Program Manager - Rail Construction Projects

Roads and Transport Authority; Dubai; On-site; AED 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai seeks a senior program manager to oversee the Gold Line Metro portfolio, ensuring alignment with Dubai plans and corporate standards. You will advise the Director/CEO, monitor budgets and governance, and coordinate with partners for delivery excellence across civil, MEP, systems, and infrastructure works.

The role requires proven program management leadership, PM certifications, and extensive interaction with government entities to realize strategic

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 15 years in program management with 13+ years in the field and 5+ years with government agencies.
• PgMP and PMP certifications are required.

Responsibilities

• Advise the Director and CEO on Gold Line Metro portfolio priorities and benefits realization.
• Ensure project objectives align with Dubai strategic plans, governance, standards and budgets.
• Monitor program performance, prepare progress reports, and highlight deviations and recovery actions.
• Oversee design submissions, vendor/contractor deliverables, risk analysis, and design reviews.
• Lead readiness for briefs and presentations to senior management.

Skills

Strategic advisory

Stakeholder management

Program governance

Change management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Civil/Infrastructure/Project Management

Tools

BIM

GIS

AI-enabled project tracking

Job description

Job Purpose

Oversee the planning, design, and execution, of Gold Line Metro portfolio (Civil, MEP, Systems, Buildings, Tunnels, Enabling Utility works, and Expropriation), ensuring alignment with Dubai and RTA strategies, delivery of project by 9/9/2032, and compliance with the corporate governance framework. Ensure the project execution and program management components align with RTA’s strategic objectives, governance frameworks, quality standards, approved budgets, and operational excellence standards. Provide strategic advice, monitor performance, and coordinate with partners to maintain compliant, efficient, and results‑driven delivery.

Roles & Accountabilities

Strategy

• Serve as the primary advisor to Director and CEO on Gold Line Metro portfolio priorities and benefits realization.
• Ensure Gold Line Metro rail project objectives are aligned with RTA strategy, governance framework and corporate technical standards and Dubai Strategic Plan, with a focus on design standards, construction quality, asset lifecycle, and infrastructure integration.
• Maintain consistency between program objectives and Dubai’s wider urban development frameworks and approved transport and infrastructure masterplan.
• Participate in strategic committees for Gold Line Metro project and coordinate corporate partnerships, and participation in external forums/agreements; follow up on outputs and performance commitments.
• Approve and Oversee tracking and review of program-level design, including integration of sustainability requirements, cost‑efficient design solutions, and adherence to approved design delivery schedules.
• Review and approve the construction policies, safety standards, and technical procedures in collaboration with engineering and quality teams for the project.
• Drive the integration of sustainability, environmental, safety, and resilience goals across project planning, design and execution, ensuring consistent adoption of green design standards, safety compliance, and environmental impact mitigation across the projects.

Operations

• Review and track design submissions, contractor mobilization, and work design progress to support delivery milestones.
• Conduct review and provide preliminary approvals on vendor and contractor deliverables to ensure alignment with program requirements, rail design standards and specifications.
• Monitor Gold Line Metro program lifecycle and performance including milestones, budgets, resource utilization, risk/challenge analysis and deliverables; prepare progress and completion reports and highlight deviations and recovery actions to the Director and CEO.
• Provide oversight and application of value management principles during Gold Line Metro project phases key stages, reviewing comprehensive reports, with recommendations for cost reduction, service improvement, operational resilience.
• Manage project testing, commissioning, and certification processes, ensuring delivery of assets and documentation to RTA concerned departments as per approved timelines.
• Oversee delivery, review, and approval of final project documentation including as‑built drawings, O&M manuals, warranties, and spare parts lists in accordance with approved procedures.
• Align multidisciplinary rail design, review, and approval process covering architectural, systems, structural, civil, MEP, accessibility, and signage elements including amendments and updates to ensure compliance.
• Review variation orders for Gold Line Metro project, analyze root causes and justifications, ensure data validity, and submit recommendations and reports to the Director and CEO, as per RTA procedures.
• Manage internal and external stakeholder communication with RTA departments, government/semi‑government entities, engineering teams, consultants, and contractors, to ensure multimodal integration, right‑of‑way resolution, seamless station connectivity, and resolve any operational challenges.
• Lead preparation and ensure readiness of required briefs, documents, and presentations to higher management.
• Manage project suggestions, complaints, and escalations related to design issues, contractor delays and technical non‑compliance and risks, to raise reports and recommendations.
• Oversee maintenance of documentation repositories and reporting systems to ensure traceability and transparency across all infrastructure design projects.

Product / Process Improvement

• Champion digital transformation and predictive project control by integrating advanced tools (e.g., BIM, GIS, AI‑enabled project tracking) into design and commercial governance.
• Review performance reports and statistical data to identify challenges and propose actionable solutions.
• Assist in dissemination of pioneering practices and lessons learned from projects in rail.
• Guide the benchmarking of rail design performance against global best practices and lead continuous‑improvement initiatives.
• Provide recommendations on AI initiatives (including Proof of Concepts and use‑case validation); ensure compliance with corporate documents.
• Promote a culture of innovation and motivate departments to adopt cutting‑edge solutions.
• Support capacity‑building sessions and awareness initiatives to strengthen program and project delivery capabilities.

Physical Working Conditions

• Hybrid role with regular field visits, design coordination walkthroughs, site inspections, testing oversight, and handover reviews to ensure quality compliance, address issues, and validate design implementation.

Education

• Bachelor's degree/ Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, Construction Management or Infrastructure Planning.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of experience with at least 13 years of experience in program management in related functional area and 5 years of experience with government agencies.

Qualification

• Professional Certificate in Program Management (PgMP), PMP Certificate is a must.