1. Job Purpose
Manage and coordinate the delivery of Architect of Record services for assigned DSA projects, from initial design reviews through authority approvals, construction support and project completion, in accordance with the agreed scope of services.
Take responsibility for project-level regulatory compliance reviews, AOR reports, authority submissions and approval tracking. Coordinate with clients, architectural teams, multidisciplinary consultants, contractors and relevant authorities to resolve compliance issues and support timely project delivery. Provide technical guidance to AOR Coordinators and junior team members, reporting to the Senior AOR or Head of AOR. Where required, contribute to architectural design development and the resolution of design issues while maintaining DSA’s standards for design quality and project delivery.
2. Job Accountabilities Linked to Objectives
Project AOR Management
• Manage day-to-day AOR activities for assigned projects in accordance with the agreed scope, programme and project-specific AOR strategy.
• Establish project deliverables, responsibilities and submission requirements in coordination with the Senior AOR or Head of AOR.
• Monitor progress, identify outstanding actions and escalate matters requiring senior management decisions.
Design Review and Regulatory Compliance
• Lead reviews of architectural and coordinated multidisciplinary design documents against applicable Saudi Building Code requirements, planning regulations, development controls and authority requirements.
• Identify non-compliance issues, document findings and coordinate their resolution with the responsible consultants.
• Review revised submissions and track the closure of compliance comments through the relevant design stages.
• Provide practical recommendations that support compliance while considering design intent, constructability and project objectives.
Design Management and Technical Coordination
• Coordinate AOR requirements with architectural, structural, MEP, fire and life safety, landscape and other relevant consultants.
• Lead coordination meetings and workshops to resolve regulatory issues, design interfaces and submission gaps.
• Respond to technical queries within the assigned remit and refer specialist matters to the relevant discipline consultant.
• Where required, develop or coordinate drawings, sketches, schedules and other supporting information to resolve architectural and compliance issues.
Authority Liaison, Permitting and NOCs
• Manage the preparation, coordination and submission of project documents required for authority reviews, permits and NOCs.
• Liaise with relevant authorities to clarify requirements, follow up on applications and coordinate responses to comments.
• Maintain an approvals programme identifying submission dependencies, required inputs, responsibilities and target dates.
• Confirm that required client authorisations, supporting documents and consultant inputs are available before submission.
Client Engagement and Stakeholder Communication
• Act as the day-to-day contact for AOR matters on assigned projects, within the agreed reporting structure.
• Communicate compliance findings, approval status, outstanding requirements and project risks clearly to clients and project stakeholders.
• Coordinate stakeholder actions and maintain clear records of decisions, responsibilities and agreed deadlines.
• Refer changes affecting scope, fees, contractual obligations or significant project commitments to the Senior AOR or Head of AOR.
AOR Reporting and Documentation
• Prepare and coordinate stage-specific AOR reports, compliance matrices, review comments and authority submission packages.
• Maintain accurate trackers for design reviews, submissions, authority comments, permits, NOCs and outstanding actions.
• Ensure project records, correspondence and approvals are complete, current and accessible to the relevant DSA team.
• Provide regular project updates to the Senior AOR or Head of AOR, including progress, resource requirements and risk assessments.
Quality Assurance and Submission Control
• Implement DSA’s QA/QC procedures across all assigned AOR deliverables.
• Review documents prepared by AOR Coordinators and other team members for accuracy, completeness and coordination.
• Ensure final quality checks are completed and the required internal approvals are obtained before documents are issued or submitted.
• Coordinate signing and stamping through the appropriately registered and authorised professionals, in accordance with applicable requirements and DSA procedures.
Construction Support and Site Compliance
• Where included in the appointment, coordinate AOR site activities and undertake site visits to review compliance with approved documents and applicable requirements.
• Review architectural RFIs, proposed changes and relevant submittals for their impact on regulatory compliance and authority approvals.
• Coordinate identified deviations with the site supervision team and responsible consultants, and track corrective actions.
• Prepare or review AOR site reports and coordinate submissions to clients and relevant authorities.
Project Completion and Occupancy Certification
• Coordinate the AOR activities required to support completion approvals and occupancy certificate applications.
• Track required inspections, completion documents, specialist reports, NOCs and outstanding authority comments.
• Work with the client, contractor, site supervision team and specialist consultants to close outstanding requirements.
• Prepare and coordinate the relevant submissions and follow up with authorities until the assigned approval process is completed.
Risk and Programme Management
• Identify risks associated with regulatory compliance, design coordination, authority reviews and submission dependencies.
• Maintain project risk and action registers, recommending mitigation measures and escalating significant issues promptly.
• Assess the implications of design changes on existing approvals, submission requirements and project programmes.
• Monitor AOR milestones and coordinate recovery actions where deliverables or approvals are delayed.
Team Guidance and Departmental Support
• Guide AOR Coordinators and junior team members, allocate project tasks and review their outputs.
• Support the Senior AOR or Head of AOR in resource planning and maintaining consistent technical standards.
• Share project experience, authority feedback and lessons learned across the AOR Department.
• Support collaboration between the AOR Department, design teams and site supervision teams.
Continuous Improvement
• Stay informed of changes to applicable codes, regulations and authority procedures, and communicate their implications to project teams.
• Contribute to improving AOR methodologies, templates, checklists and reporting tools.
• Promote the effective use of existing technical knowledge and approved solutions while maintaining project-specific compliance and design quality.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature and level.
3. Qualification / Experience / Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture or an equivalent relevant engineering degree.
• Minimum 7 years’ relevant professional experience, including at least 3 years in AOR, regulatory compliance or authority approval coordination.
• Saudi Arabia project experience is mandatory.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating AOR deliverables and authority submissions for assigned projects.
• Sound knowledge of the Saudi Building Code, local planning requirements and relevant authority procedures.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary consultants and communicating with clients and authorities.
• Valid Saudi Council of Engineers registration appropriate to the role with Associate Classification or higher.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, PDF review tools and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills; Arabic proficiency is an advantage.
• Construction-stage compliance and occupancy approval experience is an advantage.
4. Competencies
• Project Ownership and Accountability.
• Regulatory and Technical Knowledge.
• Design Management and Multidisciplinary Coordination.
• Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving.
• Planning and Time Management.
• Quality and Attention to Detail.
• Client Focus and Stakeholder Communication.
• Risk Awareness and Sound Judgement.
• Team Leadership and Mentoring.
• Initiative and Continuous Improvement.
Interested candidates can also send their CV to recruit.ksa@dsa.design, mentioning ‘Project Architect of Record’ in the subject line.
