Location:Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Reporting To:Executive Leadership / Board (as applicable)
Summary
This role requires an accomplished leader with deep experience in large-scale real estate and construction programs, ideally within Makkah or similarly sensitive, high-density environments. Previuos roles of PMO Manager or PMO Director will be an advantage.
The Project Director will have full accountability for end-to-end project delivery, ensuring alignment across design, construction, cost, schedule, quality, safety, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder coordination. This role demands exceptional leadership, strategic judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment with multiple public and private stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
Overall Project Leadership
- Provide single-point executive leadership for the Project, with full responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and risk.
- Establish and drive the project execution strategy from design development through construction, testing, commissioning, and handover.
- Ensure alignment between client objectives, regulatory requirements, operational needs, and long-term asset value.
Planning, Schedule & Cost Control
- Develop and maintain the integrated master program, cost plan, and resource strategy across all project packages.
- Oversee detailed construction sequencing in a constrained urban and religiously sensitive environment.
- Proactively manage change, claims, and variations to protect project outcomes and commercial integrity.
- Ensure robust project controls, reporting, and forecasting are in place and actively used for decision-making.
Design & Constructability Oversight
- Lead coordination with master planners, architects, and engineering consultants to ensure designs are constructible, cost-effective, and compliant with Makkah-specific regulations.
- Ensure design solutions balance aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and long-term operations.
- Drive value engineering and design optimization without compromising quality or intent.
Stakeholder & Authority Management
- Act as the senior interface with government authorities, master developers, utilities, consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders.
- Manage approvals, permits, and compliance requirements specific to Makkah and nearthe Holy Sites.
- Ensure clear, consistent, and timely communication across all stakeholder groups.
Construction & Delivery Excellence
- Oversee all construction activities including civil, structural, architectural, MEP, faade, public realm, and specialist systems.
- Enforce the highest standards of health, safety, quality, environmental compliance, and sustainability.
- Lead resolution of complex technical, logistical, and site constraints with minimal disruption to progress.
Risk, Quality & Governance
- Identify, assess, and mitigate strategic, technical, commercial, and operational risks.
- Implement strong governance frameworks, decision logs, and escalation protocols.
- Ensure all works meet contractual obligations, international standards, and client expectations.
Team Leadership
- Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing multi-disciplinary project team.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and delivery excellence.
- Align contractors and consultants around shared objectives and performance outcomes.
Required Technical and Soft Skills:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Architecture, or a related discipline; Master's degree is an advantage.
- PMP certification is mandatory.
- 15+ years of progressive experience delivering large-scale real estate or mixed-use developments, including senior leadership roles.
- Direct experience in Makkah projects or similarly complex, regulated urban environments is highly desirable.
- Proven track record managing large scale projects with multiple stakeholders, tight schedules, and high public visibility.
- Deep understanding of construction methodologies, contract administration, claims management, and project controls.
- Strong command of planning and delivery tools such as Primavera P6, MS Project, BIM platforms, and common data environments.
- Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Ability to operate under pressure, make sound decisions, and maintain strategic oversight while managing detail.
- Fluency in Arabic and English is required. Additional languages are a plus.
