Authority Liaison Manager

SSH; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

SSH is seeking an experienced Authority Liaison Manager to lead regulatory approvals, permits, and authority coordination for major UAE infrastructure and master planning projects. You will serve as the primary interface with government entities to ensure timely approvals and full regulatory compliance, enabling on-schedule project delivery.

With 20+ years in UAE authority approvals or related roles, you will guide teams, manage submissions, and mitigate permitting risks while maintaining

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• 20+ years of experience in authority approvals, permitting, stakeholder management, or project coordination within the UAE.
• Strong knowledge of UAE regulatory frameworks and authority approval processes.
• Established relationships with key UAE authorities such as municipalities, utility providers, transport authorities, and other regulatory bodies.
• Experience supporting large-scale infrastructure, mixed-use, master planning, or building projects.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities within a fast-paced consultancy environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage all interactions with local, municipal, utility, and regulatory authorities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders, including municipalities, utility providers, transport authorities, and planning departments.
• Lead the preparation, submission, tracking, and follow-up of authority approval applications, permits, NOCs, and technical submissions.
• Coordinate with internal design, engineering, project management, and construction teams to ensure submissions meet authority requirements.
• Provide strategic guidance on regulatory processes, approval pathways, and permitting risks during project planning and execution.
• Monitor approval status and proactively address comments, conditions, and authority requirements to avoid project delays.
• Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, standards, codes, and authority-specific requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive records of submissions, approvals, permits, and stakeholder communications.
• Support project directors and clients by providing regular reporting on authority engagement, approval status, and key risks.
• Identify opportunities to streamline approval processes and improve stakeholder management practices across projects.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Regulatory Compliance

Authority Approvals & Permitting

Relationship Building

Negotiation & Influencing

Risk Management

Project Coordination

Communication & Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Architecture/Urban Planning/Construction Management

Job description

Job description

Role Overview

SSH is seeking an experienced Authority Liaison Manager to lead and manage all regulatory approvals, permits, and authority coordination activities across major infrastructure, buildings, and master planning projects in the UAE. The successful candidate will act as the primary interface between project teams and government entities, ensuring timely approvals and full compliance with local regulations to support project delivery objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all interactions with local, municipal, utility, and regulatory authorities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with relevant stakeholders, including municipalities, utility providers, transport authorities, and planning departments.
• Lead the preparation, submission, tracking, and follow-up of authority approval applications, permits, NOCs, and technical submissions.
• Coordinate with internal design, engineering, project management, and construction teams to ensure submissions meet authority requirements.
• Provide strategic guidance on regulatory processes, approval pathways, and permitting risks during project planning and execution.
• Monitor approval status and proactively address comments, conditions, and authority requirements to avoid project delays.
• Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, standards, codes, and authority-specific requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive records of submissions, approvals, permits, and stakeholder communications.
• Support project directors and clients by providing regular reporting on authority engagement, approval status, and key risks.
• Identify opportunities to streamline approval processes and improve stakeholder management practices across projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• 20+ years of experience in authority approvals, permitting, stakeholder management, or project coordination within the UAE.
• Strong knowledge of UAE regulatory frameworks and authority approval processes.
• Established relationships with key UAE authorities such as municipalities, utility providers, transport authorities, and other regulatory bodies.
• Experience supporting large-scale infrastructure, mixed-use, master planning, or building projects.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities within a fast-paced consultancy environment.

Preferred Experience

• Previous experience within a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy.
• Exposure to major UAE developments, infrastructure programs, and complex stakeholder environments.
• Knowledge of digital permitting and authority submission platforms.

Key Competencies

• Stakeholder Management
• Regulatory Compliance
• Authority Approvals & Permitting
• Relationship Building
• Negotiation & Influencing
• Risk Management
• Project Coordination
• Communication & Leadership

Why Join SSH?
Be part of a leading regional engineering consultancy delivering landmark developments and complex infrastructure projects across the Middle East, working alongside multidisciplinary teams on some of the UAE’s most prestigious projects.