Global PMO Manager

CRRC (Hong Kong) Co. Limited – Dubai Branch; Dubai; On-site; AED 500,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

CRRC (Hong Kong) Co. Limited – Dubai Branch is seeking an experienced Global PMO Manager to lead the PMO & Planning Department for the Dubai Metro Blue Line project.

The role provides strategic governance across PMO, planning, project controls, and document control functions, coordinating with engineering, procurement, and construction teams and consortium partners. The successful candidate will oversee Integrated Master Programme development, schedule governance, EVM, KPI reporting, and

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in PMO, planning and controls, including at least 8 years in a senior leadership role within major railway, metro, or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience leading PMO, planning, and document control through the full lifecycle (Design, Procurement, Manufacturing, Installation, Testing & Commissioning, Handover).
• Proven ability to manage Integrated Master Programmes, executive reporting, KPI governance, and project performance management on complex EPC or railway projects.
• Strong capability in coordinating multidisciplinary project schedules with multiple contractors and interfaces, CPM, schedule risk analysis, forecasting, and recovery planning.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, communication and presentation skills with senior management, consortium partners, and clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the PMO & Planning Department, providing strategic leadership and governance across Planning, PMO, Project Controls, and Document Control functions.
• Establish and continually improve the PMO governance framework, planning methodologies, reporting systems, and performance management in line with contractual requirements.
• Direct development and control of the Integrated Master Programme (IMP), ensuring alignment across Design, Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics, Installation, Testing & Commissioning, and Handover.
• Oversee integrated project scheduling, baseline management, progress monitoring, critical path analysis, forecasting, and recovery planning.
• Ensure effective application of CPM, schedule risk analysis, EVM, and project performance monitoring to support timely delivery.
• Set project-wide planning and reporting standards, ensuring accuracy, traceability, and reliability of schedule data.
• Provide executive-level oversight of project performance, milestones, KPIs, risks, and overall health.
• Lead preparation and presentation of executive reports, dashboards, and management reviews for the Project Director and corporate stakeholders.
• Establish governance; action tracking, decision registers, escalation procedures and management reporting.
• Provide strategic direction on change management, schedule impacts, and corrective actions.
• Lead performance reviews, identify trends and risks, and implement improvement programs.
• Coordinate interface management with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Construction, Testing & Commissioning, Systems Integration.
• Oversee Document Control and ensure information governance and traceability.
• Support planning interfaces with consortium partners, suppliers, and subcontractors to maintain alignment with the IMP.

Skills

PMO leadership

Planning & scheduling

Document control

EVM / KPI governance

Stakeholder management

English communication

Contract management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering / PM / Construction Management

MBA or related advanced degree

PM certification (PMP / PMI-SP)

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Office

Project reporting tools

Job description

About the Role

CRRC is seeking an experienced Global PMO Manager to lead and manage the PMO & Planning Department across CRRC’s Rail Systems scope for the Dubai Metro Blue Line Project.

The role is responsible for providing strategic leadership, governance, and oversight of Project Management Office (PMO), Planning, Project Controls, and Document Control functions, ensuring effective project performance management, integrated programme control, executive reporting, and alignment with contractual and project delivery objectives.

The Global PMO Manager will operate at a senior project leadership level, reporting to the Deputy Project Director and coordinating closely with Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Construction/Installation, Testing & Commissioning, Systems Integration, Commercial, QA/QC, Project Delivery, consortium partners, suppliers, subcontractors, Client representatives, and corporate headquarters.

The position requires strong experience managing complex EPC, Design & Build, metro, railway systems, and multidisciplinary infrastructure projects, with the ability to provide strategic direction, strengthen project governance, and support informed executive decision-making throughout the complete project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the PMO & Planning Department, providing strategic leadership and governance across Planning, PMO, Project Controls, and Document Control functions.
• Establish, implement, and continually improve the overall PMO governance framework, project controls processes, planning methodologies, reporting systems, and performance management arrangements in accordance with contractual and project requirements.
• Direct the development, maintenance, integration, and control of the Integrated Master Programme (IMP), ensuring alignment across Design, Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics, Installation, Testing & Commissioning, Systems Integration, Operational Readiness, Handover, and Defects Liability activities.
• Lead and oversee integrated project scheduling, programme coordination, schedule governance, baseline management, progress monitoring, critical path analysis, forecasting, and recovery planning.
• Ensure effective application of Critical Path Method (CPM), schedule risk analysis, progress measurement, Earned Value Management (EVM), and project performance monitoring to support timely and effective project delivery.
• Establish and maintain project-wide planning and reporting standards, ensuring consistency, accuracy, traceability, and reliability of schedule and performance information.
• Provide executive-level oversight of project performance, monitoring contractual milestones, schedule progress, productivity, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), risks, opportunities, constraints, and overall project health.
• Lead the preparation, consolidation, and presentation of executive reports, management dashboards, project performance reviews, progress reports, and strategic management presentations for the Project Director, senior management, consortium leadership, and corporate headquarters.
• Establish and maintain effective project governance arrangements, including management reviews, performance reporting, action tracking, decision registers, escalation procedures, and executive management reporting.
• Provide strategic oversight of project change management, schedule impact assessments, programme adjustments, and project controls to support informed management decisions.
• Lead project performance reviews, identifying emerging trends, schedule deviations, delivery constraints, critical risks, interface issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate the development and implementation of corrective actions, mitigation strategies, recovery programmes, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Oversee the Document Control function, ensuring effective document management, revision control, information governance, document traceability, and timely distribution of project documentation.
• Ensure effective coordination and interface management between Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Construction, Testing & Commissioning, Systems Integration, Operations, Quality, Commercial, and other project functions.
• Coordinate planning and project controls interfaces with consortium partners, suppliers, subcontractors, and other project stakeholders to maintain alignment with the Integrated Master Programme.
• Provide strategic direction and leadership to the Planning Manager, PMO Specialists, PMO Coordinators, and Document Control Manager, ensuring effective resource allocation, accountability, collaboration, and professional development.
• Support the Project Director and Deputy Project Director in strategic planning, organisational performance management, resource planning, project delivery initiatives, and executive decision-making.
• Identify, escal...

Required Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible experience in Project Management Office (PMO), Project Controls, and Planning, including at least 8 years in a senior leadership role within major railway, metro, or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrable experience leading PMO, Planning, and Document Control functions throughout the complete project lifecycle, from Design and Procurement through Manufacturing, Installation, Testing & Commissioning, Systems Integration, Handover, and Defects Liability.
• Proven experience managing Integrated Master Programmes, project controls frameworks, executive reporting, KPI governance, and project performance management on complex EPC, Design & Build, or railway systems projects.
• Strong experience developing, managing, and controlling multidisciplinary integrated project schedules involving multiple contractors, suppliers, engineering disciplines, and delivery interfaces.
• Demonstrable experience in Critical Path Method (CPM), baseline management, schedule risk analysis, progress measurement, forecasting, recovery planning, and schedule performance monitoring.
• Strong knowledge of project controls, Earned Value Management (EVM), change management, interface management, risk management, and project governance.
• Experience establishing and maintaining executive-level reporting systems, management dashboards, project performance indicators, governance procedures, and decision-support information.
• Experience managing planning and project controls interfaces across Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Construction, Testing & Commissioning, and Systems Integration.
• Experience working within a consortium, joint venture, or multi-contractor project environment.
• Proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary teams, including Planning Managers, PMO professionals, project controls personnel, and Document Control teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6, Microsoft Office, and project reporting tools.
• Strong strategic planning, analytical, commercial, problem-solving, organisational, and technical decision-making skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage effectively with senior management, Clients, consortium partners, and external stakeholders.
• Professional English communication skills, both written and spoken.

Preferred Experience

• Extensive experience on major metro, railway systems, or large-scale infrastructure projects, preferably involving complex multidisciplinary systems and interfaces.
• Experience managing PMO and integrated project controls functions on major EPC or Design & Build railway projects.
• Experience working within a consortium, joint venture, or multi-contractor environment, coordinating multiple project stakeholders and delivery organisations.
• Strong understanding of integrated programme interfaces between Rolling Stock, Signalling, Communications, Power Systems, PSD, AFC, OCC/SCADA, Depot Systems, Construction, and Testing & Commissioning.
• Experience applying Earned Value Management (EVM), advanced schedule analysis, programme recovery methodologies, and executive performance reporting.
• Primavera P6 training or certification is strongly preferred, with Primavera P6 Professional certification considered a significant advantage.
• Professional certification such as PMP, PMI-SP, AACE PSP, or an equivalent project controls qualification is an advantage.
• Risk Management or Earned Value Management certification is desirable.
• Membership of a recognised professional institution, such as PMI, AACE International, CIOB, ICE, or equivalent, is an advantage.
• Arabic and/or Chinese language skills are an advantage.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Business Management, or another relevant discipline.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Business Administration (MBA), or a related discipline is an advantage.
• Professional certification in Project Management, Planning & Scheduling, Project Controls, Risk Management, Earned Value Management, or an equivalent discipline is an advantage.
• Relevant professional engineering, construction management, or project management registration or institutional membership is an advantage.

The responsibilities listed are not exhaustive and may be amended or expanded in line with project and business requirements.