Design Manager – Advanced Air Mobility

NEOM is an accelerator of human progress and a vision of what a new future might look like. A region in northwest Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea, NEOM is being built from the ground up to include hyperconnected, cognitive cities, ports, next-generation infrastructure and industries, enterprise zones, research centers, sports and entertainment venues and tourist destinations.

As a destination, it will be a home for people who dream big and want to be part of building a new model for exceptional livability, creating thriving businesses and reinventing environmental conservation.

As a workplace, it is a place for people who share our core values of care, curiosity, diversity, passion, respect, and becoming a catalyst for change.

Are you ready to help NEOM find solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges? Are you prepared to create a lasting legacy that benefits generations to come? Then we want to hear from you!

ROLE OVERVIEW

NEOM is pioneering Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in KSA and globally. The objective is to accelerate and integrate the operation of AAM aircraft into an overall multi-modal public transport system to offer innovative zero and net-zero emission connectivity while respecting landscape and environment.

The purpose of this senior role is to drive the successful development and implementation of NEOM’s AAM systems and infrastructure, a cornerstone of NEOM’s next generation public transportation system.

The Design and Strategy Program Manager of Advanced Air Mobility is responsible for leading the design and development for the aerodromes and other incorporating structures.

REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

• Lead projects through all phases— from planning, design to construction, and delivery- of the AAM ecosystem, ensuring following to timeline, alignment with NEOM’s Plan of Work and adherence to high standards of functionality, design, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and apply innovative solutions that meet industry standards, balancing regulatory compliance with creative design approaches to fulfill NEOM AAM’s evolving needs.
• Establish and implement efficient, standardized processes to enhance project delivery, accelerating timelines without compromising on quality.
• Collaborate with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to streamline regulatory alignment, ensuring smooth approval processes and adherence to both NEOM and national aviation standards.
• Promote and exemplify cross-functional collaboration facilitating improved communication and integration across departments to enhance overall project outcomes.
• Manage project budgets, ensuring alignment with financial objectives while optimizing resource allocation to maintain financial control throughout project execution.
• Draft and maintain standard documents, templates, and guidelines to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency across the team and sector.

ROLE COMPETENCIES & ACTIVITIES

The Design Manager – Advanced Air Mobility’s responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

Design and Program Management

• Lead projects through all phases— from planning, design to construction, and delivery- of the AAM ecosystem, ensuring following to timeline, alignment with NEOM’s Plan of Work and adherence to high standards of functionality, design, and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and apply innovative solutions that meet industry standards, balancing regulatory compliance with creative design approaches to fulfill NEOM AAM’s evolving needs.
• Establish and implement efficient, standardized processes to enhance project delivery, accelerating timelines without compromising on quality.
• Collaborate with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to streamline regulatory alignment, ensuring smooth approval processes and adherence to both NEOM and national aviation standards.
• Promote and exemplify cross-functional collaboration facilitating improved communication and integration across departments to enhance overall project outcomes.
• Manage project budgets, ensuring alignment with financial objectives while optimizing resource allocation to maintain financial control throughout project execution.
• Draft and maintain standard documents, templates, and guidelines to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency across the team and sector.

Change Management

• Stay informed about best practices in stakeholder management and apply them to enhance engagement strategies.
• Seek feedback from stakeholders to continuously improve the quality of engagement and communication.
• Promote transparency and accountability in all interactions with stakeholders.
• Identify potential risks associated with the change and develop strategies to mitigate them
• Develop a strategy that outlines the approach, resources and timelines for implementing the change.

       Leadership

• Prepare and deliver presentations, reports, and other communication materials tailored to stakeholder needs.
• Ensure that all stakeholder engagement activities comply with the relevant regulations and ethical standards.
• Utilize data analytics to drive strategies and decisions.

Culture and Values

• Embrace NEOM’s culture and Values https://www.neom.com/en-us/about.
• Act with honesty and integrity by following best practices, and upholding the robust standards and expectations set out in NEOM’s Code of Conduct.
• Maintain fair, ethical and professional work practices in accordance with NEOM’s Values and Code of Conduct.
• Adhere to NEOM’s Policies, procedures, and controls to ensure compliance with rules. 

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• 7+ years of experience in a relevant field
• Minimum of 18 months’ experience in the Advance Air Mobility sector (may substitute for 4 years in airport sector)
• Experience in managing previous projects/teams in the development of processes, systems, and services.
• Has experience as an entrepreneur or is a self-starter.
• Evidence of working with and influencing internal and external stakeholders on all levels
• Demonstrated people management skills.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
• High-level communication and presentation skills and ability to interact with a diverse set of professional disciplines, partners, and stakeholders.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and meet competing deadlines
• A self-starter who thrives in ambitious, international, and fast changing environments with a keen interest to work on the forefront of urban mobility and the future of cities
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of products (PowerPoint, Excel, and Word), AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, with knowledge in other presentational and organizational products or multi-media tools being an advantage.
  Fluency in English, Arabic is a plus with knowledge of additional languages being an advantage

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering (or any related field)
• MBA is a plus
• Private Pilot License (PPL) is a plus