Assistant Design Manager / Architect of Record

Due to the continuing success and growth of our AESG team, a fantastic opportunity has opened up at our award-winning Specialist Consultancy, Engineering and Advisory Firm.

We are headquartered in London, Riyadh, Singapore and Dubai, Cape Town, Cairo & Sydney working throughout the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Our areas of expertise are represented in four core verticals: Building Engineering, Planning and Infrastructure, Strategy and Advisory and Commissioning, Handover and Asset Management.

We pride ourselves in being leaders in the industry in each of the services that we offer. We have one of the largest dedicated team with decades of cumulative experience in sustainable design, fire and life safety, cost management, façade engineering, commissioning, building performance, waste management, environmental consultancy, carbon management and acoustics.

Job Purpose

• Support design management activities across multidisciplinary projects, working independently on day-to-day coordination while escalating larger or more complex assignments to senior design management for guidance.

• Act as Architect of Record, working independently to take responsibility for the technical accuracy, coordination, and code compliance of architectural design documentation.

• Review architectural and multidisciplinary designs for technical compliance with local authority and permitting requirements (e.g. DDA and other relevant approving authorities), coordinating submissions and resolving authority comments.

• Bridge the gap between design intent and technical/regulatory compliance, ensuring designs are permit-ready and construction-compliant.

Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture.

• Good post-graduate experience in architectural design and design management within the UAE/GCC region.

• Proven experience as an Architect of Record or Design Manager, including experience obtaining design approvals through DM and DDA (Dubai Development Authority) or equivalent local permitting authorities in Abu Dhabi.

• Strong knowledge of UAE/GCC building codes, local authority regulations, and permitting/approval processes.

Responsibilities

• Support design management for multidisciplinary projects, coordinating architectural, engineering, and specialist consultant inputs across all project stages, under the guidance of the Design Manager on larger or more complex assignments.

• Act as Architect of Record, working independently to take professional responsibility for the technical accuracy, completeness, and code compliance of architectural drawings and specifications.

• Review architectural and multidisciplinary design packages for technical compliance and permitting/approval readiness prior to authority submission.

• Manage the permitting and approval process with relevant local authorities (e.g. DDA, Dubai Municipality, Trakhees, or equivalent), coordinating submissions, tracking approvals, and resolving authority comments.

• Interrogate design documentation against applicable codes, planning regulations, and client requirements, flagging non-compliance issues and coordinating design revisions.

• Coordinate with clients, consultants, contractors, and authorities to ensure design decisions align with project budget, programme, and quality objectives.

• Chair and coordinate design review meetings, tracking actions and ensuring timely close-out.

• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior architects and design team members.

• Support project teams through concept, schematic, detailed design, and construction documentation stages, ensuring consistency of design intent.

• Maintain awareness of evolving local authority regulations, permitting requirements, and industry best practice.

• Local authority registration/licensing as an architect (e.g. DDA, Dubai Municipality, Trakhees, or equivalent) preferred.

• Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, and BIM coordination tools.