International Project Director

Kintec Global Recruitment; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent recruitment agency is seeking an experienced International Project Director in Abu Dhabi to oversee offshore projects, ensuring safety, budget, and timely delivery. Candidates should have a Bachelor's in Engineering and 15 years of offshore experience, including 9 years in leadership. This is a permanent, tax-free opportunity with a competitive schedule in a cosmopolitan city.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of offshore energy experience.
• At least 9 years leading international offshore installation projects.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Oversee offshore projects from inception to completion.
• Lead international project teams and provide guidance.
• Ensure project alignment with budgets and HSE requirements.

Skills

Decision-making

Negotiation

Project management

Commercial acumen

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, or Naval preferred)

Job description

JOB TITLE: International Project Director

CLIENT: A prominent regional entity delivering end-to-end EPC solutions across marine infrastructure, offshore energy, and dredging operations.

LOCATION: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

ASSIGNMENT TYPE: Permanent Hire Staff role/ Full Residential role in UAE

WORK SCHEDULE: 9 hours (including lunch break)- From 8am to 5pm- Monday to Friday (Saturday & Sunday are week off)

START DATE: Late 2025/ Early 2026 - Depending on successful candidates circumstances

Interviews: Face-to-face/online in Aberdeen | Dates: 28–31 October 2025 | Note: Final schedule to be communicated to shortlisted candidates

Kintec has been exclusively selected to support a prominent regional organization in Abu Dhabi, known for delivering full-spectrum EPC solutions across marine infrastructure, offshore energy, and dredging. This is an exciting, tax-free opportunity for permanent residential staff roles in the UAE, offering a stable Monday-to-Friday schedule from 8am to 5pm. With a start date expected in late 2025 or early 2026, depending on candidate availability, this assignment presents not only professional growth but also the chance to live in one of the safest, most cosmopolitan cities in the Middle East.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced International Project Director to oversee the technical and commercial execution of offshore projects, including renewables, offshore wind, decommissioning, and new market developments. This senior leadership role ensures projects are delivered safely, on time, on budget, and to the highest industry standards across multiple international regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee offshore projects from inception to completion, including planning, execution, and monitoring.
• Direct daily operations of owned and chartered vessels, optimizing resource allocation for peak efficiency.
• Develop assignment plans for vessels and supervisory staff in collaboration with support directors.
• Lead international project teams, providing guidance to Heads of Offshore Operations, Operations Engineers, and multidisciplinary project staff.
• Ensure alignment with project budgets, commercial handover documents, HSE requirements, and client expectations.
• Participate in constructability reviews, post-project reviews, and lessons learned exercises to improve future project delivery.
• Provide technical leadership across all project phases: design, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop robust offshore execution strategies.
• Represent the company in client negotiations, project discussions, and business development initiatives.
• Identify and mitigate project risks while ensuring compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards.
• Mentor and support professional growth within the offshore operations organization.
• Recommend and implement technological innovations to enhance operational capabilities and maintain a competitive edge.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Civil, or Naval preferred) or equivalent.
• Minimum 15 years of offshore energy experience, including at least 9 years leading international offshore installation projects.
• Strong commercial, contractual, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent decision-making, planning, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Superior knowledge of offshore operations, personnel, and equipment.
• Proven ability to work with international stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.