Executive Director - Civil

DESIGNSMITH INTERIORS LLC; Dubai; On-site; AED 400,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading interior design firm in Dubai is seeking an experienced Executive Director – Civil to oversee civil and fit-out projects. This role demands 15+ years of expertise in the UAE, focusing on strategic project delivery and client satisfaction. The successful candidate will ensure timely execution, adherence to budgets, and compliance with regulatory standards, while fostering a performance-driven culture. Join us to lead innovative projects and drive operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in civil and fit-out projects in the UAE.
• Proven ability to manage multiple large-scale projects.
• Strong background in budget control and risk mitigation.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of civil and fit-out projects from pre-construction through handover.
• Ensure operational excellence and commercial discipline.
• Drive strategic alignment across departments.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Budget control

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

ERPNext

Power BI

Primavera

Job description

Position

Executive Director – Civil

Location: Dubai

Reports to: CEO

Experience : 15+ years in UAE

Role Purpose

The Executive Director – Civil is responsible for leading the execution of civil and fit-out projects from pre-construction through handover, ensuring operational excellence, commercial discipline, cost control, and client satisfaction. This role drives strategic alignment across departments, oversees timely and profitable project delivery, and fosters a high-performance execution culture.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Project Oversight & Governance

• Lead multiple concurrent projects from mobilization to closeout, ensuring scope, timeline, quality, safety, and budget compliance.
• Establish project delivery strategies and approve master schedules, milestones, and review checkpoints.
• Ensure adherence to internal SOPs, client requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Monitor delivery KPIs and address deviations proactively.

2. Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the highest escalation point for client and consultant interactions.
• Translate stakeholder expectations into measurable objectives.
• Oversee client approvals, conflict resolution, and alignment meetings.
• Build long-term client relationships through proactive communication and delivery excellence.

3. Budget Control, Risk Mitigation & Commercial Oversight

• Approve project budgets, resource allocation, and procurement strategies.
• Monitor project cost performance, approve corrective actions, and manage variation impacts.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks, including under-quoting and vendor escalations.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Contracts, and Planning teams to safeguard margins.

4. Cross-Functional Coordination & Execution Discipline

• Integrate planning, procurement, technical, and site execution activities into a cohesive delivery model.
• Ensure synchronization of resource mobilization, material delivery, subcontractor management, and QA/QC.
• Review performance metrics and drive accountability across functions.

5. Leadership & Team Development

• Mentor and develop Project Directors, Managers, and Engineers.
• Set execution standards and define career growth pathways.
• Foster a performance-driven culture with structured feedback, upskilling, and succession planning.

6. Systems, Tools & Continuous Improvement

• Implement and oversee project reporting tools and dashboards (ERPNext, Power BI, Primavera).
• Drive digitization of site operations, procurement, and technical submissions.
• Conduct post-project reviews and integrate lessons learned into SOPs.
• Lead excellence programs and value engineering initiatives.

Core Deliverables

• Project delivery dashboards tracking timelines, budgets, and client satisfaction.
• On-time milestone achievement with recovery plans as needed.
• Seamless cross-functional alignment from planning through execution.
• Snag-free client handovers with compliant documentation.
• Operational efficiency through productivity and resource monitoring.
• Risk escalation and resolution management.
• Development of a strong project execution leadership bench.

Stakeholder Engagement

• CEO: Align on strategy, budget, and critical risk decisions.
• Clients & Consultants: Manage escalations and maintain trust through delivery excellence.
• Project Directors & Managers: Drive accountability and performance.
• Commercial & Contracts: Coordinate claims, cost control, and risk mitigation.
• Planning & Technical Teams: Ensure design-to-execution alignment.
• QA/QC & HSE Leads: Enforce quality and safety compliance.
• Procurement & Logistics: Secure timely resource flow and resolve bottlenecks.

Job Type: Full-time

Application Question(s):

• Can you briefly describe your experience managing large-scale civil projects.
• What strategies have you implemented to improve operational efficiency and cost control in your previous roles?
• What is your current salary and expected salary for this position?