Director - Design & Projects Delivery

Apparel Group - UAE; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Apparel Group - UAE seeks a seasoned Project Leadership executive to define delivery strategies for store openings and refurbishments, while guiding governance, budgets, and stakeholder alignment across the organization.

You will oversee end-to-end project lifecycles, ensure brand standards and sustainability benchmarks, manage risks and major vendor negotiations, and coach a cross-functional team to achieve superior delivery outcomes.

Qualifications

• 12-15 years of experience in project management with leadership of multi-site retail or hospitality developments.
• Bachelor's in Civil Engineering or Architecture; Master's in Project Management/MBA preferred.
• Certifications in PMP, LEED or related disciplines are an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Define project delivery strategy for store openings, refurbishments, and infrastructure developments across.
• Oversee governance frameworks, SOPs, and regulatory compliance across programs.
• Lead cross-functional teams and coordinate with Finance, Brand Heads and Maintenance.
• Monitor KPIs for cost, quality, safety, and schedule; ensure corrective actions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance

Stakeholder management

Project management

CAPEX programs

Vendor management

Risk mitigation

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Master's in Project Management or MBA

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key Responsibility:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Define the project delivery strategy for all store openings, refurbishments, and infrastructure developments across.
• Lead long-term planning, capital budgeting, and program prioritization in collaboration with Finance, Brand Heads, and Maintenance
• Establish governance frameworks and SOPs to ensure project control, standardization, and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the final authority for risk mitigation, conflict resolution, and major vendor negotiations.

Project Oversight & Execution Excellence

• Oversee the execution lifecycle for high-value projects - from conceptual design and approvals to handover and post-opening evaluation.
• Ensure adherence to brand guidelines, principal expectations, and sustainability benchmarks in all project deliverables.
• Monitor the program dashboard for cost, quality, safety, and schedule metrics, ensuring adherence to KPIs and corrective actions as needed.
• Supervise a multi-layered team of managers, engineers, planners, and consultants to ensure seamless coordination across departments.

Vendor, Design & Technical Supervision

• Manage relationships with contractors, consultants, architects, and principal design teams to align with group expectations and timelines.
• Validate design intents, BOQs, space planning, and material specifications for compliance with brand identity and functional requirements.
• Approve procurement and contracting strategies ensuring cost competitiveness and delivery assurance.

People Leadership & Development

• Build and lead a high-performing project delivery organization through succession planning, mentorship, and performance reviews.
• Drive functional learning, talent development, and retention strategies across project teams and site operations.
• Cultivate a culture of innovation, ownership, and continuous improvement across the department.

Stakeholder & Principal Engagement

• Act as the key interface with global brand principals, ensuring design approvals, progress updates, and compliance are maintained.
• Provide periodic updates to C-level leadership on project pipeline, risks, and strategic priorities.

Desired Experience:

• 12-15 years of experience in project management, with 5+ years in a leadership capacity overseeing multi-site retail expansion or hospitality developments.
• Strong knowledge of international design standards, construction methodologies, procurement practices, and fit-out execution.
• Proven ability to lead large-scale CAPEX programs across geographies with multiple stakeholder interfaces.
• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering / Architecture Master's in Project Management or MBA preferred.
• Certifications in PMP, LEED, or related disciplines are an advantage.