Job description

Industry
Cities & Places

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

At Jacobs, we push the limits of what’s possible to make the world smarter and more connected. We are a key delivery partner on one of Saudi Arabia’s flagship giga projects and a central pillar of Vision 2030, located approximately 45 km southwest of Riyadh. Designed as the Kingdom’s future capital of entertainment, sports, and culture, this landmark development aims to diversify the economy and enhance quality of life through a mix of world-class attractions, residential communities, and natural landscapes, while generating significant employment and enabling long-term, sustainable growth.

About the Opportunity:

The Design Director is responsible for providing operational design leadership and assurance across city and district developments, representing the future operator, maintainer and asset owner throughout planning, design development, design reviews and asset delivery activities. The role ensures operational requirements, maintainability considerations, logistical requirements, support facilities and service delivery needs are appropriately reflected within asset designs and associated development proposals. The role acts as the Estate Management design authority for operability and maintainability, providing independent review,  challenge, assurance and recommendations across all assets that will require future operations, maintenance, management or service delivery. The position develops and maintains operational design requirements, coordinates stakeholder alignment, supports district and development teams, and manages specialist consultant activities relating to operational design assurance. The role works closely with Development, Delivery, City Operations, Community Management, Asset Management, Utilities, Mobility, Security, Digital and other operational stakeholders to ensure assets are designed for safe, efficient and sustainable operation throughout their lifecycle. The position also coordinates operational aspects of asset handover activities with City Asset Management to facilitate a smooth transition from development into operations. 

Role Responsibilities: 

• Lead operational design reviews to ensure assets are operable, maintainable, functional, and sustainable throughout their lifecycle.
• Assess designs across all project stages, identifying operational risks, maintenance constraints, and service delivery challenges.
• Provide recommendations to improve asset performance, accessibility, safety, and long-term operational efficiency.
• Develop and maintain operational design standards, requirements, review frameworks, and assurance processes.
• Ensure operational, maintenance, and service delivery requirements are embedded within development and governance processes.
• Review and validate the planning, sizing, location, and functionality of operational support facilities and infrastructure.
• Assess logistics, access, servicing, maintenance, and emergency arrangements to optimize operational effectiveness and resilience.
• Provide operational design expertise, facilitate stakeholder collaboration, and align development, delivery, and asset management objectives.
• Manage consultants and technical advisors, ensuring deliverables meet operational requirements and support sustainable outcomes.
• Support design governance, asset handovers, continuous improvement initiatives, lessons learned, reporting, and operational readiness assurance.

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Facilities Management, Asset Management, Urban Planning, Construction Management, or a related discipline; postgraduate and professional accreditation preferred.
• Minimum 15 years’ experience in design management, operational readiness, asset management, facilities planning, infrastructure delivery, or estate management, including leadership responsibilities.
• Proven ability to assess complex developments from operability, maintainability, lifecycle performance, and service delivery perspectives.
• Demonstrated experience influencing design outcomes across multidisciplinary teams and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong background in developing operational requirements, design standards, assurance frameworks, and governance processes.
• Expertise in facilities planning, operational infrastructure, logistics, accessibility planning, and asset handover coordination.
• Experience managing consultants, technical advisors, and specialist studies while ensuring alignment with operational objectives.
• Preferred experience within large-scale mixed-use developments, master-planned communities, major infrastructure programs, cities, or giga-project environments, with a focus on operational readiness and whole-life asset optimization.

Jacobs. A world where you can. From our inclusive employee networks to our positive mental health champions – we’re committed to driving a culture of caring where you can be you. Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally - and together, our diverse perspectives and unique backgrounds power our collective strength. 

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities to do good too – from participating in our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. 

Start your Jacobs career with a company that inspires and empowers you to deliver your best work so you can evolve, grow and succeed – today and into tomorrow. 

Onsite employees are expected to attend a Jacobs Workplace on a full-time basis, as required by the nature of their role.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.

Preferred candidate

Years of experience

2+ years

Degree

Bachelor's degree / higher diploma