Senior Director - Architecture & Interior Design Management

About the role

Cognizant’s Corporate Real Estate and Workplace Services (CREWS) organization seeks a Senior Director to lead enterprise-level architecture and interior design management for large-scale construction and workplace transformation programs across India. Based in Chennai, this role ensures the delivery of safe, scalable, and sustainable Grade-A office environments while managing complex stakeholder relationships and statutory compliance. The position requires significant travel to project sites and operates under a work model finalized upon joining, potentially involving hybrid or on-site arrangements.

What you’ll do

• Lead multi-location greenfield, redevelopment, interior fit-out, workplace transformation and Design & Build design programs from initiation through handover
• Own design brief, scope alignment, quality, stakeholder approvals, digital workplace integration, statutory compliance, cost alignment, schedule support, risk governance and executive reporting
• Define design delivery strategy, consultant engagement model, procurement support, stage-gates, review cadences, documentation standards, decision logs and escalation mechanisms
• Govern architects, interior designers, PMCs, specialist consultants, Design & Build contractors, workplace strategists and technology design partners through clear performance expectations
• Embed authority inputs, respective State and NBC compliance, fire and life safety, accessibility, local regulations, environmental obligations and design approval dependencies into the design process
• Lead integrated design management across master planning, architecture, interiors, workplace strategy, structural coordination, MEP, facade, landscape, sustainability, IT/AV, security, fire and life s
• Drive design-to-brief, constructability, value engineering, design-to-budget discipline, lifecycle cost, maintainability, operational efficiency, user experience, brand alignment and future flexibilit
• Establish review cadences, technical risk registers, interface matrices, change control protocols, mock-up approvals, material workflows and stage-gate sign-offs to protect design quality and complian

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Project Management or related discipline
• 15+ years progressive experience in large-scale construction management, real estate delivery or infrastructure program leadership
• At least 5 years as Project Director, Program Director or equivalent senior leadership
• Proven experience with corporate campuses, Grade-A offices, greenfield developments, and multi-location design delivery in India

Nice to have

• Master's degree or advanced qualification in Design Management, Interior Design, Workplace Strategy, Real Estate, sustainable architecture or equivalent preferred
• PMP/RICS/LEED/IGBC or equivalent credentials are advantageous
• Demonstrated ability to integrate workplace technology, IT/AV, smart building systems, and operational readiness into the design lifecycle
• Extensive knowledge of Indian building regulations, statutory compliance requirements, environmental regulations and workplace safety standards

Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, Project Management or a related built-environment discipline.