Director Design & Engineering (m/f/d)

Dubai

Full-time

Permanent employee

Your mission

Reporting directly to the COO, you will lead and further develop a multidisciplinary team spanning Design & Engineering, Technology, and Architecture. You will oversee the delivery of both permanent and temporary projects across exhibitions, museums, and live events, ensuring seamless integration of creative, technical, and architectural disciplines.

In this role, you will strengthen the professional, organizational and process-related foundation required to ensure that projects can be developed, budgeted, tendered and delivered with the right level of planning depth, quality and cost certainty across all project phases.

You will be responsible for a unit that brings together expertise in architecture, exhibition design, scenography, exhibit development, audio, video and lighting technology, media technology, graphics and construction integration, translating these disciplines into one integrated planning approach. At the same time, you will ensure effective coordination with external interfaces such as building construction, MEP, structural engineering, architects, general planners, authorities and executing trades.

We understand planning as the foundation for reliable cost planning, tender readiness and efficient project execution. This includes clear planning stages, robust deliverables, specifications, bills of quantities and tender documentation. A key part of the role is also contributing to cost and budget development across all project phases, from early budget assumptions during acquisition and concept development to more detailed cost planning for projects delivered as general contractor.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and further develop a multidisciplinary team across Design & Engineering, Technology, and Architecture, building a strong and cohesive interdisciplinary organisation
Develop roles, competencies, resources, partner structures and working methods within the unit
Establish standards, templates, methods and quality criteria across all project phases
Define planning maturity levels, required deliverables and handover points for each phase
Ensure coordinated collaboration between all relevant planning disciplines
Create reliable foundations for cost planning, bills of quantities, tendering, procurement and execution
Contribute to cost and budget estimates in early project phases and support their refinement with increasing planning depth
Support realistic and marketable offer and budget strategies, especially for projects delivered as general contractor
Ensure effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders across the full project lifecycle
Strengthen the Design & Engineering unit as a support and enabling function for business units and project teams

Your profile

Proven leadership experience in a senior design, architectural planning or engineering role
Experience in turnkey projects (interior fit-out/ AVL) across exhibitions, museums, events, and experience environments - ideally on the general contractor or construction firm side
Ideally, you bring international experience in both Germany and the Middle East
Native German speaker with fluent English skills
Strong understanding of interdisciplinary planning and the ability to lead complex planning structures across all project phases
Proven excellence in building, developing and leading teams, standards and scalable ways of working
Strong understanding of cost planning, budget development, bills of quantities, tender documentation and execution readiness
Excellent understanding of the interfaces between concept, planning, procurement, cost and delivery
Strong understanding of construction-related interfaces including building construction, MEP, structural engineering, fire safety and built execution
Ability to align disciplines, structure complexity and create clarity in demanding project environments
Senior presence, sound judgment and a high level of ownership
Strong communicator with the ability to organise and streamline planning processes and structures

Why us?

Unified CAT A Silver Premium Medical Insurance provided as standard to all team members – yes, you read that correctly, we all enjoy the same insurance category benefits!
Complimentary lunches provided daily in our Dubai office canteen.
Team Engagement Initiatives – team-building activities, health and wellness drives, etc.
Team Socials – team BBQs, season opening and closing parties.
Worker’s Compensation and Accident Insurance.
Annual Flight Allowance.
Recruitment Referral Bonus Scheme for team members who refer successful applicants for our open positions.
Project Referral Bonus Scheme for team members who refer successful project leads.
The opportunity to work in an international and multi-cultural team with collaboration across our offices in the Middle East and Europe.
Collaborative and motivated working environment.
Trusting and partnership-based cooperation across all units.
An innovative and growth-oriented company with a matrix organizational structure and an open corporate culture.

Über uns

BeWunder – Ihr Turnkey-Partner für Eventproduktion und räumliche Erlebnisse

Wir bei BeWunder schaffen inspirierende und unvergessliche Erlebnisse für unsere Kunden und ihre Gäste.

Als 2022 gegründetes Spin-off von Neumann & Müller ist BeWunder ein Full-Service-Partner für Eventproduktionen und räumliche Erlebnisse. Durch den gezielten Einsatz moderner Technologien, Beleuchtung und interaktiver Elemente entstehen einzigartige, immersive Erlebnisse. Der Fokus liegt auf der Planung und Realisierung anspruchsvoller Projekte, darunter Museen, Ausstellungen, Markenpavillons, Erlebniszentren, digitale Kunsträume, Live-Events und Konferenzen.

Mit unserer internationalen Erfahrung in Europa, dem Nahen Osten und Asien sind wir bestens aufgestellt, um weltweit außergewöhnliche Projekte zu realisieren – von der ersten Konzeptidee bis zur finalen Umsetzung und darüber hinaus!