Director of Architecture & Engineering

Overview: KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life. We are uniquely resourced with end\-to\-end services to take clients from inspiration – through conceptualization – to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments. For over 60 years we’ve led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities. As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms. We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 51st largest global architecture firm and the \#1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2024 WA100 Survey. We invite you to join us. Why? When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job – you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company\-wide health and well\-being through on\-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun\-runs, in\-house sports teams and beach clean ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards. Responsibilities: Our newest opportunity is for a talented **Director of Architecture \& Engineering** to join our award\-winning **Design team**, based in **Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.** We envisage success in this role to include;* Develops and maintains positive professional relations whenever dealing with current and prospective Clients. * Actively participates with marketing and business development activities as requested, including coordination of technical and financial inputs. * Ensures execution of projects with the best outcome in terms of Client satisfaction and Company returns through appropriate selection, assignment, utilization and management of architectural staff. * Plans, leads, organizes and controls operations of the Architecture Department to ensure project execution in accordance with agreed project plans established by the designated Project Manager for the project. * Provides design guidance and technical oversight to the Architecture Staff engaged in design and documentation of projects, in support of the designated Project Manager for project. * Ensures implementation of project specific quality assurance and control procedures to ensure all products produced by the Architecture Department meets high international standards. * Alerts the Director of A\&E Services of any situation under the responsibility of the Architecture Department Head likely to prevent a project from achieving targets in Client satisfaction, on time delivery or internal budgets. * Ensures all Architecture Staff understand and apply all Company policies and procedures. * Liaises and coordinates with the other Departments and Divisions for project support. * Develops mutual respect for staff, maintains staff morale and discipline and with the Technical Leader, identifies any training requirements. * Ensures adequate administrative support, technical resources and systems for information, document and file management. * Provides leadership in the exchange of knowledge relating to best, current international practice and in identification and analysis of new technology and trends in the field of Architecture. * Establishes and maintains controls for utilization and productivity of the Architecture Staff in conjunction with senior Department staff; reports to the Director of A\&E Services on surplus or demands and make recommendations regarding the recruitment of or reduction in Architecture staff. * Responsible for the recruitment activities through review of applications and CVs, discusses and agree course of action with Director of A\&E Services, conducts interviews and report to Director of A\&E Services. * Monitors the technical and professional capabilities and competencies of all staff within the Architecture Department, recommends course for action to improve individual and group capabilities. * Considers abilities of the senior Staff to manage within project and the Department office environments and recommend course for action to improve management capabilities. * Establishes, in conjunction with the designated Project Manager, a work plan for integration of the Architecture Department activities into the execution of projects through an agreed outline of scope, deliverables, standards, schedule and resource/responsibility plan. * Reviews and monitors the implementation of quality assurance and control procedures for each project through establishing a project\-specific plan for implementation relative to the Architecture Department activities, and inter\-disciplinary coordination, at the outset of the project with designated responsibilities for particular project staff. * When requested, coordinates inter\-office reviews of technical approach and execution to verify that high standards are being achieved for subject products produced by other offices. * Reviews and analyzes project financial performance parameters pertaining to the Architecture Department operations, reports if likely that target returns will not be met, and recommends most favorable course for action relative to particular projects or general operations. * Participates with scheduled and ad hoc reviews of technical performance of teams and individual staff in normal course of project delivery. * Ensures all technical documents and files produced by the Architecture Department operations are effective and efficient. * Monitors use of technical resources and tools, and supplements as appropriate to improve technical operations and standards, and ensure there is a viable library of resources available for use by Architecture staff. * Establish a good working relationship with the senior Architecture and Management Staff in the other KEO Offices to encourage high levels of cooperation and exchange of knowledge and resources. * Provides reports as required by the Director of A\&E Services to outline status and plans for action regarding resources utilization, recruitment, staff and organizational issues, Client issues, and other matters relating to operations and growth of the Architecture Department. * May perform other duties as required. Qualifications: To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that your career journey to date will include 20\+ years of relevant experience partnered with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. Masters, PhD, or similar is an advantage. AIA or RIBA. LEED, ESTIDAMA, or PMP certification would be an advantage. Licensed as a Professional Architect by an internationally recognized architectural association/body. KEO’s performance is founded upon integrity, results, innovation, safety and our people. We embrace diversity and recognise its’ contribution to client success wherever we work. We are excited to hear how you can partner with our award\-winning team and treat all expressions of interest confidentially.