Director – Design Planning & Services

About the role

Lead the Group Design Planning & Services function within the Group Design Studio, integrating master planning, infrastructure, architecture, interior design and innovation to deliver coordinated, high‑quality design across a multi‑project portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Establish end‑to‑end design frameworks, governance procedures and quality standards across all design disciplines.
• Lead design programme planning, resource orchestration and milestone governance, managing inter‑dependencies and consultant procurement.
• Own the studio’s integrated data and systems architecture, embedding AI‑enabled tools for scenario planning, risk detection and cross‑discipline coordination.
• Provide portfolio insights to the Group Chief Design Officer and governance committees, and drive studio operational support and capability development.

Required profile

• 14+ years of experience in design planning, design management or related built‑environment fields.
• At least 6 years in managerial leadership roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Urban Planning, Design Management or related discipline (Master’s preferred).
• Relevant professional certification or membership (preferred).

Required skills

• Design planning and programme governance.
• Cross‑disciplinary design integration.
• Consultant and procurement management.
• Data, digital and AI‑enabled workflow optimisation.
• Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Excel.
• Project and portfolio management platforms, CDE and collaboration tools.
• Analytics, AI and large language model tools; workflow automation.