Full Time Kigali, Rwanda

Position Overview: 

MASS is seeking a highly skilled Senior Designer to join our team in our Kigali design studio. This important role will serve as a key team member on a multi-year, multi-country grant program focused on maternal and newborn health (MNH) design and capacity building. This exciting, ambitious, and impactful program is highly complex, requiring a Senior Designer who can effectively multi-task, operate across various scales, and maintain focus on achieving key objectives. The ideal candidate has a background in healthcare design and prior experience working in resource-limited settings. 

Summary of Key Responsibilities: 

The Senior Designer leads the technical delivery and execution of medium-scale projects, operating with a high degree of autonomy and minimal oversight. In this role, you will direct interdisciplinary teams, oversee technical design software and development, manage project timelines and budgets ($250k–$750k), and uphold MASS’s QA/QC standards. Beyond project delivery, you will act as a key mentor to junior designers, refine internal technical processes for quality and efficiency, and maintain strong communication with clients and senior leadership.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Supports a variety of projects, may contribute to multiple projects simultaneously;  
• Supports design and conceptual development through all phases of the design process including concept, schematic, DD, and CDs;
• Works on project teams and may manage or play a leadership role on small to medium scale projects, or manage discrete aspects of large projects;
• Works under direct management of Directors and Principals;
• Works largely self-directed while checking in with manager regularly or as needed to ensure continued progress;
• Comfortable with technical development of all aspects of a project and with minimal support or oversight;
• Can lead coordination with engineering subconsultants or other disciplines;
• Contributes to project management through creation and maintenance of project schedules, budgets, and communication;
• Assists/supports in preparation of materials for stakeholder meetings;
• Behavior and performance demonstrate alignment with MASS values;
• Applies MASS methodology and processes to advance projects;  
• Thorough knowledge of codes and zoning regulations.
• Coordination skills: consultants, schedule, construction administration.
• Works on project teams, may directly manage other Designers;
• Provides expertise and clear direction in the management of planning, design, and/or consultant coordination of projects;
• Participates in stakeholder meetings, supporting the Director/Principal in content creation and discussions.

Program-specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage day to day relationships with in-country partners (Government, NGOs, etc.) and with local subconsultants (AOR, EOR, QS, MEP)
• Manage day to day in-country operations
• Management of facility intervention delivery schedule in coordination with Design Director. 
• Facilitating clear and accurate communication within the team as the main point of contact for specific country. 
• Coordinate work between Kigali-based team and local team at each stage of work. 
• Represent MASS in meetings with outside parties for potential collaboration, relationship building, and business development. 
• Utilize expertise in medical planning and healthcare design to inform design of interventions across all jurisdictions. 
• Contribute to the development of design documentation and deliverables at all stages of design 
• Support QA/QC review of design deliverables at each phase and provide key technical input. 
• In-country team management
  • Support the design team to coordinate intervention designs with the existing as-built condition. 
  • Support design team to ensure they have the relevant information they need regarding local code, standards, material availability, etc. 
• Monitor and communicate to program leadership local political, environmental, financial risks, as relevant. 
• Provide strong mentorship and capacity development for junior staff.
• Support program leadership with country-specific content for grant reporting. 
• Work in a self-directed manner, consulting with the Principal as needed to ensure project success.
• Travel to countries where project sites are located for site visits as well as stakeholder meetings.

Desired Skills/Experience: 

• Education & Experience:
  • 8+ years of related architectural design and project-based experience.
  • Prior experience in healthcare design and working in resource-limited settings is required.
  • A professional degree in architecture (B.ARCH or M.ARCH).
  • Working towards Architect Registration or a Registered Professional status.
  • Experience with building codes, regulations, and building permit procedures.
• Design & Technical Skills:
  • A strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in design iteration, concept development, and visual/written communication.
  • Capacity to contribute across all project phases, from conceptual design through construction documentation and project implementation.
  • Command of REVIT as the primary tool for architectural drawing is a must; proficiency in Rhino, AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Lumion, and/or other software, with the ability to work seamlessly between platforms.
  • Demonstrated interest in low-carbon design & construction and building performance.
• Leadership & Communication:
  • Demonstrated organizational leadership skills.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in team settings while exhibiting individual initiative.
  • Comfortable coordinating interdisciplinary teams, managing project schedules and budgets, and effectively communicating with sub-consultants.

Key Benefits:

• Health & Pension: Medical insurance and pension savings.
• Relocation to Kigali (Non-Local Staff): Air ticket at the beginning and end of the assignment, 2 months of accommodation to assist with settling in Kigali, and payment for 1 extra checked suitcase.
• Work visa facilitation (for non local staff)
• Work/Life Balance: Hybrid work policy with flexible hours (work from home 2 days/week) and a paid Christmas break.
• Paid public holidays and 18 annual leave days 

Open