Design & Support Services Head

Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners) is a renowned multidisciplinary consultancy firm specializing in Architecture, Engineering, Planning, and Environmental Design. With a legacy of over 60 years, we have a global presence and a commitment to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients' most complex challenges. Our diverse team of professionals collaborates across disciplines to create iconic projects that shape cities and improve lives.

Design & Support Services Head

Experience Range: 15+ years

Location : Pune

You can also drop your CV at: adeeb.delvi@dar.com

Role Summary

The Design & Support Services Director leads the Pune-based Global Excellence Center (GEC) delivery organization, providing high-quality engineering design and integrated project support services (including Project Controls) to global project teams—primarily in North America. The Director will ensure timely project delivery within budgeted hours, schedule, managing costs, and meeting quality KPIs. Oversee budgets, schedules, project-specific objectives, and resource allocation. This role therefore is accountable for predictable delivery: quality, schedule adherence, cost discipline, resource planning, and continuous improvement across disciplines and time zones.

The Director builds a scalable, high-performing team (growing from 6 to 20 in 2026) and operates as a key link between the GEC and global Project Managers, Sector Leaders, and functional partners to ensure seamless execution and strong client outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1) Delivery Leadership and Operational Excellence

• Lead day-to-day delivery across multiple disciplines (e.g., Civil/Structural, Mechanical/Electrical, BIM, Project Controls) to ensure coordinated execution and timely outputs.
• Translate global project requirements into clear workplans, deliverables, and milestones for GEC execution.
• Ensure deliverables meet quality standards, client procedures, and sector Quality Management Plans; drive 'right-first-time' execution and reduced rework.
• Implement continuous improvement practices to optimize workflows, handoffs, documentation standards, and change management.

2) Engineering Design Governance and Technical Quality

• Oversee the design lifecycle (or assigned packages) from concept through detailed design and production, ensuring alignment with applicable standards and codes.
• Provide technical oversight and structured reviews of designs, calculations, models, shop drawings, and reports.
• Drive adoption of modern delivery methods and digital tools (e.g., automation, AI-enabled workflows, digital design practices) to improve quality and productivity.

3) Project Controls Leadership and Internal Delivery Governance

• Lead the internal Project Controls function within the GEC to improve predictability of delivery and transparency of performance.
• Establish and maintain integrated delivery controls for GEC work packages, including:
• baseline schedules, workplans, and budgeted hours (planned vs. actual)
• progress measurement and milestone tracking (with disciplined weekly reporting)
• variance analysis (schedule/budget) and recovery plans when delivery deviates
• Own governance for change control on GEC-delivered scope: intake, impact assessment (hours/schedule), approval routing, and documentation.
• Implement and maintain risk/issue management routines (risk register, issue logs, escalation paths) for delivery and resourcing risks.
• Ensure accurate timekeeping, coding, and internal reporting discipline to support project health, forecasting, and project manager decision-making.
• Provide actionable dashboards and performance insights (delivery trends, capacity, utilization, cycle times, quality/rework signals) to GEC Liaison and global leadership.

4) Resource Planning, Utilization, and Growth Enablement

• Forecast labor needs and capacity; balance workloads across projects; optimize utilization and staffing levels.
• Partner with global project managers to plan resourcing, sequencing, and delivery timing to support project outcomes and client commitments.
• Support hiring plans and ramp-up; contribute to retention strategies and a strong employee experience in the GEC.

5) People Leadership, Capability Building, and Culture

• Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing multi-disciplinary team; set clear expectations and accountability for quality and delivery.
• Establish competency frameworks, career pathways, performance management routines, and targeted learning plans.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and execution-focused culture across disciplines and time zones.

6) Global Stakeholder Management and GEC Network Collaboration

• Serve as a primary day-to-day liaison between Pune delivery teams and global project leadership (primarily North America).
• Strengthen globally coordinated delivery practices and standardization across projects and regions.
• Build working partnerships with other GECs (e.g., Philippines, Belgrade, Panama) to operate as part of an integrated global delivery network.

Qualifications

• 12+ years (15+ preferred) of progressive design/delivery experience across multi-disciplinary projects including water, wastewater, and stormwater pipelines and facilities, buildings, and transportation infrastructure.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (discipline-flexible: Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental, Process, etc.).
• Experience supporting North American projects and clients (U.S./Canada) and familiarity with applying North American standards (e.g., AWWA, ASTM, ASCE).
• Proven experience leading teams, scaling delivery operations, and working across time zones.
• Experience overseeing or partnering closely with Project Controls (planning, reporting, change control, forecasting) in a consulting/project delivery environment.
• Tools: MS Office; project planning tools (MS Project, Primavera, or similar); familiarity with design and delivery platforms (BIM/design tools as applicable); comfort with reporting/analytics.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership presence; able to drive accountability and positive culture
• Delivery discipline (quality, schedule, cost awareness, risk management)
• Clear communicator in written and spoken English; effective cross-cultural collaboration
• Sound judgment, attention to detail, and confidentiality
• Able to operate with minimal guidance; proactive and solutions-oriented
• Comfortable working across international time zones and with distributed stakeholders
• Strong local talent network and ability to support hiring as needs evolve

Kind Note:

While we carefully review all applications, only candidates meeting the specified requirements will be contacted for further consideration. We appreciate your understanding and thank all applicants for their interest.

Skills Required
Primavera, Ms Office, Bim, Project Controls, Automation, Ms Project