Location: United Arab Emirates
Company: International Architectural Consultancy
Project Portfolio: Global Residential, Hospitality, Mixed-Use & High-Rise Developments
About the Company We are working with an established international architectural consultancy headquartered in the UAE, delivering complex, large-scale developments across the Middle East and international markets. Their portfolio includes residential towers, hospitality destinations, mixed-use masterplans, and high-rise developments.
As part of their continued growth, they are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead and drive project delivery across multiple high-value developments.
Role Overview The Senior Project Manager will take full ownership of project delivery from inception through to completion and handover.
This is a delivery-focused role, not a design coordination or advisory position. The successful candidate must have been in a hands-on project delivery and execution role for at least the last five years and demonstrate strong leadership across multidisciplinary teams.
The ideal candidate will come from either a civil engineering or architectural background, with a proven track record of delivering complex projects within the UAE.
Key Responsibilities: Project Leadership & Delivery - Lead projects from concept initiation through execution and final handover
- Drive programme, cost, quality, and risk management
- Develop and manage detailed project delivery strategies
- Ensure alignment between design intent and construction execution
- Oversee contractor performance and consultant coordination
Execution & Site Oversight - Monitor construction progress and resolve delivery challenges
- Ensure compliance with UAE regulations and authority requirements
- Lead value engineering and buildability reviews
- Proactively manage project risks and mitigation strategies
- Ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget
Stakeholder & Client Management - Act as primary point of contact for clients and key stakeholders
- Lead progress meetings and reporting structures
- Coordinate with government authorities and regulatory bodies
- Maintain strong communication across multidisciplinary teams
Commercial & Contractual Management - Manage contractual obligations and procurement strategies
- Review variations, claims, and commercial risks
- Support cost control measures and budget tracking
Required Experience & Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Architecture
- Minimum 12–15 years’ total professional experience
- Minimum 5+ years in a dedicated project delivery/execution leadership role
- Proven A–Z project delivery experience within the UAE
- Demonstrable experience delivering:
- Residential developments
- Hospitality projects
- Mixed-use developments
- High-rise towers
- Strong knowledge of UAE building codes and authority approval processes
- Experience managing multidisciplinary consultant teams
- Strong site-based delivery experience
- Experience dealing with contractors, claims, and programme recovery
Technical Competencies - Programme management expertise (Primavera/MS Project preferred)
- Strong commercial awareness
- Contract knowledge (FIDIC experience preferred)
- Risk management capability
- Authority approvals and compliance expertise within UAE jurisdictions
Key Attributes - Strong leadership and decision-making skills
- Delivery-driven and solutions-oriented
- Commercially astute
- Confident communicator with executive presence
- Able to manage complex stakeholder environments
- High level of accountability and ownership
What's on offer - Competitive tax-free salary
- Exposure to large-scale and landmark developments
- Opportunity to work within a globally active consultancy
- Career progression into senior leadership
- Professional and collaborative work environment