Project Director

Job Purpose

The role holder is accountable for the end-to-end delivery and overall performance of one or more large-scale, complex or strategically significant construction projects, from mobilization through testing, commissioning, handover, final account and defects-liability obligations. The role holder ensures achievement of approved contractual, commercial, programme, cost, cash-flow, quality and safety objectives; leads project teams; establishes execution and governance arrangements; manages senior client, consultant and authority relationships; and protects the Company's contractual and commercial interests.

The role holder shall carry out his duties in accordance with the stipulated business policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership

• Directs the delivery of one or multiple strategically significant construction projects from mobilization through completion and handover to achieve approved programme, budget, quality, safety, contractual and commercial objectives.
• Establishes the overall project execution strategy, governance framework, delivery model, mobilization plan and key accountabilities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Translates contractual requirements, approved budgets and organizational priorities into clear project objectives, delivery milestones, work fronts and accountable actions.
• Provides executive direction to project teams and ensures timely escalation, decision-making and resolution of critical delivery, technical, commercial and operational issues.

Commercial & Financial Performance

• Is accountable for overall project financial and commercial performance, including profitability, cash flow, cost-to-complete, revenue, commercial risks, contractual claims and cost-optimization initiatives.
• Reviews major contractual matters, commercial negotiations, client variations, deductions, liquidated damages and back-charges to protect the Company's contractual and commercial interests.
• Oversees project budgets, cost forecasts, earned-value performance, payment applications/certifications, cash collection and financial reporting to identify and address deviations.
• Ensures variations, extensions of time, claims, disruption/prolongation matters and contractual notices are identified, substantiated, documented and submitted within contractual timeframes.
• Reviews subcontractor commercial exposure, liabilities, claims, performance and major procurement commitments to maintain cost, cash-flow and delivery control.

Technical & Operational Leadership

• Leads engineering coordination, construction methodologies, buildability reviews and value-engineering initiatives to improve project performance and resolve complex technical challenges.
• Oversees engineering, authority approvals, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, snagging, handover, as-built documentation and close-out activities to ensure integrated project delivery.
• Approves major construction methodologies, temporary works, mobilization plans, logistics strategies, work-front planning and sequencing arrangements to maximize safe productivity.
• Ensures IFC/design information, shop drawings, RFIs, technical submittals, material approvals, long-lead items and specialist resources are available in line with construction priorities and the approved programme.
• Directs recovery planning, delay mitigation and resource mobilization where progress falls behind approved milestones, and ensures constraints are resolved before they impact the critical path.

Programme & Resource Management

• Establishes and monitors the baseline/master programme, updated and recovery programmes, key milestones and critical-path activities, ensuring engineering, procurement, authority approvals and subcontractor programmes are fully integrated.
• Directs the deployment of manpower, equipment, materials and subcontractor resources according to project priorities, work-front availability, productivity targets and workload requirements.
• Reviews progress, productivity, resource utilisation, procurement status and operational constraints and initiates corrective measures to recover delays and improve performance.

Quality, Health, Safety & Environmental Management

• Ensures project activities comply with approved quality plans, health and safety requirements, environmental standards, authority requirements and applicable regulations.
• Champions a proactive safety culture and holds project leadership and subcontractors accountable for eliminating hazards, preventing incidents and closing corrective actions.
• Reviews significant quality failures, safety incidents and non-conformances and ensures root causes are addressed through timely and sustainable corrective actions.
• Ensures construction works, materials and workmanship meet contractual specifications, approved drawings, method statements, inspection requirements and applicable industry standards.

Stakeholder Management

• Develops executive-level relationships with clients, consultants, authorities and strategic partners to facilitate decisions, approvals, payments and successful project outcomes while protecting the Company's contractual position.
• Represents the Company during executive steering meetings, progress and commercial meetings, dispute resolution and critical contractual discussions, avoiding commitments outside delegated authority.

Risk & Performance Management

• Directs project governance, operational and contractual risk management, performance reporting and corrective actions, with particular focus on programme, cost, cash flow, procurement, subcontractor and handover risks.
• Champions operational excellence, productivity, quality, safety, commercial awareness and continuous improvement across the project, and ensures lessons learned are captured and applied.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent is required
• Relevant certification in PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent is preferred
• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in construction/contracting project management and operations, with proven delivery of major or complex projects in the UAE
• At least 8 years in progressively increasing managerial responsibilities
• Fluent written and spoken English essential, Arabic preferred