Program Director - Wastewater Utilities

Parsons; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons in Abu Dhabi, UAE, seeks a Program Director for Wastewater Utilities to lead a strategic PMO-PMC program in the utilities sector.

You will oversee governance, risk, cost and schedule controls, and complex contractual matters while coordinating cross‑functional teams and stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of the utility infrastructure portfolio.

Qualifications

• Minimum 20 years of progressive experience managing utility programs, PMO-PMC assignments, or major infrastructure projects.
• Significant wastewater and water utility systems experience within the UAE or GCC.
• Strong understanding of utility regulations, standards, permitting requirements, and compliance obligations.

Responsibilities

• Act as Parsons' primary representative to the Client throughout execution of the PMO-PMC program.
• Lead negotiations involving scope changes, contractual matters, and significant project decisions.
• Provide overall leadership and governance across technical, commercial, financial, administrative, and operational functions.
• Establish program objectives, budgets, schedules, resource plans, and performance measures.
• Monitor delivery against scope, budget, schedule, quality, and safety requirements.
• Direct multidisciplinary project teams and mobilize company resources for program execution.
• Chair regular program and project review meetings and drive issue resolution.

Skills

Program leadership

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiations

PMO-PMC governance

Risk management

Multidisciplinary team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Job description

Program Director - Wastewater Utilities Job SnapshotRole: Program DirectorLocation: Abu Dhabi, UAEIndustry: UtilitiesFunction: Program ManagementExperience: Minimum 20 years of progressive relevant experienceJob Type: Full Time

Job Details Country: UAE City: Abu Dhabi Industry: Utilities Function: Program Management Salary: Not disclosed Gender: No Preference Candidate Nationality: Not specified Job Type: Full Time Work Arrangement: On-site

What You 'll Be Doing

• Act as Parsons ' primary representative to the Client throughout execution of the PMO-PMC program.
• Serve as the principal Client contact for strategic program matters.
• Lead negotiations involving scope changes, contractual matters, and significant project decisions.
• Provide overall leadership and governance across the technical, commercial, financial, administrative, and operational functions of the program.
• Establish clear program objectives, execution strategies, budgets, schedules, resource plans, and performance measures.
• Monitor delivery against approved scope, budget, schedule, quality, and safety requirements.
• Direct multidisciplinary project teams and allocate responsibilities according to technical and delivery requirements.
• Mobilize appropriate company resources to support successful program execution.

Program Governance and Execution

Lead development and implementation of the Project Execution Plan and other core governance documents required for program delivery. This includes oversight of the Health and Safety Plan, QA-QC Plan, risk management framework, and associated management procedures. The Program Director will maintain an integrated view of program performance and ensure that governance processes support timely decisions, accountability, regulatory compliance, and effective coordination across the wider capital program.

Client and Stakeholder Leadership

• Maintain the principal interface between the Client and Parsons program leadership.
• Coordinate with contractors, consultants, and site supervision teams.
• Establish effective communication across program stakeholders.
• Chair regular program and project review meetings.
• Drive resolution of significant technical, commercial, contractual, and delivery issues.
• Present program performance and strategic matters to Client and company leadership.
• Maintain stakeholder alignment as priorities, risks, and project conditions evolve.

Project Controls and Performance

The role will lead integrated project controls covering scheduling, progress reporting, risk management, change management, and document management. Program performance will be regularly assessed to identify emerging issues and initiate corrective actions before they materially affect delivery. Particular attention will be given to managing risks associated with cost overruns, schedule delays, scope changes, interfaces, and resource requirements.

Commercial and Contract Management

• Oversee contract administration across the program.
• Manage contractual commitments and significant commercial matters.
• Lead the management of change orders and Client instructions.
• Maintain appropriate governance around scope and contractual changes.
• Support claims avoidance through effective project and contract administration.
• Ensure significant commercial and contractual developments are communicated to the Client and Parsons leadership.
• Apply strong commercial judgment when addressing changes and program delivery decisions.

Utility Infrastructure Leadership

The Program Director will oversee a portfolio involving wastewater and water utility infrastructure. The position requires comprehensive understanding of wastewater collection and treatment, water transmission and distribution, and associated asset management systems. This technical understanding will support executive decision-making across engineering design, procurement, construction management, commissioning, operations interfaces, and long-term infrastructure delivery.

People and Resource Leadership

• Lead recruitment and mobilization of key program personnel.
• Develop and manage a multidisciplinary program organization.
• Establish clear responsibilities across project functions.
• Guide performance management and professional development.
• Support succession planning for critical positions.
• Promote collaboration and accountability across program teams.
• Identify, attract, and retain personnel needed to strengthen program delivery capability.

Digital Program Management

Provide leadership for integrated digital project management platforms used to centralize documentation, workflows, approvals, reporting, and performance information. The Program Director will ensure these systems support effective governance and provide reliable visibility of program status for management and Client decision-making.

Quality, Safety and Continuous Improvement

• Promote technical excellence across program activities.
• Maintain strong focus on health and safety performance.
• Oversee implementation of quality management requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement across program processes and delivery practices.
• Monitor compliance with relevant regulations, permits, standards, and Client requirements.
• Promote operational efficiency across multidisciplinary teams.
• Review overall program performance and drive actions required to achieve project objectives.

What Required Skills You 'LL Bring

• Bachelor 's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 20 years of progressive experience managing utility programs, PMO-PMC assignments, or major infrastructure projects.
• Significant wastewater and water utility systems experience within the UAE or GCC.
• Comprehensive knowledge of wastewater collection systems.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment infrastructure.
• Understanding of water transmission and distribution systems.
• Knowledge of utility asset management systems.
• Demonstrated experience managing large multidisciplinary utility programs.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, risks, and resource planning.
• Strong understanding of utility regulations, industry standards, permitting requirements, and compliance obligations.
• Extensive knowledge of PMO-PMC methodologies.
• Experience across engineering design, procurement, construction management, and contract administration.
• Strong understanding of large-scale capital program delivery.
• Proven experience implementing and managing integrated digital project management platforms.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to present technical and strategic information effectively to executive leadership and Clients.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Experience managing contractual matters and change management processes.
• Understanding of claims avoidance and project governance.

About Parsons

Parsons supports major utility and infrastructure programs through multidisciplinary engineering, program management, and project delivery teams. The company emphasizes technical excellence, effective governance, innovation, professional development, employee wellbeing, collaboration, and continuous improvement.