Lead Architect – School Design - Dubai - Global Schools Group

Description

Lead Architect – School Design & Campus Development

Reporting To

Group Head – Projects & Infrastructure, Global Schools Group

Role Purpose

The Lead Architect – School Design & Campus Development serves as Global Schools Group's central architectural design authority for K–12 campuses across geographies. The role is responsible for conceptualising, standardising, and delivering pedagogy-led, future-ready, safe, and operationally efficient learning environments aligned with GSG's 9GEMS Holistic Education Framework, international curriculum requirements, sustainability commitments, and local regulatory codes.

This role is critical in ensuring design consistency, brand integrity, scalability, cost discipline, quality assurance, and in positioning GSG as a benchmark setter in global school campus design.

Primary Accountabilities

• Campus master planning and concept design
• Pedagogy-led spatial planning
• Establishment, review, and approval of design standards
• Architectural quality assurance
• BIM-led coordination and consultant management
• Setting and maintaining global benchmarks for school campus design within GSG

Shared Accountabilities

• Sustainability outcomes
• Cost optimisation
• Regulatory approvals
• Post-occupancy performance

Design Authority & Decision Rights

• Acts as GSG's final architectural design authority for campus master planning, spatial standards, and architectural quality across all geographies.
• Leads the end-to-end design review and approval process , including:
• Design freeze approvals
• Pre-authority submission reviews
• Post-completion / as-built checks and verification
• Holds authority to approve, reject, or direct revisions to consultant designs to ensure alignment with GSG pedagogy, safety, brand, sustainability, and operational standards.
• Escalates material design deviations, risks, or conflicts through the Projects & Infrastructure governance framework for resolution.

Key Responsibilities

Campus Master Planning & Concept Design

• Lead master planning and architectural design for new and existing GSG campuses from Pre-Primary to Grade 12.
• Design campuses that support multi-curriculum delivery, including CBSE, IB, Cambridge, British, and Montessori programmes.
• Translate GSG's 9GEMS pedagogy into integrated spatial planning covering academics, sports, arts, leadership, innovation, wellbeing, and community functions.
• Ensure scalability, flexibility, and provision for future expansion within all master plans.

Pedagogy-Led & Child-Centric Design

• Collaborate closely with academic leadership to design flexible, technology-enabled classrooms; STEM, AI, robotics, AR/VR, and maker spaces; early-years learning environments aligned with global best practices; and inclusive environments supporting special education and student wellbeing.
• Embed experiential, project-based, and blended learning models into campus layouts and spatial strategies.

Global Standards, Compliance & Design Quality

• Ensure all designs comply with applicable local building bye-laws, zoning regulations, fire and life safety codes, accessibility standards, and child protection requirements across geographies.
• Ensure alignment with CBSE, IB, Cambridge, and British inspection and accreditation standards.
• Act as the design authority to maintain brand consistency, spatial efficiency, and quality standards across all campuses.
• Establish and enforce formal design governance gates, including concept freeze, design freeze, and construction issue control.
• Identify design, authority, constructability, and operational risks early and drive mitigation actions.
• Maintain a Design Risk Register aligned with the Projects & Infrastructure risk management framework.
• Ensure robust change-control discipline, including documentation and approval of design deviations and revisions.

Value Engineering & Lifecycle Performance

• Lead design-led value-engineering exercises focused on CAPEX optimisation without compromising pedagogy, safety, durability, or long-term performance.
• Evaluate lifecycle cost implications, including maintenance, energy consumption, and adaptability.
• Partner with Operations and FM teams to embed design-for-maintenance and design-for-operations principles.

Sustainability & Future-Ready Design

• Integrate sustainability principles aligned with GSG's ESG commitments, including energy-efficient building systems, natural daylight optimisation, solar power integration, rainwater harvesting, water recycling, eco-friendly materials, and climate-responsive design strategies.
• Drive IGBC, GRIHA, or LEED certification targets where applicable.

Detailed Design, BIM & Consultant Coordination

• Lead preparation, review, and approval of architectural drawings, technical specifications, and BOQs.
• Oversee BIM models and coordination processes, including clash detection and resolution.
• Coordinate closely with structural, MEP, fire, IT, AV, security, and landscape consultants to ensure integrated and buildable design solutions.
• Ensure seamless incorporation of smart classrooms, digital infrastructure, and campus security systems.
• Develop phasing and decanting strategies for brownfield and live-campus projects.
• Ensure designs prioritise student safety, safeguarding, and academic continuity during construction.
• Coordinate closely with school leadership to manage operational disruption risks.

Project Execution & Quality Control

• Provide architectural oversight during construction to ensure adherence to design intent, quality benchmarks, and regulatory compliance.
• Review shop drawings, materials, mock-ups, and samples.
• Conduct regular site visits, resolve design and execution issues, and support timely project delivery.
• Participate in handover, snag closure, and post-occupancy evaluation processes.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously refine GSG and GIIS school design standards, space norms, and design guidelines.
• Create and manage a Global Campus Design Playbook to enable replication, speed-to-market, and consistency across geographies.
• Establish and maintain centralised design documentation systems, including archiving of approved designs and as-built drawings.
• Capture and institutionalise best practices, innovations, and lessons learned across campuses.
• Deep expertise in educational and institutional architecture
• Strong understanding of child safety, wellbeing, and learning sciences
• Proven ability to manage large, multi-location project portfolios
• Strong stakeholder engagement across academic, operations, and leadership teams
• Strategic mindset combined with hands-on design and execution capability

Technical Expertise

• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit or BIM, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong knowledge of BIM-led design and coordination processes
• Familiarity with smart campus technologies and digital infrastructure systems
• Working understanding of international school accreditation requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Architecture
• Registered Architect with the Council of Architecture (India) or equivalent international body
• 10–18 years of experience in institutional, school, or campus architecture preferred
• Proven track record in designing and delivering K–12 schools or large academic campuses preferred
• Architects with iconic, award-winning, or outstanding design experience in other sectors (e.g., cultural, civic, mixed-use, commercial, hospitality, or public realm projects) are welcome, provided they demonstrate strong design thinking, execution capability, and adaptability to educational environments
• Experience with large school networks or global education brands preferred

What Success Looks Like at GSG

• Campuses that consistently reflect GSG's global quality and design standards
• Learning environments that demonstrably enhance student engagement, wellbeing, and learning outcomes
• Faster campus rollout achieved through standardisation without compromising quality
• Strong alignment between pedagogy, infrastructure, sustainability, and governance objectives

Why Join Global Schools Group

• Opportunity to shape education infrastructure across more than 11 countries
• Work at the intersection of architecture, pedagogy, sustainability, and innovation
• Long-term leadership role with clear design authority and governance mandate
• High-impact work influencing tens of thousands of learners globally