124