Design Manager – Cliff Stabilization

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager – Cliff Stabilization

Company: Parsons Corporation

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Qiddiya)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Engineering & Design Operations / Project Management

Date Posted: April 29, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and coordinate cliff stabilization design activities for the Qiddiya development, ensuring seamless integration across multiple districts.

• Manage intricate interfaces between various design consultants, District Development Teams, and internal stakeholders to prevent scope duplication and resolve conflicts.

• Oversee the Cliff Stabilization Program's design development, adhering strictly to the Cliff Stabilisation Roadmap and Stage Gate process.

• Ensure all design deliverables comply with Qiddiya’s stringent document control and digital engineering standards, maintaining a high level of quality and compliance.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically focused on the design management aspect of cliff stabilization within a large-scale, multi-district development. The emphasis on managing interfaces, coordinating consultants, and adhering to a defined roadmap and stage-gate process highlights a strong need for structured project execution and risk mitigation within the operations of the design phase. The geotechnical preference further underscores the technical depth required.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Track and proactively manage overlapping scopes of work between different development districts to preemptively avoid duplication and resolve any emerging conflicts.

• Maintain a comprehensive design register and a detailed milestone tracker for all design packages within the Cliff Stabilization Program.

• Drive the design development process for the Cliff Stabilization Program, ensuring strict alignment with the established Cliff Stabilisation Roadmap and the Stage Gate project management methodology.

• Coordinate critical input from specialist geotechnical and civil consultants, ensuring the timely and high-quality delivery of all required design packages and technical documentation.

• Draft and prepare design deliverables for each Stage Gate review, actively assisting in the review and consolidation of inputs for Stage Gate submissions to facilitate efficient decision-making.

• Liaise closely with District Development Teams to guarantee that cliff stabilization measures are seamlessly integrated with adjacent development plans, avoiding design clashes and ensuring holistic project execution.

• Manage the technical review and approval processes for all consultant deliverables, ensuring strict adherence to Qiddiya’s established engineering standards, specifications, and internal processes.

• Support the development of detailed design scopes, comprehensive technical briefs, and robust Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for crucial geotechnical and ground investigation contracts.

• Coordinate effectively with various internal teams, including GIS, Digital Engineering, Planning, and Delivery departments, to ensure information flow and alignment.

• Lead and facilitate design coordination meetings, adeptly resolving design clashes and meticulously tracking all action items to successful closure.

• Take full responsibility for the management of all Change Request Forms (CRFs) and ensure their timely and efficient close-out.

• Ensure all project deliverables meticulously comply with Qiddiya’s established document control protocols and digital engineering standards, maintaining an auditable trail.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a project management-centric approach to design coordination, with a strong emphasis on process adherence (Stage Gate, RFPs, CRFs, Document Control). The need to "track and manage overlapping scopes" and "resolve design clashes" points to a critical operations function of proactive problem-solving and interdisciplinary alignment, essential for large-scale construction projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in coordinating complex, multi-disciplinary design teams, including the management of multiple external consultants and internal departments to achieve project objectives.

• Proven ability in managing overlapping scopes of work across different project phases or districts, requiring strong organizational and conflict-resolution skills.

• Solid understanding of geotechnical design principles, slope stability analysis, and related risk management strategies, which is beneficial for technical oversight and decision-making.

• Exceptional leadership capabilities, enabling effective team direction and motivation in a demanding project setting.

• Superior communication skills, both written and verbal, essential for clear stakeholder engagement and reporting.

• Strong stakeholder management abilities, with a proven track record of successfully engaging with diverse groups, including internal teams, external consultants, and regulatory bodies.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with cliff stabilization specific design and construction methodologies.

• Familiarity with the unique challenges and requirements of mega-project development in the Middle East region.

• Knowledge of advanced geotechnical software and modeling techniques.

• Experience with digital engineering platforms and BIM (Building Information Modeling) for design coordination and clash detection.

• Understanding of relevant Saudi Arabian building codes and environmental regulations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "10 years of relevant experience in design management" and the specific degree requirements in Civil or Geotechnical Engineering indicate a role that requires significant technical depth and proven project execution capabilities. The "preferred skills" offer a clear path for candidates to differentiate themselves by highlighting specialized knowledge relevant to the Qiddiya project's context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Project Execution Case Studies: Showcase a minimum of two (2) significant infrastructure or development projects where you managed the design phase. Highlight your role in scope management, risk mitigation, and consultant coordination.

• Interface Management Examples: Provide concrete examples demonstrating your ability to manage complex interfaces between multiple design disciplines, districts, or stakeholders. Quantify the impact of your coordination efforts where possible.

• Stage Gate Process Adherence: Include documentation or descriptions of how you have successfully navigated and managed projects through formal Stage Gate approval processes, illustrating your understanding of phased project delivery.

• Technical Deliverable Review: Present evidence of your experience in reviewing and approving complex technical design deliverables, such as geotechnical reports, design drawings, and specifications, ensuring compliance with engineering standards.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in establishing and optimizing design workflows, including the implementation of design registers, milestone tracking, and action item closure processes.

• System Implementation Standards: Illustrate your understanding of implementing and ensuring compliance with document control and digital engineering standards within a project environment.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Show how you have tracked design progress, identified potential issues (e.g., scope duplication, clashes), and implemented corrective actions to maintain project performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Manager role, a portfolio is critical. The emphasis here is on demonstrating practical application of project management methodologies (Stage Gate, CRFs), technical oversight (deliverable review), and operational efficiency (workflow optimization, interface management). Candidates should focus on quantifiable achievements and clear process adherence.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees and eligible dependents.

• Paid time off, including annual leave and public holidays.

• Housing allowance or company-provided accommodation, common for expatriate roles in Saudi Arabia.

• Transportation allowance or company-provided transport.

• Relocation assistance package for international hires.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and certifications.

• Retirement savings plan or end-of-service benefits as per Saudi labor law.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. However, project demands may require occasional extended hours or weekend work, particularly during critical design phases or Stage Gate reviews. Flexibility will be expected to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been estimated based on the role's seniority, location (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), and industry (large-scale infrastructure). Benefits are typical for international roles in the region, focusing on supporting expatriate employees. The mention of potential overtime reflects the demanding nature of mega-projects.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Engineering, Construction, and Consulting. Parsons Corporation is a global leader in delivering innovative solutions in defense, intelligence, security, infrastructure, and technology. Their involvement in the Qiddiya project places them at the forefront of transformative entertainment and sports destination development.

Company Size: Parsons Corporation is a large, publicly traded company with over 16,000 employees globally. This signifies a robust organizational structure, established processes, and a wide array of internal resources and expertise.

Founded: Parsons was founded in 1944, bringing decades of experience and a legacy of tackling complex engineering challenges worldwide. This long history suggests a culture of stability, deep technical knowledge, and a proven ability to adapt to evolving industry demands.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team: The Design Manager will likely be part of a larger project management or engineering division focused on the Qiddiya development. This division will comprise various engineering disciplines, project controls, planning, and delivery teams.

• Reporting Structure: The Design Manager will report to a senior project director or program manager overseeing the city-wide workstream or specifically the cliff stabilization efforts. They will, in turn, manage a team of design consultants and potentially junior engineers or coordinators.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: This role necessitates extensive collaboration with District Development Teams, GIS, Digital Engineering, Planning, Delivery, Environmental, and Safety departments, as well as external design consultants and potentially government authorities.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: Designs will be informed by extensive geotechnical investigations, site surveys, and potentially digital twin data, requiring analysis to inform stabilization strategies.

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: The role is central to optimizing the design workflow through effective coordination, clear communication, and adherence to established project management processes like Stage Gates.

• Automation & Efficiency: While not a primary focus for this specific role, leveraging digital engineering tools and BIM for clash detection and integrated design will drive efficiency.

Company Website: https://www.parsons.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Parsons' global presence and long history is key. For operations professionals, a large company often means structured processes and opportunities for specialization, but also a need to navigate corporate hierarchies and established protocols. The Qiddiya project is a flagship initiative, implying high visibility and potentially demanding performance expectations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior-level position within the design management and operations domain. It requires a blend of technical engineering acumen and sophisticated project and stakeholder management skills. The scope of responsibility is significant, managing critical design elements for a high-profile project with substantial financial and reputational implications.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager will report to a senior leadership figure within the Qiddiya project's organizational structure, likely a Program Director or VP of Engineering/Design. This position offers direct exposure to executive-level decision-making and strategic project planning.

Operations Impact: The successful execution of this role directly impacts the safety, constructability, and long-term viability of the Qiddiya development. Effective cliff stabilization design is paramount to preventing geological hazards, ensuring the integrity of adjacent infrastructure, and enabling the overall project vision. The operations of the design phase directly influence downstream construction timelines, costs, and risk profiles.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization Advancement: Potential to deepen expertise in geotechnical engineering and large-scale infrastructure design management, becoming a subject matter expert within Parsons or the broader industry.

• Leadership Expansion: Opportunity to lead larger design teams, manage more complex projects, or transition into broader program management roles within Parsons' global operations.

• Strategic Project Involvement: Potential to be involved in future mega-projects and strategic initiatives undertaken by Parsons, leveraging the experience gained on Qiddiya.

• Mentorship & Training: Opportunities to mentor junior engineers and design coordinators, contributing to the development of future talent within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a significant step for an operations professional looking to manage high-stakes design processes within a mega-project. The growth opportunities are clearly tied to expanding technical and leadership responsibilities, making it an attractive prospect for career advancement in complex engineering and construction operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, likely within a project office established for the Qiddiya development. This environment is characterized by intense project activity, close collaboration, and a focus on on-time delivery.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Riyadh, specifically within the Qiddiya development area. This involves being physically present to coordinate with design teams, site personnel, and stakeholders involved in the project. Access to the project site and surrounding areas will be necessary.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic and collaborative workspace where daily interaction with multidisciplinary teams, project managers, and consultants is the norm. This fosters rapid problem-solving and knowledge sharing.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to project management software, digital engineering platforms (e.g., BIM viewers), GIS tools, and standard office productivity suites will be provided to support design coordination and communication.

• Team Interaction: Regular face-to-face meetings, site visits (as required), and informal discussions will be integral to the role, facilitating swift decision-making and issue resolution.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is typically Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week. However, the demanding nature of mega-projects like Qiddiya often requires flexibility, with potential for extended hours or weekend work during critical project phases, such as Stage Gate reviews or when resolving urgent design clashes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of this role is crucial. For operations professionals, this means being immersed in the project environment, which can accelerate learning and decision-making but also requires a commitment to the project's location and schedule. The emphasis on collaboration is a hallmark of successful large-scale project operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A preliminary review of your CV and application to assess alignment with the minimum education and experience requirements.

• Technical Interview: A discussion focusing on your geotechnical understanding, design management experience, and ability to handle complex project scopes. Be prepared to discuss specific design challenges you've overcome.

• Operations & Coordination Interview: This stage will assess your experience in managing multidisciplinary teams, handling stakeholder interfaces, and navigating stage-gate processes. Expect questions about conflict resolution and scope management.

• Portfolio Presentation: You will likely be asked to present key elements of your portfolio, showcasing specific projects, your role in managing design processes, and examples of how you've ensured compliance and efficiency.

• Final Interview: A meeting with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment, cultural fit, and your overall vision for contributing to the Qiddiya project's success.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Quantify Achievements: For each project in your portfolio, clearly state your role, the project's scale, key challenges, and your specific contributions. Use metrics where possible (e.g., "Reduced design conflicts by 15% through enhanced coordination").

• Process Focus: Highlight your experience with structured project management methodologies, such as Stage Gate processes, and demonstrate how you ensure adherence to document control and digital engineering standards.

• Interface Management: Dedicate a section or specific examples to how you have managed interdependencies between different design teams or project areas. Use diagrams or flowcharts if helpful.

• Technical Justification: Be prepared to briefly explain the technical aspects of your projects, especially those related to geotechnical engineering or cliff stabilization, demonstrating your understanding of the underlying principles.

• Conciseness & Clarity: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and clearly articulates your expertise and operational capabilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Scenario-Based Questions: Anticipate questions asking how you would handle specific situations, such as a major design clash discovered late in a stage, a consultant failing to meet a deadline, or conflicting requirements from different stakeholders.

• Process Improvement: Be ready to discuss how you would optimize the current design management process for cliff stabilization, drawing on your experience with efficiency and workflow improvements.

• Stakeholder Communication: Prepare to explain how you would communicate complex technical or operational issues to various stakeholders, from technical teams to executive management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application and demonstrable experience. A strong portfolio showcasing process management, technical oversight, and effective coordination will be crucial for success. Preparing for scenario-based questions will help demonstrate problem-solving capabilities relevant to operations challenges.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Project Management Software: Proficiency with platforms like Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or similar for scheduling, tracking milestones, and managing project timelines.

• Design Management Platforms: Familiarity with systems for document submission, review, and approval workflows (e.g., Aconex, Procore).

• Collaboration Tools: Experience with platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack, or similar for real-time communication and team coordination.

• BIM/Digital Engineering Software: While not necessarily a user, understanding the principles and outputs of BIM software (e.g., Autodesk Revit, Navisworks) for clash detection and integrated design coordination is essential.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to create and interpret progress reports, design status dashboards, and risk registers. Experience with tools like Power BI or Tableau might be beneficial for visualizing project data.

• Spreadsheet Software: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis, tracking, and reporting on design progress, scope management, and consultant performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Document Control Systems: Deep understanding of and experience with robust document control systems critical for managing large volumes of technical documentation and ensuring version control.

• Workflow Automation: While the role is design management, an appreciation for how automation can streamline design review processes or data consolidation is valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes project execution and coordination tools. While direct technical design software proficiency might not be required, a strong understanding of how these tools interact and contribute to efficient operations (e.g., BIM for clash detection, document control for compliance) is vital for a Design Manager.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity & Safety: A paramount focus on ensuring the safety and stability of the cliffs, reflecting a deep commitment to engineering ethics and the well-being of future occupants and visitors.

• Excellence & Quality: A drive for delivering high-quality, technically sound designs that meet or exceed international engineering standards and Qiddiya’s vision.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: An expectation of proactive, open communication and a willingness to work collaboratively across diverse teams and with external partners to achieve shared project goals.

• Efficiency & Innovation: A commitment to optimizing design processes, leveraging technology where appropriate, and finding innovative solutions to complex engineering challenges.

• Accountability: Taking ownership of responsibilities, ensuring diligent tracking of tasks, and driving actions to closure in a timely manner.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive & Transparent: The ideal candidate will foster a proactive collaboration style, anticipating potential issues and communicating openly about progress, risks, and challenges.

• Structured Engagement: Collaboration will involve structured meetings, clear action item assignment, and a focus on documentation to ensure alignment and a verifiable record of decisions.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging a culture of knowledge sharing, where lessons learned from design phases can inform future work and improve overall project operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Parsons' stated values of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, combined with this role's demands, suggest a culture that expects high performance within a structured, collaborative framework. Operations professionals who thrive in dynamic, results-oriented environments will be well-suited.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Interface Complexity: Managing the intricate interdependencies between multiple design consultants, district development plans, and internal departments on a mega-project presents a significant coordination challenge.

• Scope Creep & Conflict Resolution: Diligently preventing scope creep and effectively resolving design conflicts that inevitably arise in multi-disciplinary environments require strong negotiation and decision-making skills.

• Adherence to Global Standards: Ensuring compliance with Qiddiya’s specific engineering standards, document control protocols, and digital engineering requirements while managing diverse consultant teams.

• Technical Specificity: Maintaining a deep understanding of geotechnical principles and their application to cliff stabilization in a unique geological context.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Geotechnical Knowledge: Gaining in-depth exposure to advanced geotechnical engineering challenges and solutions relevant to large-scale developments.

• Mega-Project Management: Developing unparalleled experience in managing the operational and design aspects of world-class mega-projects.

• Cross-Disciplinary Expertise: Expanding knowledge across various engineering disciplines through close collaboration with diverse teams.

• Global Best Practices: Learning and applying international best practices in engineering design, project management, and digital transformation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexities of a mega-project, emphasizing the need for robust process management and problem-solving skills. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering deep specialization and broad project management experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you successfully managed conflicting design scopes between two different project teams or consultants. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your methodology for identifying, analyzing, and resolving conflicts, and quantifying impact.)

• "How would you ensure that design deliverables for cliff stabilization integrate seamlessly with adjacent district development plans? What are the critical steps and stakeholders involved?" (Emphasize your interface management process and cross-functional collaboration strategy.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see your role contributing to Parsons' mission of 'Imagine Next' within the context of the Qiddiya project?" (Connect your operational approach to innovation and future-forward thinking.)

• "Parsons values agility and growth. How have you demonstrated agility in previous roles, and how do you approach continuous learning in a complex engineering environment?" (Provide examples of adapting to change and proactive skill development.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• STAR Method for Case Studies: For each project example, use the Situation, Task, Action, and Result (STAR) method to clearly articulate your contributions and the impact of your operational efforts.

• Visual Aids: Utilize diagrams, flowcharts, or simplified drawings to illustrate complex interfaces, workflows, or problem-solving steps. Keep slides clean and focused on key takeaways.

• Focus on Process & Outcome: Emphasize not just what you did, but how you did it (your operational process) and the tangible results achieved (e.g., time saved, cost avoided, risks mitigated).

• Tailor to Qiddiya: Briefly explain how your experience and approach are directly relevant to the specific challenges and objectives of the Qiddiya Cliff Stabilization Project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a systematic, process-driven approach to design management, highlighting problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of project execution within large organizations. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase these operational capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Parsons Corporation career portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature your most relevant experience in large-scale infrastructure design management, specifically highlighting projects involving complex stakeholder coordination and technical oversight. Ensure case studies clearly demonstrate your process for managing scopes, resolving conflicts, and adhering to stage-gate approvals.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to include keywords such as "Design Management," "Geotechnical Engineering," "Cliff Stabilization," "Stage Gate Process," "Interface Management," "Stakeholder Management," and "Multidisciplinary Coordination." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method for behavioral questions and prepare detailed responses to scenario-based questions related to design coordination and risk management. Rehearse your portfolio presentation to ensure clarity and conciseness.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Parsons Corporation's recent projects, values, and their role in the Qiddiya development. Understand the strategic importance of the Cliff Stabilization Project to gain insights into the company's operational priorities and culture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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