Senior Architect

Overview

KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life. We are uniquely resourced with end-to-end services to take clients from inspiration – through conceptualization – to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments. For over 60 years we’ve led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities.

As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms. We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 51^st largest global architecture firm and the #1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2024 WA100 Survey.

We invite you to join us. Why?

When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job – you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company-wide health and well-being through on-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun-runs, in-house sports teams and beach clean ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards.

Responsibilities

The Architect will be responsible for providing architectural support throughout the construction phase, coordinating with the contractor and project team, and ensuring that architectural works are delivered in accordance with approved designs, drawings, specifications, and project requirements.

We envisage success in this role to include:

• Review and monitor architectural works to ensure compliance with approved drawings, specifications, and design requirements.
• Review architectural shop drawings, material submittals, samples, mock-ups, and technical submissions.
• Coordinate architectural works with structural, civil, MEP, landscape, and other disciplines.
• Provide technical clarification and support to the project team and contractor as required.
• Review RFIs and coordinate responses with the relevant design and technical teams.
• Monitor the implementation of architectural details, finishes, materials, and design intent on site.
• Conduct site inspections and identify any discrepancies between approved drawings and executed works.
• Review and monitor architectural construction progress and highlight potential issues or delays.
• Assist with resolving design and construction-related architectural issues.
• Review contractor proposals, technical submissions, and proposed alternatives for compliance with project requirements.
• Participate in coordination meetings, site meetings, inspections, snagging, and handover activities.
• Monitor the quality of architectural works and ensure that defects and non-conformances are properly addressed.
• Maintain accurate records of architectural reviews, inspections, comments, and approvals.
• Ensure that all architectural works comply with applicable codes, standards, authority requirements, and project specifications.
• Support the project team throughout the construction, testing, completion, and handover stages.

Qualifications

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that your career journey to date will include 15 years work experience partnered with a Bachelor degree in Architecture or Civil Engineering. 

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture from a recognized university.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant architectural experience.
• Strong experience in residential, villa, hospitality, mixed-use, or community building projects.
• Previous experience in construction supervision, site-based architectural coordination, or consultant-side project delivery.
• Strong knowledge of architectural drawings, specifications, materials, finishes, and construction details.
• Experience reviewing shop drawings, material submittals, RFIs, method statements, and technical submissions.
• Good understanding of coordination between architectural, structural, MEP, civil, and landscape disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of relevant building codes, standards, and authority requirements.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills.
• UAE/GCC project experience is preferred.
• Experience working on large-scale masterplanned developments or major residential/villa communities is highly desirable.

Preferred Project Experience:

Candidates with experience on luxury villas, residential communities, community facilities/buildings, hospitality, or large-scale master-planned developments will be strongly preferred.