Job Summary
Job Role / Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Chief Facilities and Administrative Services Officer, you will lead a team of diversified professionals and will lead the space planning and design management of campus facilities, including master planning and conceptual/schematic design of buildings. The role involves managing in-house design projects, leading architectural teams, and reviewing external consultants’ work to ensure alignment with AKU’s design philosophy and standards. The Head of Design will oversee the entire design lifecycle, from concept development to completion, ensuring designs meet clinical, regulatory, sustainability, and aesthetic requirements.
Specific responsibilities will include:
- Lead the design and planning of new healthcare facilities, expansions, and renovations.
- Lead and manage a team of architects and CAD/BIM operators.
- Prepare concept design, detailed design and construction drawings with design based on user requirements ensuring adherence to AKUs design philosophies. Ensure that spaces and sizes identified by users are as per international standards.
- Ensuring compliance of design with best industry practices in terms of patients’ safety and quality of care.
- Ensure designs comply with healthcare building codes, fire safety, accessibility, and environmental sustainability standards.
- Develop design guidelines and standards specific to healthcare environments that integrate environmental sustainability principles
- Lead the incorporation of environmental sustainability in all design projects, ensuring compliance with green building certifications and sustainable architecture standards.
- Draft TORs for Master Planning conceptual / schematic and design and coordinate with others.
- Guide PMs in selection of local architects and engineering consultants for detailed design of projects and also guide them with solutions on detailed design, coordination and quality issues.
- Prepare Physical Facilities layouts for the University’s annual events such as Convocation, Awards Night, Donor Dinner and PGME Ceremonies
- Support fundraising campaigns through design presentations.
- Collaborate with procurement and construction teams for seamless project execution.
- Provide regular reports on design progress, sustainability outcomes, and issues to senior management.
Required Skills
Eligibility Criteria / Requirements:
You should have:
- Degree in Architecture (a qualified architect from a reputable national or international school of Architecture which conducts a minimum 5-year programme, with emphasis on planning and building technologies).
- Minimum 15 years of post-qualification experience in architectural design and planning.
- Experience in healthcare, Educational and Research facility design is preferred.
- Proficiency in architectural design and space planning.
- Knowledge of MEP and structural requirements for high-tech buildings.
- Familiarity with sustainable design, environmental sustainability principles, and green building certifications (e.g., EDGE/LEED).
- Proficiency in architectural design software (AutoCAD, Revit, BIM tools).
- Knowledge of infection control and patient safety principles in design.
- Proven experience managing a multidisciplinary design team.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
- Excellent project Management and communication skills.
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.