Landscape Design Director

The Role

Role: Landscape Design Director Reporting to: Managing Director Location: Global (Focusing on UAE & KSA) Executive Summary We are seeking an exceptionally creative and seasoned Landscape Design Director to spearhead our global design function. This is a pivotal leadership role designed...

The Role
Role: Landscape Design Director Reporting to: Managing Director Location: Global (Focusing on UAE & KSA) Executive Summary We are seeking an exceptionally creative and seasoned Landscape Design Director to spearhead our global design function. This is a pivotal leadership role designed for a visionary who has spent at least five years at the Director level within an international consultancy. You will be responsible for defining the creative DNA of our projects, leading a world-class multidisciplinary team, and aggressively expanding our footprint across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The successful candidate will blend "blue-sky" thinking with the commercial acumen required to prequalify the firm with major regional clients and giga-projects. Key Responsibilities Leadership & Strategic Vision * Global Direction: Set the overarching creative and technical direction for the global landscape function across multiple offices. * Team Mentorship: Build, inspire, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of Landscape Architects and Designers, fostering a culture of innovation and design excellence. * Market Growth: Partner with the Managing Director to drive business strategy, positioning the company as the premier choice for landscape design in the Middle East. Design Excellence & Oversight * Conceptual Mastery: Provide strong conceptual direction for large-scale, complex projects, ensuring they meet international standards of innovation and aesthetics. * Sustainability & Innovation: Integrate future-ready design solutions, with a deep focus on sustainability and environmental resilience tailored to arid climates. * Quality Control: Oversee the design process from inception to delivery, ensuring technical integrity and multidisciplinary integration. Business Development & Client Relations * Client Liaison: Act as the primary point of contact for key clients, building high-trust relationships with government entities and private developers in the UAE and KSA. * Prequalification: Lead the effort to prequalify the company with major regional clients (e.g., PIF, NEOM, Red Sea Global, etc.). * Commercial Acumen: Balance high-level creativity with commercial reality, ensuring projects are delivered profitably and within scope.

Requirements
Requirements & Qualifications * Experience: 15-20 years of professional landscape design experience, with a minimum of 5 years held at the Director level within an international practice. * Education & Accreditation: A degree in Landscape Architecture and professional registration (e.g., CMLI, ASLA, AILA, or equivalent). * Regional Expertise: A proven track record of delivering iconic, large-scale projects within the UAE and Saudi Arabia. * Portfolio: A robust portfolio demonstrating design excellence, aesthetic sensibility, and the ability to integrate landscape with complex engineering requirements. * Leadership Style: A visionary leader with a "global outlook" and the cultural sensitivity required to manage diverse teams and navigate Middle Eastern business landscapes. Core Competencies * Entrepreneurial Mindset: The ability to see a project not just as a design, but as a business opportunity. * Communication: Exceptional storytelling and presentation skills to win over stakeholders and major developers. * Adaptability: Comfortable navigating the fast-paced, evolving regulatory and design environment of KSAs Vision 2030.

About the company
Blake Anderson is a boutique consultancy based in the UK, with a satellite office in Dubai. Specialising in Technical and Construction Recruitment, Blake Anderson provides a superior service to clients and candidates within the construction and technical sectors. We concentrate on placing professionals throughout the world, focusing mainly on the Middle East and Asia, drawing on both the global and local markets for highly qualified professionals. In order to attract the best talent, we invest in various high-end advertising mediums. With a database of 1,000s of candidates, our experienced consultants have a wealth of recruitment knowledge and have a consultative approach at all times, ensuring a second to none service.