Project Director - Workplace (Urban Core) (REQ743)

The Project Director, Workplace is responsible for leading the successful design, planning and delivery of the Workplace Interiors of the Qiddiya corporate headquarters which are being integrated into new base buildings. This includes managing the workplace project from early concept and business case development through developing comprehensive briefs, design, procurement, construction, and operational handover.

The proposed Qiddiya Headquarters will be a world-class Grade A+, future-ready workplace ecosystem spanning approximately 120,000 sqm and accommodating approximately 9,000 people. Designed to enhance human performance, foster innovation, and set a benchmark for sustainable workplace design, the campus will provide a flexible and resilient environment that evolves with the organization’s needs.

This role will ensure alignment between the corporate headquarters workplace and other QIC workplace projects, ensuring they support the company’s strategic objectives, governance requirements, and employee needs. The positionwill also represent the Qiddiya corporate workplace across senior leadership forums and act as a key liaison across internal departments.

The role will require working closely with the Base Building Development Directors to ensure workplace requirements are integrated into the base building design, infrastructure, and delivery strategy from the earliest design stages. This includes coordinating key interfaces such as spatial planning, building services, vertical transportation, access, security, technology, sustainability, and operational requirements so the headquarters workplace is seamlessly embedded within the broader development and capable of supporting QIC’s long-term business and employee needs.

The successful candidate will bring a depth of experience in the design management of large-scale corporate workplace projects, with proven capability leading front-end design phases from workplace strategy, briefing and concept development through to design coordination and approvals. They will combine strong technical understanding of workplace planning and fit-out design with strategic project leadership, ensuring design outcomes are aligned with business objectives, employee needs and delivery requirements. Exceptional stakeholder management skills and the ability to lead consultants, internal client teams and senior decision-makers through complex workplace design processes are imperative for the role.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead the end-to-end design and delivery of the company’s corporate headquarters workplace, ensuring alignment with workplace strategy, program, budget, quality, compliance requirements, and employee needs, while aligning to the consistency across other Qiddiya Investment Company workplace projects in line with the company’s strategic objectives and governance requirements.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders including the Office Development team who are delivering the base buildings, Corporate Workplace Team, HR, IT, Smart Buildings Team, DMO, ESG, and Corporate Governance to ensure the workplace reflects current and future needs.
• Manage external consultants, project management consultants, workplace design teams, quantity surveyors, and contractors on behalf of the company as client.
• Coordinate all phases of workplace delivery, with particular emphasis on front-end design management, including workplace strategy, feasibility, briefing, concept design, design development, approvals, procurement, construction, fit-out, commissioning, and transition to occupancy.
• Work closely with Workplace Delivery teams to ensure construction procurement, phasing, quality and compliance are achieved in all workplace projects.

1. Strategic Vision & Internal Alignment

• Translate the company’s strategic goals, brand identity, and public mission into workplace design and delivery outcomes.
• Lead internal engagement to shape the headquarters as a high-performing, flexible, inclusive and sustainable workplace.
• Promote alignment between the physical workspace and the organization’s operating model, functional briefing, technology roadmap, and corporate culture.
• Support leadership in driving positive organisational change associated with the move.

1. Governance & Public Accountability

• Ensure robust reporting and project governance in line with organisational frameworks.
• Prepare and present business cases, board papers, risk reports, and budget updates for executive stakeholders.
• Ensure procurement activities meet probity, equity, and value-for-money principles in line with corporate guidelines.
• Demonstrate stewardship of funds through strong cost control, transparency, and risk management.

1. Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage with executive leadership and internal stakeholders to ensure project goals are well-communicated and supported.
• Coordinate user engagement, change management, and communication strategies to prepare the organisation for transition.
• Act as an internal point of contact and trusted advisor to the internal client team throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications & Experience