Program Director - Rail Consultancy

Parsons; Dubai; On-site; AED 201,983 - 275,431; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is looking for a Program Director for Rail Consultancy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This role involves leading a high-impact consultancy program, managing teams across all project stages, and ensuring compliance with various project requirements.

The ideal candidate has at least 20 years of overall experience, with 10 or more years specifically in rail or metro infrastructure programmes. Strong leadership skills and background in multi-disciplinary consultancy are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 20 years overall professional experience.
• At least 10 years managing large-scale rail or metro infrastructure programmes.
• Strong experience across full project lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary consultancy team across all programme stages.
• Act as primary interface with client and project stakeholders.
• Ensure design compliance with client's rail project requirements.

Skills

Rail programme leadership

Program management

Metro infrastructure

Design and Construct contracts

BIM governance

Stakeholder coordination

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline

Master's degree

Tools

Aconex

IBM DOORS-NG

IBM ELM

Job description

Program Director - Rail Consultancy

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Program Management
Job Type: Full-time
Experience: Minimum 20 years overall, at least 10 years in rail or metro infrastructure programmes at Program or Project Director level
Salary: 55,000 – 75,000 (USD) per annum, subject to confirmation

Overview

Lead a landmark multi‑stage, multi‑discipline consultancy programme across the UAE. Manage feasibility through commissioning and close‑out with a focus on rail‑airport integration, design‑and‑construct contract administration, stakeholder management, BIM governance, and commercial control.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary consultancy team across all programme stages; ensure delivery in line with client policies, budget, quality, and contractual obligations.
• Act as primary interface with client, government authorities, airport stakeholders, utility agencies, and other project stakeholders.
• Chair design workshops, technical coordination sessions, stakeholder meetings, and project charrettes.
• Establish, maintain, and update the Programme Management Plan and subsidiary plans required by the client framework.
• Mobilise and manage project resources, specialist sub‑consultants, technical teams, and delivery personnel across all stages.
• Direct multidisciplinary design integration across civil, structural, rail systems, MEP, architecture, infrastructure, and operational disciplines.
• Ensure design compliance with the client's rail project design guidelines and programme requirements.
• Oversee airport‑rail interface definition, coordinating with airport stakeholders on mobility hub, baggage handling, and security systems.
• Govern the BIM framework and Master Information Delivery Plan in line with PAS 1192 requirements.
• Oversee systems assurance, RAMS, hazard management, verification, validation, and technical assurance activities.
• Lead Design and Construct tender preparation: pre‑qualification, tender administration, technical evaluation, commercial coordination, and award support.
• Administer the Design and Construct contract: design review, contractor submissions, cost control, schedule monitoring, and supervision through testing and commissioning.
• Manage stakeholder interfaces and coordinate timely NOC approvals from relevant Dubai authorities and service agencies.
• Manage project correspondence through Aconex and produce accurate weekly, biweekly, and monthly reporting to client.
• Monitor programme performance against baseline schedules, budgets, deliverables, risk registers, and quality requirements.
• Manage risks, changes, claims, value management, and value engineering across all design and delivery stages.
• Oversee CAPEX and OPEX estimation, cost monitoring, commercial reporting, and financial submissions in client‑required formats.
• Provide senior leadership during defects liability, close‑out planning, final documentation, and handover‑related activities.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical discipline (required).
• Master's degree – advantage.
• Professional certification such as ICE, PMP, APM (desirable).
• Minimum 20 years overall professional experience.
• At least 10 years managing large‑scale rail or metro infrastructure programmes at Project Director or Program Director level.
• Proven track record delivering major rail programmes such as metro, commuter rail, express rail, airport connector, or inter‑terminal transit systems.
• Strong experience across full project lifecycle: feasibility, concept, preliminary design, construction, commissioning, close‑out, and defects liability.
• Experience managing Design and Construct contracts exceeding USD1bn in value.
• Strong knowledge of multi‑stakeholder environments with government authorities, airport operators, utility agencies, contractors, and technical consultants.
• Strong understanding of rail systems integration: signalling, rolling stock, traction power, AFC, platform screen doors, communications, and operational control systems.
• Practical knowledge of airport‑rail interface, passenger flow, baggage handling, security systems, and mobility hub coordination.
• Familiarity with BIM, PAS 1192, systems assurance, RAMS, hazard management, verification, and validation.
• Excellent English communication skills, executive reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• Direct Middle East project experience – significant advantage.
• Familiarity with FIDIC‑based agreements, IBM DOORS‑NG, IBM ELM, and Aconex (desirable).
• Knowledge of LEED, sustainability frameworks, and renewable energy integration (advantage).

Skills Set

• Rail programme leadership
• Program management
• Metro infrastructure
• Express rail projects
• Airport rail integration
• Multi‑disciplinary consultancy delivery
• Design and Construct contracts
• Contract administration
• Feasibility studies
• Concept design
• Preliminary design
• Tender documentation & evaluation
• Project close‑out & defects liability management
• Stakeholder, NOC and government authority coordination
• Rail systems integration – signalling, rolling stock, traction power, AFC, platform screen doors, communications
• Baggage handling and security systems integration
• Mobility hub coordination
• BIM governance, Master Information Delivery Plan, PAS 1192
• Systems assurance, RAMS, hazard management, verification & validation
• CAPEX & OPEX estimation, commercial & risk management
• Change, claims, value engineering
• Aconex, IBM DOORS‑NG, IBM ELM, FIDIC agreements
• Passenger flow modelling & peak demand analysis
• LEED awareness, sustainability frameworks, renewable energy integration
• Board‑level reporting

Why Join Us

Opportunity to lead a high‑impact consultancy programme in Dubai’s civil engineering and rail infrastructure sector, shape major mobility outcomes, and work within a global engineering firm committed to safety, resilience, and sustainability.