Country Director - Infrastructure

Guildhall | The #1 Ranked Executive Search & Recruitment Agency in Dubai, UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 1,285,000 - 2,020,000; Full time

Job summary

Guildhall has been exclusively retained by a major international infrastructure group expanding its footprint in the United Arab Emirates. This country-leadership role will develop the organisation, deliver the first projects, and position the company for a substantial regional programme over the coming years.

The successful candidate will build a UAE team from the ground up, own relationships with road/transport authorities, municipalities, utilities, and other government stakeholders, and set

Qualifications

• 15+ years in infrastructure, tunnelling, metro, heavy civil or large-scale construction.
• Experience dealing with Gulf government authorities at director level.
• Experience running a country or regional P&L and building a team from early stage.
• Delivery background from projects/sites, not only office.
• Exposure to land/concession or commercial deal-making is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the UAE organisation across delivery, operations, engineering, supply chain and commercial.
• Own relationships with road and transport authorities, municipalities, utilities and other government stakeholders.
• Deliver the first major project on programme and on budget.
• Set the delivery and operating model for subsequent expansion.
• Identify and secure land, sites and commercial arrangements for the programme.
• Represent the company to shareholders, partners and government at the most senior level.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Delivery leadership

P&L management

Job description

Guildhall has been exclusively retained by a major international infrastructure expanding is establishing its operation in the United Arab Emirates. This is a country-leadership role: Responsible for developing the organisation, delivering the first projects, and positioning the company for a substantial regional programme over the years that follows.

It is a rare mandate. The company is well established, which means the person who takes this seat sets the standard — the team, the government relationships, the delivery model — rather than inheriting them. It suits someone who has run a country or a major programme before and wants to build the next one from the ground up.

We are handling this search on a retained, confidential basis. The company will be named to shortlisted candidates under NDA.

What you will own

• Building and leading the UAE organisation across delivery, operations, engineering, supply chain and commercial functions
• Owning the relationship with the road and transport authority, the municipality, the utilities and other government stakeholders — approvals, permitting and NOCs
• Delivering the first major project on programme and on budget
• Setting the delivery and operating model for the expansion that follows
• Identifying and securing land, sites and commercial arrangements needed for the programme
• Representing the company to shareholders, partners and government at the most senior level

What you will bring

• 15+ years in infrastructure, tunnelling, metro, heavy civil or large-scale construction, with time as the accountable leader of a programme of USD 500m or more
• A track record of dealing directly with Gulf government authorities at director level and getting approvals over the line
• Experience running a country or regional P&L, and building a team from an early stage
• A delivery background — you came up through projects and sites, not solely through an office
• Exposure to land, concession or commercial deal-making alongside construction is a strong advantage
• Available to be resident in Dubai

The kind of person this is for

This is a hands-on, fast-moving culture, not a corporate one. The company values people who make decisions, stay close to the work, and move quickly. It will suit someone who wants ownership and pace over hierarchy and process.