Lead Designer - Education

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of nearly 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

The AECOM Abu Dhabi office are looking for a highly talented Lead Designer with a portfolio of built work in institutional, higher education and some familiarity with Military Organizational structure to join our team. 

The Lead Designer will be an advocate for design excellence within the office through an integrated and collaborative approach. The Design Leader consistently exhibits and demonstrates a commitment to AECOM’s core values – Collaboration, Creativity, Community, Integrity and the Environment.

Working with us, you will:

• Manages design team members during the implementation of design to ensure clarity and quality of concept is maintained through detail level.
• Manages client interaction and decision making relative to design from a complete Basis of Design, or User Requirements Brief
• Create and develop planning and design concepts for university, institutional and/or healthcare facilities, such as Earth and Life Science & Engineering Facilities, STEM Education (Science and Engineering) Facilities, Professional Schools (Business, Law), General Classroom Facilities, and Student Life Facilities (Residential, Dining, Recreation).
• Present design solutions to client representatives and/or design review committees.
• Supervise the development of renderings and presentation drawings for client presentations and internal meetings.
• Mentor, provide oversight, and monitor the design work of others to ensure integrated and cohesive designs.
• Will report to the Architectural Studio Leadership and will work closely with the Architectural Discipline Leader, Office Director, Marketing and Senior Designers of the firm to market our services in the various practices 

An ideal candidate has:

• Must have thorough knowledge of applicable International building codes.
• Demonstrated effectiveness and commitment to working in a team-based setting, delivering high client service and technical competence.
• Advanced graphic and verbal presentation skills
• Proficiency with Computer Modeling (rhino, Revit) AutoCAD, SketchUp, AR/VR presentation techniques Photoshop, Illustrator and PowerPoint.
• Strong business acumen and critical thinking skills in the pursuit of work
• Strong communication skills and the ability to earn the respect of clients, team members, direct reports and others external to the firm
• Has the ability to lead an integrated design process including architects, interior designers, engineers, planners and site designers.
• Demonstrated coaching and mentoring skills to develop future design talent

• Registration as a RIBA or equivalent licensed architect is required; LEED AP is preferred.
• Minimum 15-20 years’ experience as primary or secondary lead architectural designer on institutional building types.
• Experience in education projects is required.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity 

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.