Executive Design Manager | Reef Group
Position Title: Executive Design Manager
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Job Type: Full-Time
About the Role
Reef Group is seeking an experienced and highly capable Executive Design Manager to lead and manage architectural and interior design activities for retail branches and commercial locations across the Group.
The role will be responsible for developing and overseeing architectural and interior design solutions, ensuring consistent implementation of brand identity and design standards, and aligning all design outputs with operational requirements, commercial objectives, and expansion plans.
The ideal candidate should bring strong experience in retail and commercial design, with the ability to balance visual appeal, operational efficiency, customer experience, space utilization, cost, and delivery requirements across multiple projects and locations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead architectural and interior design activities for retail branches and commercial locations in line with approved expansion and business plans.
- Develop and continuously improve the overall design strategy, technical standards, and design guidelines in alignment with brand identity and operational requirements.
- Oversee the preparation and review of architectural and interior design concepts, drawings, and layouts for new stores, renovations, and development projects.
- Develop design concepts that balance visual appeal, operational efficiency, customer experience, and effective use of space.
- Oversee the design of store façades, internal spaces, product display areas, lighting, furniture, finishes, and decorative elements.
- Review design drawings and technical documentation to ensure compliance with approved specifications, technical requirements, and budgets.
- Coordinate with Real Estate and Leasing teams to assess new sites, define design requirements, and evaluate site suitability for brand needs.
- Coordinate closely with Projects, Construction, contractors, and consultants to ensure accurate execution of approved designs.
- Develop and maintain standardized design manuals, technical standards, and branch design guidelines to ensure consistent brand identity across locations and markets.
- Oversee the selection of materials, finishes, furniture, lighting, fixtures, and equipment while maintaining the required quality and cost efficiency.
- Review and approve design submissions from consultants, suppliers, and external design partners within delegated authority.
- Monitor design progress across projects and ensure compliance with agreed timelines and delivery requirements.
- Coordinate with Marketing, Operations, and Visual Merchandising teams to ensure designs support product presentation, campaigns, customer journey, and operational needs.
- Lead improvement initiatives for existing branch designs to enhance operational efficiency, customer experience, and space utilization.
- Oversee the preparation of preliminary design budgets, review costs, and recommend value-engineering solutions where appropriate.
- Ensure design solutions comply with applicable safety, accessibility, and regulatory requirements in coordination with relevant functions.
- Prepare executive reports on design projects, progress, costs, challenges, risks, and recommendations.
- Lead the Design team, allocate responsibilities, review outputs, and develop both technical and managerial capabilities within the team.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or an equivalent field.
- 10–12 years of relevant experience in architectural design, interior design, retail design, or commercial design.
- Strong experience leading architectural and interior design activities for retail or commercial environments.
- Proven ability to develop and maintain design standards and technical guidelines across multiple locations.
- Strong experience reviewing architectural drawings, technical specifications, design quality, and execution outputs.
- Strong understanding of retail space planning, store façades, product display areas, lighting, furniture, materials, finishes, and customer experience.
- Experience managing design budgets, project costs, timelines, and value-engineering initiatives.
- Strong coordination and stakeholder management skills with consultants, contractors, suppliers, and internal departments.
- Experience working closely with Real Estate, Leasing, Projects, Construction, Operations, Marketing, and Visual Merchandising teams.
- Strong ability to assess new sites from a design and operational perspective.
- Strong leadership experience with the ability to manage and develop design teams.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to balance design quality, operational needs, commercial objectives, and cost.
- Strong Arabic and English communication skills.
- A strong portfolio of relevant retail or commercial design projects is required.
Why Join Us?
Join Reef Group during an exciting stage of continued retail growth and expansion. As Executive Design Manager, you will play a key role in shaping the physical identity of our brands, strengthening design standards, improving customer experience, and ensuring that new and existing locations are delivered with strong design quality, operational efficiency, and consistency across markets.
