Assistant Project & Program Director (Delivery) - Real Estate

Big Fish Consult; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Big Fish Consult in Abu Dhabi seeks an experienced Assistant Project & Programme Director to lead the strategic planning, management and delivery of major project portfolios, working closely with internal teams, consultants, contractors and stakeholders.

This senior role requires a programme management background and a proven ability to drive complex projects from design through to handover in a high-stakes environment.

Qualifications

• Senior project delivery capability
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams
• Programme management background beneficial

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of allocated projects in line with objectives and budgets.
• Develop and implement project delivery strategies, including value engineering.
• Manage external consultants and ensure delivery against contractual and programme requirements.
• Provide leadership to Senior Project Managers and Project Managers.
• Coordinate project controls, change control, claims and commercial matters.
• Lead project risk management and mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with procurement, design and stakeholder management for effective delivery.
• Oversee quality control across design, construction and final delivery.
• Monitor project performance and take corrective actions for underperforming projects.
• Manage project changes, conflicts and governance processes.
• Ensure reporting of progress, risks and issues to senior management.
• Oversee project handover, commissioning and defect liability activities.
• Capture and incorporate lessons learned into future delivery processes.

Job description

We are currently looking for an experienced Assistant Project & Programme Director to join a major development organisation in Abu Dhabi.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for the strategic planning, management and successful delivery of major project packages and portfolios, working closely with internal teams, consultants, contractors and key stakeholders. Preference is for someone who has a programme management background.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of allocated projects in line with programme objectives, budgets and development requirements.
• Develop and implement project delivery strategies, including early works opportunities and value engineering initiatives.
• Manage external consultants and ensure delivery against contractual, programme, quality and commercial requirements.
• Provide leadership and direction to Senior Project Managers and Project Managers.
• Coordinate project controls, programme management, change control, claims and commercial matters.
• Lead project risk management and ensure appropriate mitigation strategies are implemented.
• Work closely with procurement, design, stakeholder management and other internal functions to ensure effective project delivery.
• Oversee quality control across design, mock-ups, construction and final delivery.
• Monitor project performance and take corrective action where projects are underperforming.
• Manage project changes, conflicts and commercial issues through the appropriate governance processes.
• Ensure effective reporting of project progress, risks, performance and key issues to senior management.
• Oversee project handover, commissioning, training and defect liability period activities.
• Ensure lessons learned are captured and incorporated into future project delivery processes.

Ideal Profile

We are looking for a senior project & program delivery professional with:

• Extensive experience in major development, real estate, infrastructure, or construction projects worth over 1 billion dirhams.
• Strong experience managing consultants, contractors, and multidisciplinary project teams
• Proven leadership experience at Associate Director / Director equivalent level
• Strong understanding of project controls, procurement, commercial management, risk and change management
• Experience delivering complex projects from design through construction and handover
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Strong commercial and strategic delivery mindset
• Experience working within large-scale development or client-side environments