Technical Director

Job description / Role

Job description

WSP Middle East is seeking a highly experienced Technical Director - Highrise to provide technical leadership for the delivery of a landmark project in Riyadh.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide technical leadership across the full lifecycle of high-rise projects, from concept to delivery.
• Drive integration of multidisciplinary inputs (architecture, structure, MEP, façade, vertical transportation, infrastructure, and urban interfaces).
• Support business development and client engagement, offering thought leadership on high-rise design and delivery strategies.
• Lead and review all design stages (concept, schematic, detailed, IFC) ensuring alignment with RIBA stages and international codes.
• Champion Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) to optimize buildability, cost efficiency, and programme certainty.
• Oversee BIM strategy, ensuring correct application of BIM Levels of Development (LOD) at each RIBA stage.
• Manage peer reviews, design audits, and technical risk management processes.
• Ensure structural, MEP, façade, and vertical systems are fully coordinated within the design.
• Provide technical direction on high-rise systems such as core design, wind engineering, lateral stability, vertical transportation, fire/life safety, and high-performance façades.
• Evaluate sustainability, digital delivery, and smart building integration.
• Collaborate with project directors, discipline leads, and contractors to deliver coordinated, high-quality outputs.
• Mentor technical staff and develop capability within the high-rise team.
• Represent the company in technical and strategic discussions with clients, authorities, and industry partners.

Qualifications

Required qualifications and experience:

• Degree (or higher) in engineering, architecture, or equivalent; professional registration or chartered status preferred.
• 15+ years technical experience in building design, engineering, and construction supervision; experience specifically in high-rise.
• Experience with pre-contract design stages; value engineering; design governance; constructability reviews; logistics and sequencing planning at early stages.
• Prior experience with mixed-use high-rise developments combining residential, hospitality, and commercial uses in the same tower.
• Proven track record in managing multidisciplinary teams and international consultants/contractors.
• Strong understanding of ECI (Early Contractor Involvement) processes and ability to leverage them strategically.
• In-depth knowledge of BIM LODs and how they align with RIBA stages.
• Proven ability to integrate architecture, structure, MEP, and specialist systems into cohesive high-rise solutions.

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