Director - Planning & Technical Affairs

Summary

The Director of Planning & Technical Affairs is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping the vision and execution of design and technical development for the NEOM communities. This role oversees the planning, design, and delivery of integrated community projects, including residential, commercial, recreational, and utility infrastructures.

The Director will provide strategic leadership, ensuring all projects align with global standards of quality, livability and innovation. This position requires collaboration with senior management, stakeholders, and multidisciplinary teams to deliver impactful, high-quality solutions.

Position description and responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement comprehensive masterplans and design strategies that align with the NEOM vision for sustainable and integrated community development.
• Lead architecture, planning, and engineering initiatives, ensuring they meet global standards and project requirements.
• Act as a senior leader and key liaison between project teams, executive management, and stakeholders, promoting collaboration and effective relationships.

Operational Oversight

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of senior architects, engineers, planners, and designers to foster a culture of innovation, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure technical rigor, sustainability, functionality, and cost-efficiency in all design and engineering solutions.
• Oversee the creation of detailed design documentation, ensuring effective coordination across all stakeholders for seamless project delivery.
• Monitor project progress, budgets, and timelines, managing risks and changes to ensure successful delivery within agreed parameters.

Outcome-Driven Accountability

• Ensure all projects and assets are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and sustainability, while meeting both proponent and organizational expectations.
• Deliver impactful design proposals and technical presentations to executive leadership and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with company objectives and strategic goals.
• Establish and uphold rigorous design standards, guidelines, and best practices to ensure consistency, quality, and compliance across all projects.
• Lead quality assurance, risk management, and change control processes to proactively address challenges and ensure successful project outcomes.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Knowledge and Skills

• Strategic Planning and Design: Expertise in architecture, engineering, and urban planning with experience developing masterplans and design strategies.
• Global Standards and Sustainability: Deep knowledge of international standards, sustainable design, and innovative solutions to achieve high functionality, cost-efficiency and livable environments.
• Stakeholder and Team Management: Strong ability to build stakeholder relationships, negotiate, and align diverse interests; experience leading multidisciplinary teams for cohesive project delivery.
• Project and Financial Management: Skilled in project management, risk assessment, financial oversight, and maintaining high standards of quality assurance.
• Communication and Leadership: Effective communicator and leader with strong decision-making abilities; capable of guiding teams in complex, dynamic environments.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and reporting skills

Experience

• 20+ years of experience in architecture, urban planning, or engineering, with significant roles in managing large-scale, design-led projects across various sectors, such as residential, mixed-use, commercial, public, healthcare, educational, and recreational.
• Proven track record in delivering complex, high-impact architectural and urban planning projects from inception to completion, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and strategic alignment.
• Experience working in diverse settings and leading varied projects—residential, mixed-use, commercial, public, healthcare, educational—with a preference for experience in top-tier firms.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, Urban Planning, Engineering, or a related field.
• Postgraduate degree in Architecture, Urban Design, or Engineering is preferred.
• Experience in working on Mega projects.
• Professional accreditation (e.g., RIBA, AIA, PE) is highly desirable.