The Projects Planning Engineer (Architect) is responsible for planning, leading, and overseeing the planning and design phase of Academic, Research, Administrative, Support Facility, Infrastructure, and KAUST community projects from inception through the design phase. The Projects Planning Engineer-Architect is the FM Representative to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, often managing the design, budget, schedule, and scope of multiple critical projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary liaison between Facilities Management and university, research, and community stakeholders.
• Gather, define, and document project requirements, scope, and objectives from inception through the design phase.
• Develop project strategies, milestones, schedules, and planning documents.
• Prepare executive-level reports and presentations for senior management.
• Lead feasibility studies, programming studies, and early design development, either directly or through consultants.
• Manage and coordinate external consultants, architects, and engineering firms.
• Develop and control project budgets in coordination with cost consultants and internal teams.
• Ensure projects align with quality standards, sustainability requirements, and institutional guidelines.
• Lead procurement processes for selection of design consultants and contractors, in coordination with procurement and legal teams.
• Prepare and review tender documents, contracts, and technical submissions.
• Evaluate design proposals and recommend value engineering and cost optimization solutions.
• Monitor and manage project risks, claims, variations, and change orders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Planning, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in architecture, planning, or project management.
• Experience in managing large-scale capital or infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of project planning, design development, and construction processes.
• Proficiency in project management and scheduling tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera, BIM tools).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Strong stakeholder management and coordination skills.