Head of Design

About Hive

HIVE is a real estate development and operations company redefining modern living through character-driven spaces and community-focused environments. Born from the need to offer people a more meaningful and flexible way to live, HIVE blends personal comfort with shared experiences. Our thoughtfully designed apartments and dynamic hubs cultivate curiosity, dialogue, and a sense of belonging – because life is richer when it’s shared.

As we expand our development footprint across the UAE and KSA, we are seeking a Head of Design to protect, refine, and champion the visual and spatial identity of Hive across all current and future projects in the region.

Role Description

The Head of Design is responsible for curating and safeguarding the design vision and aesthetic integrity of Hive developments across both the UAE and KSA. Based in Dubai and embedded within the Development team, this role serves as the creative compass of Hive, ensuring that every building, apartment, and common space embodies the brand’s design ethos.

This individual will not drive delivery or manage process minutiae - their focus is on elevating design quality, providing critique and guidance, and acting as a custodian of the Hive product. They will review consultant work across architecture, interiors, and public realm design, offering feedback that balances creativity, buildability, and market relevance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design vision for all Hive developments across the UAE and KSA, working closely with Development and Delivery teams.
• Act as the primary design reviewer across architectural and interior packages, ensuring every submission aligns with Hive’s brand standards and spatial philosophy.
• Curate, evolve, and enforce Hive’s design guidelines, including approved materials, colour palettes, FF&E standards, and spatial configurations.
• Guide external architects and interior designers during concept and schematic phases, ensuring early design direction is aligned with Hive’s product DNA.
• Evaluate and critique layouts, elevations, massing studies, finishes, and furniture selections to maintain brand consistency and visual quality.
• Participate in consultant interviews and appointments, ensuring the right creative partners are engaged for each project.
• Collaborate with Hive’s operational and brand teams to ensure design is not only beautiful but also functional and community-enhancing.
• Represent Hive in major design presentations, mock-up reviews, and authority interactions where design integrity is at stake.
• Keep abreast of lifestyle, hospitality, and residential design trends across the GCC and globally.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 8–12 years of experience in architecture and/or interior design, with proven experience in leading or reviewing design for real estate developments.
• Strong track record working on lifestyle-led residential or mixed-use projects in the GCC; UAE experience is essential.
• Deep understanding of the Middle East design and development landscape, including market expectations, regulatory environments, and cultural context.
• Background in a design-led firm or client-side creative role with significant exposure to concept design, brand integration, and design critique.
• Strong personal design sensibility – someone with taste, restraint, and the ability to identify what elevates a space.
• Excellent visual communication and stakeholder management skills; able to articulate design intent to internal and external audiences.
• Passionate about placemaking, human-scale environments, and the intersection of lifestyle, culture, and design.

Qualifications

• Degree in Architecture, Interior Design, or a related spatial design discipline.
• Supplementary credentials in urban design, hospitality design, or branding a plus.