Design Identity & Architectural Manager

Job Description

Role Purpose

The Design Identity & Architectural Manager defines, owns and protects the design identity of the new Tashkent airport, ensuring the terminal reads as a single, coherent whole that is of world-class quality and authentically representative of Tashkent and Uzbekistan. The role creates and owns the Airport Design Guidelines and safeguards the integrity of that identity across every visible element of the passenger environment — architecture, interiors, retail units, signage and wayfinding, and functional hardware such as check-in desks and border control — while coordinating architectural design with structural, MEP and airport-systems disciplines and supporting the SPV design review and approval process from design development through build and opening (2030).

Key Responsibilities

1. Design Identity Definition & Ownership

Define, own and protect the airport’s overall design identity so the terminal reads as one coherent whole that is distinctive and authentically representative of Tashkent and Uzbek culture, landscape and heritage.

Act as guardian of the design identity, testing every design decision against it and challenging or rejecting elements that dilute, fragment or conflict with the agreed identity.

2. Airport Design Guidelines

Create, own and maintain the Airport Design Guidelines as the single source of truth for materials, finishes, colour, lighting, form, detailing and brand expression across the terminal.

Ensure all EPC Contractor, concessionaire and third-party designs comply with the Design Guidelines, and control the governance process for exceptions, waivers and updates.

3. Terminal Design Harmony — Retail, Signage & Functional Hardware

Ensure retail and concession units, lounges and commercial fit-outs are designed in harmony with the airport identity, allowing controlled tenant expression within defined design and quality parameters.

Ensure signage and wayfinding are consistent, legible, appropriately multilingual and fully integrated with the design identity to deliver a seamless passenger journey.

Ensure functional hardware — check-in desks, border control and immigration counters, security positions, gates and self-service equipment — is designed to a common visual language and quality standard aligned with the identity.

4. Architectural Design Review & Coordination

Review architectural designs, drawings and specifications prepared by the EPC Contractor for compliance with the Design Guidelines, Employer’s Requirements and international design practice.

Coordinate architectural and identity interfaces with structural, MEP, baggage handling and other technical disciplines so the design identity is preserved without compromising operations.

5. Quality, Passenger Experience & Materials

Ensure design solutions support passenger flow, operational efficiency, safety and a world-class user experience consistent with the identity.

Review materials, finishes and detailing to ensure quality, durability and faithful expression of the design identity in every space.

6. SPV Design Governance & Stakeholders

Support the SPV design approval process by reviewing EPC and tenant deliverables against the Design Guidelines and providing technical recommendations.

Identify design-identity risks early and ensure resolution with the EPC Contractor, concessionaires, PMC and shareholder technical teams.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications & Certifications

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Architecture or a related design discipline.

Professional accreditation or chartership (e.g. RIBA or equivalent) an advantage.

Experience

Minimum 12–15 years in architectural and interior/identity design and multidisciplinary coordination, ideally on major aviation or landmark public buildings.

Proven experience creating and enforcing design guidelines or brand/identity standards across large, multi-stakeholder projects.

Experience coordinating architectural design with structural, MEP and specialist airport systems, and governing tenant, retail and concession fit-out design against a defined identity.

Skills & Attributes

Strong design judgement with the authority to protect a design vision under commercial and programme pressure.

Credible senior-stakeholder partner able to influence designers, contractors, concessionaires and shareholder technical teams.

Rigorous, detail-oriented reviewer of drawings, materials and finishes; fluent English required, Russian or Uzbek an advantage.

Success Measures (indicative)

Airport Design Guidelines created, approved and adopted as the controlling design reference across the project.

Terminal design — including retail, signage and functional hardware — delivered in demonstrable harmony with the approved identity.

Design identity recognisably representative of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, validated through design reviews with no unresolved identity non-conformances at opening.