Director of Design – Projects Management

Position Overview

The Director of Design – Projects Management is a pivotal leadership role within the ZFP management team, entrusted with the comprehensive oversight of all project management activities across the organization’s design projects. This senior executive position is responsible for establishing and maintaining high standards of project delivery, ensuring consistency in quality, timeliness, and budget adherence. The ideal candidate will lead, mentor, and develop a team of Project Managers (PMs) and Design Managers (DMs), fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence while aligning all project management initiatives with ZFP’s strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Departmental Leadership and Management

As the head of the Project Management Department, you will be responsible for setting clear departmental goals that align with ZFP’s broader strategic vision. Your leadership will extend to supervising, coaching, and mentoring PMs and DMs, ensuring each team member understands their roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations. You will conduct regular performance evaluations, identify skill gaps, and facilitate targeted training and development programs to enhance team capabilities. Additionally, you will collaborate with the HR department to strategically plan departmental resourcing, ensuring the right talent is available to meet current and future project demands.

Project Delivery Oversight

You will provide hands-on oversight and guidance to PMs and DMs throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial kickoff to final deliverable handover. This includes ensuring projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and in strict adherence to contractual scope, quality benchmarks, and client expectations. You will review and approve critical project deliverables such as project plans, design programs, resource allocations, and risk registers. By monitoring project performance through progress reports, KPIs, and dashboards, you will proactively identify and address potential delays or bottlenecks. Escalation of critical risks and issues to executive leadership, along with the formulation of corrective and preventive measures, will be a key aspect of your role. Furthermore, you will oversee change management processes to ensure all variations, claims, and contractual modifications are meticulously documented and controlled.

Quality, Process, and Compliance

You will establish and enforce consistent project management procedures across all design project stages, ensuring adherence to industry best practices and organizational standards. Collaboration with the Quality Assurance Department will be essential to support internal audits, maintain ISO 9001:2015 compliance, and drive continuous improvement in project management processes. Additionally, you will ensure that design quality control workflows are rigorously followed by all project teams, thereby safeguarding the integrity and reputation of ZFP’s deliverables.

Client and Stakeholder Management

You will lead PMs and DMs in managing client relationships, ensuring expectations are met or exceeded while addressing any escalated issues promptly and professionally. Representing the Project Management Department in high-level meetings, you will serve as a key liaison between the department and senior leadership, as well as external stakeholders. Your collaboration with the Business Development team will be critical in preparing proposals and providing strategic input for new business opportunities, ensuring project management considerations are integrated from the outset.

Financial and Commercial Management

You will oversee the financial health of the design project portfolio, monitoring project budgets, fee utilization, and profitability. This includes reviewing financial reports and forecasts, ensuring timely invoicing, cost control, and variance analysis to maintain financial discipline. Your role will also extend to supporting contract administration and commercial negotiations, particularly in relation to scope adjustments, fee structures, and project changes, to protect ZFP’s commercial interests.

Company-Wide Governance and Standardization

You will set and enforce unified project management standards, practices, and reporting formats across the organization, ensuring all branches adhere to approved governance frameworks. Your executive authority will extend to driving organization-wide process improvements, ensuring that lessons learned from one office are systematically institutionalized across the entire company. Additionally, you will ensure equitable resource allocation and workload balancing among PMs and DMs, optimizing team productivity and project outcomes based on company-wide demand.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, or a related discipline. A Master’s degree or advanced certification in Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) is highly desirable. Proven experience in a senior project management role, preferably within the design or construction industry, is essential. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a track record of leading high-performing teams, delivering complex projects on time and within budget, and driving continuous improvement in project management processes. Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills are critical, along with a deep understanding of financial and commercial management principles. Familiarity with ISO 9001:2015 standards and quality assurance frameworks will be advantageous.