Executive Project Director

Digby Morris Executive Search & Talent Acquisition; Dubai; On-site; AED 588,000 - 881,000; Full time

Job summary

Digby Morris Executive Search & Talent Acquisition is supporting a leading Saudi Arabian development organisation to appoint an Executive Director of Project Delivery. The role focuses on delivering multi-billion-dollar transport and civil infrastructure within a long-term programme, coordinating complex interfaces and high-value contracts.

The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive programme integration, and ensure execution excellence across design, procurement,

Qualifications

• 25+ years of experience in major civil engineering, construction or infrastructure delivery.
• Substantial contracting background across engineering, construction and project management.
• Proven responsibility for high-value infrastructure projects including rail, metro, tunnels, bridges and viaducts.
• Strong commercial, contractual and construction management expertise.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and managing complex interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Executive accountability for project delivery, programme, budget, quality, safety and contractual performance.
• Lead major civil engineering and infrastructure packages from design through construction and handover.
• Manage principal contractors, consultants, delivery partners and multidisciplinary teams.
• Oversee construction methodologies, sequencing, interfaces and programme integration.
• Handle commercial and contractual management including procurement, variations, claims and risk control.
• Coordinate interfaces between concurrent transport projects, utilities and wider development programmes.
• Provide executive reporting, governance and programme recovery for delivery challenges.

Skills

Senior leadership

Contract management

Stakeholder management

Construction management

Job description

This role is based full time in Riyadh - please do not apply if you are unable to relocate to KSA.

The Opportunity

Digby Morris is supporting a major Saudi Arabian development organisation with the appointment of an Executive Director – Project Delivery, responsible for the execution of significant transport and civil infrastructure projects within one of the region's largest integrated development programmes.

The programme involves the development of an extensive, multimodal transport network, incorporating urban rail systems, major transport corridors, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, elevated structures, interchanges and associated infrastructure.

Representing a substantial, long-term capital investment, the network comprises multiple interconnected transport systems and major civil engineering packages, requiring sophisticated programme integration, construction sequencing and coordination across numerous contractors, disciplines and delivery interfaces.

The Role

Reporting to senior executive leadership, the successful candidate will assume responsibility for the delivery of one or multiple high-value infrastructure projects, potentially representing multi-billion-dollar capital investment.

Responsibilities include:

• Executive accountability for project delivery, programme, budget, quality, safety and contractual performance.
• Leadership of major civil engineering and infrastructure construction packages from design and procurement through construction, commissioning and handover.
• Management of principal contractors, consultants, delivery partners and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Oversight of construction methodologies, sequencing, logistics, technical interfaces and programme integration.
• Commercial and contractual management, including procurement, variations, claims, risk and cost control.
• Coordination of complex interfaces between concurrent transport infrastructure projects, utilities, enabling works and wider development programmes.
• Executive reporting, governance, programme recovery and resolution of critical delivery challenges.

Candidate Requirements

We are particularly interested in senior construction executives from major international Tier 1 contractors with a demonstrable record of delivering large, technically complex infrastructure projects.

Candidates should offer:

• 25+ years' experience in major civil engineering, construction or infrastructure delivery.
• A substantial contracting background, ideally progressing through engineering, construction and project management into senior project or programme leadership.
• Proven responsibility for high-value infrastructure projects, including major rail, metro, tunnelling, bridges, viaducts, underground works or comparable civil engineering programmes.
• Strong commercial, contractual and construction management expertise.
• Experience leading large multidisciplinary teams and managing complex contractor and stakeholder interfaces.
• The ability to take direct accountability for project execution and successful completion.

Experience delivering major infrastructure within integrated urban developments, complex metropolitan environments or large-scale mixed-use programmes would be particularly advantageous.

Previous Middle East experience is preferred but not essential.

This appointment offers the opportunity to lead substantial infrastructure delivery within a long‑term transport programme of significant scale, technical complexity and strategic importance.