Construction Director

-; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering services company is looking for a Construction Director in Abu Dhabi. The role involves overseeing the construction of civil works and station infrastructure for the UAE High-Speed Rail project. Candidates should have extensive experience in infrastructure leadership, particularly in high-speed rail. The position offers a tax-free salary and various benefits including medical insurance, paid leave, and additional allowances.

Benefits

Tax-free salary

Life insurance coverage

Comprehensive medical insurance

Paid annual leave

Discretionary bonus program

Transportation & housing allowances

Relocation assistance

Employee wellbeing program

Qualifications

• 20 years of experience in infrastructure construction leadership.
• 5 years in high-speed rail or major rail programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, mobilisation, and execution of construction activities.
• Define and implement delivery strategies aligned with client goals.
• Coordinate with other leads for seamless integration of services.
• Supervise construction activities to ensure compliance and quality.
• Monitor progress and implement mitigation strategies.

Skills

Infrastructure construction leadership

High-speed rail experience

Project management

HSE compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Master's Degree or Chartered Engineer status

Job description

Overview

AtkinsRéalis is looking for a Construction Director in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company delivering sustainable infrastructure and energy solutions across the whole life cycle of assets. We work with strategic sectors including Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital, and provide end-to-end capabilities from consulting to operations and maintenance.

The Construction Director will lead the consultant-side supervision and interface management of the Design & Build Contract for Civil Works and Stations within the Abu Dhabi scope of the UAE High-Speed Rail (HSR) Intercity Project - Phase 1. The role oversees complex underground, at-grade, and cut-and-cover works, as well as key station infrastructure including Abu Dhabi Reem (ADR), Saadiyat (ADS), and Yas (YAS) stations. The Construction Director owns the entire construction scope within Abu Dhabi, including civil works, stations, and systems, with support from the systems teams. This includes oversight of systems integration, power, track, rolling stock interfaces, and depot readiness within the Abu Dhabi geography. Reporting to the Project Director - UAE HSR Intercity Project, the Construction Director serves as the senior interface between the client, contractors, consultants, and authorities, ensuring construction activities meet contractual, technical, and regulatory requirements.

For more information about AtkinsRéalis career opportunities, visit the company website or careers portal.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, mobilisation, and execution of civil works and station construction activities within the Abu Dhabi scope.
• Define and implement construction delivery strategies aligned with client goals and programme milestones.
• Coordinate with other package leads (e.g., Systems, Rolling Stock, Track) to ensure seamless integration of civil works and station infrastructure with railway systems and operational requirements.
• Drive successful outcomes through effective team mobilisation, sequencing, and resource management.
• Supervise on-site construction activities to ensure timely, budget-compliant, and quality delivery.
• Monitor progress against the master programme and critical path, implementing mitigation strategies where needed.
• Ensure materials are approved, delivered, and stored appropriately prior to installation.
• Ensure construction readiness for commissioning, testing, and handover phases, aligned with programme benefits realization and operational launch targets.
• Oversee inspections and quality control processes to ensure compliance with design intent and project standards.
• Conduct constructability reviews and ensure bid documents are complete, coordinated, and error-free.
• Build strong working relationships with UAE Rail, government authorities (e.g., DM, RTA, Trakhees), consultants, and contractors; facilitate timely approvals and inspections with Dubai authorities.
• Lead progress meetings and provide strategic input to ensure alignment and issue resolution.
• Ensure contractor compliance with HSE and security requirements; promote a safe and sustainable construction environment; lead incident response coordination and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Monitor drawings, method statements, and technical data for construction; manage submittals, approvals, and documentation workflows; champion digital tools, BIM integration, and smart reporting systems to enhance delivery efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Master's Degree or Chartered Engineer status preferred).
• Minimum 20 years of experience in infrastructure construction leadership, with at least 5 years in high-speed rail or major rail programmes.

Why choose AtkinsRéalis?

• Tax-free salary
• Life insurance coverage
• Comprehensive medical insurance coverage
• Paid annual leave
• Company gratuity scheme
• Discretionary bonus program
• Annual flight contribution
• Relocation assistance
• Transportation & housing allowances
• Employee wellbeing program: access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, and personal health, fitness, and nutrition consulting

We are committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim to provide quality and fairness for all job applicants and employees and not to discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, age, race, ethnic origin, religious conviction, or disability. We pursue a policy of treating all employees and applicants equally and with respect.

Worker Type: Employee. Job Type: Regular.