Construction Director

AECOM; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM is seeking a Construction Director to lead the delivery of major Rail projects in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The role focuses on leadership, contractual and commercial management, and ensuring delivery excellence in line with client and company objectives.

Responsibilities include directing rail infrastructure enabling works, coordinating with authorities, and overseeing utility diversions, testing, and commissioning to ensure projects meet approved programmes and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering or related field; professional certification preferred.
• Chartered status or membership with a recognized professional institution is desirable.
• PMP or equivalent project management certification is advantageous.
• Minimum 20 years of experience managing large-scale rail projects, with a proven track record.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of major rail infrastructure projects, ensuring safety, schedule adherence and quality.
• Manage utilities relocation, diversion, protection, and coordination with authorities and stakeholders.
• Oversee cost control, variations, and commercial negotiations across projects.
• Provide strategic leadership to large multidisciplinary teams within a matrix organization.

Skills

Rail project leadership

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Project planning

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering

Chartered status or membership of a recognized professional institution

PMP or equivalent Project Management certification

Minimum 20 years of experience in managing large-scale rail projects

Tools

GIS data management

Contract administration tools

Job description

Job description

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world’s most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

AECOM is seeking a ConstructionDirector to lead the delivery of major Railproject. The role involves overall leadership, contractual and commercial management, and ensuring delivery excellence in alignment with client and company objectives.

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for rail infrastructure enabling works, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in accordance with approved programmes and contractual requirements.
• Lead and manage enabling works associated with rail corridors, stations, depots, viaducts, bridges, tunnels, and associated infrastructure.
• Provide strong technical and construction expertise in the relocation, diversion, protection, and reinstatement of existing utilities and infrastructure services.
• Manage the identification, verification, and coordination of existing wet and dry utilities, including: Potable water networks Sewerage and drainage networks Stormwater systems TSE/irrigation networks District cooling networks Electrical HV/LV networks Telecommunications and ICT networks Gas networks Street lighting and traffic systems
• Direct the preparation and implementation of Utility Diversion and Relocation Strategies in coordination with authorities, utility providers, designers, contractors, and stakeholders.
• Review existing utility records, as-built drawings, GIS information, survey data, trial pits, GPR surveys, and site investigations to establish existing service conditions.
• Ensure proper utility detection, verification, protection, temporary diversion, permanent diversion, and decommissioning of existing services.
• Lead coordination with relevant authorities and stakeholders for NOCs, permits, approvals, shutdowns, tie-ins, and service diversions.
• Oversee the development of utility diversion drawings, method statements, temporary works, traffic management plans, and construction sequencing.
• Ensure utility relocations are coordinated with the rail alignment, formation levels, structures, stations, drainage, roads, and other permanent works.
• Identify potential utility clashes and interface risks at an early stage and implement mitigation measures.
• Manage interfaces between rail works, road infrastructure, utilities, existing assets, third-party developments, and authority requirements.
• Monitor project progress against approved baseline programmes, milestones, and key deliverables.
• Ensure timely completion of enabling works to facilitate subsequent rail civil, structural, MEP, systems, and station construction activities.
• Manage construction interfaces between utilities, earthworks, roads, drainage, temporary works, demolition, site clearance, and rail infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with approved IFC drawings, specifications, authority requirements, project standards, and contract conditions.
• Lead coordination meetings with the Client, PMC/Consultant, Contractor, Utility Authorities, Designers, and Rail Systems teams.
• Monitor contractor performance and ensure adequate manpower, plant, materials, equipment, and specialist resources are available.
• Oversee excavation and construction activities around live and critical utility services, ensuring appropriate protection and permit-to-work controls.
• Manage temporary utility arrangements to maintain continuity of essential services during construction.
• Coordinate planned shutdowns, cutovers, temporary connections, and permanent tie-ins with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure proper documentation and approval of utility abandonment, diversion, disconnection, and reinstatement works.
• Monitor quality of construction and ensure that all utility relocation works comply with approved materials, testing, inspection, and commissioning requirements.
• Ensure completion of testing, commissioning, pressure testing, CCTV inspection, electrical testing, functional testing, and authority acceptance as applicable.
• Review and manage variation orders, claims, additional works, and commercial implications arising from unforeseen utilities and infrastructure diversions.
• Coordinate with quantity surveying and commercial teams to control costs, variations, and change management.
• Ensure accurate progress measurement and reporting for enabling works. Provide strategic leadership for the relocation, diversion, protection, and reinstatement of dry utility networks associated with rail infrastructure enabling works.
• Manage relocation of HV, MV and LV electrical cables, including existing and proposed power networks.
• Oversee diversion and protection of telecommunication, fiber-optic, ICT, and data cables.
• Coordinate relocation of street lighting, traffic signals, ITS, CCTV, and associated ELV networks.
• Manage interfaces with DEWA/utility authorities, telecom operators, service providers, and other relevant stakeholders for cable diversion works.
• Review existing utility records, as-built drawings, cable routes, GIS data, survey information, and trial pit results to verify existing cable locations.
• Ensure proper cable detection, identification, trial trenching, excavation, protection, diversion, jointing, testing, and commissioning.
• Lead coordination for live cable crossings and interfaces with existing operational networks, ensuring minimum disruption to existing services.
• Oversee the preparation and approval of cable diversion drawings, route layouts, profiles, typical details, method statements, ITPs, and risk assessments.
• Ensure adequate temporary power and temporary communication arrangements are maintained during cable relocation activities.
• Coordinate planned shutdowns, isolation, switching, cutover, and energisation of electrical networks with the relevant authorities and utility providers.
• Ensure appropriate protection of existing cables through concrete encasement, duct banks, protective slabs, warning tapes, marker posts, cable tiles, and approved protection systems, where required.
• Manage the installation of new ducts, chambers, cable trenches, draw pits, manholes, joint bays, and associated infrastructure required for cable relocation.
• Coordinate cable pulling, jointing, termination, testing, and commissioning activities in accordance with approved specifications and authority requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline (BSc, BEng, or MEng).

• Chartered status or membership of a recognized professional institution (MICE, MCIOB, MRICS) preferred.

• PMP or equivalent Project Management certification is an advantage.

• Minimum 20 years of experience in managing large-scale railprojects.

• Proven record in delivering projects over AED 1 billion in value.

• Strong commercial and contract management experience, including claims and negotiations.

• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams in a matrix organization.

Additional Information

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options,well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.