Design Head - Commercial Real Estate

Job Purpose: We are seeking an experienced Design Lead for Commercial RE to join our team and assume a senior role for all Design related matters in Projects. The position manages the Design & Project Partners and critically evaluates the Feasibility, Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documents, Bidding and Negotiation, Construction Administration, etc .This role will also address and respond to customer needs for modifications and coordination during build-out keeping in mind the quality and techno-commercial aspects.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Expertise:

- Act as a technical expert on specialized designs and offer support to ensure a quality design process.

- Demonstrate a high degree of competence, capabilities, and architectural experience resulting from progressive responsibilities.

- Make independent decisions on architectural problems and methods.

Design Management:

- Co-ordinate efficient outsourcing/offshoring of workload. Ensure technical deliverables are produced within the required timescales, costs are properly managed within the fee and change is tightly controlled and scope properly managed.

- Participate in design detailing, defining the detailed specifications and project costing. Enable the process for finalizing design drawings and sign offs, confirming the alterations while ensuring preservation of the original design intent and elements

- Be accountable for the quality of all design deliverables and technical delivery of design cost solutions.

Stakeholder Management:

- Identify and evaluate architects and allied technical consultants with expertise in Commercial real estate projects.

- Work with PMC and architects to optimize the features and specs based on budget limits

- Review portfolios, credentials, and references of potential architects and consultants.

- Lead the selection process, including interviews, negotiations, and finalizing contracts with chosen professionals.

- Ensure relevant stakeholders are involved in design and the operational requirements are integrated into designs.

- Rigorously challenge and critically evaluate designs to ensure efficiency.

- Interface with potential clients, respond to RFPs, interact with leasing teams etc.

Safety & Risk Mitigation in design and construction:

- Take care to eliminate health and safety risks in the design.

- Determine and manage risks that may affect the project in any way, particularly schedule, budget or quality/specifications

- Responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulations and standards.

- Supervise the preparation and check for accuracy of the contract documents.

- Ensure implementation of applicable regulations, construction techniques and sequences in various projects including all aspects of cross disciplines.

Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability:

- Focus on ensuring sustainability in Design (Eg. Energy & Carbon footprint)

- Provide input & feedback on finding the best design solutions to meet various Sustainability standards.

Team Management:

- Encourage and inspire the design consultants to produce their best work using their full flair, experience, resources and talents in a cost-effective way, sequence, quality and within the schedule to achieve Project timescales/milestones.

- Provide guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to the design team.

- Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment, encouraging creativity and continuous improvement.

- Set performance goals, conduct regular performance evaluations, and provide constructive feedback to team members.

Design/Quality Audit:

- Either lead the process of Design Audits or work along with the Quality Head to conduct design audits at the beginning of the project before construction begins, midway through the project and on completion of the project construction before handing over by projects to the leasing team.

- Being available to the leasing team to respond to any design related customer queries and to address any design related issues in the final product.

Qualifications and Work Experience:

- Architect with at least 18+ years' experience in the field.

- Expertise in High rise commercial buildings, hotels and retail establishments

- Demonstrated track record of successfully planning and executing large-scale mixed-use projects.

- Exposure and experience working with quality systems and processes.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies:

- Effective verbal, written communication and presentation skills

- Strong inter-personal skills - Should be effective in delivering outcomes through others

- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.

- Passion for the design and development process

- Understanding of construction and materials

- Awareness of industry best practices and latest trends

- Awareness and understanding of commercial, legal and regulatory aspects

- Quality and process orientation