Project Director

PAA-Jones Lang LaSalle UAE Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated in Dubai is seeking a Project Director to own the delivery of a portfolio of major projects or a large programme for PDS clients. You will be the senior accountable lead across cost, quality, safety and risk, and will build and lead the Project Management team.

You will set delivery governance, manage budgets, variations and claims, and ensure design development aligns with client briefs and contracts.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture or a related discipline.
• 18 to 25 years’ experience in construction and project management, including at least 8 years leading large-scale projects or programmes as Project Director, Senior Project Manager or equivalent.
• Proven record of delivering complex projects from inception through design, construction and handover for institutional or corporate clients.
• Minimum 5 years’ PMC or consultancy experience in the UAE, with strong knowledge of local authorities, contracting practice and market conditions.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC and equivalent contract forms, including claims, variations and EOT.
• Commercial awareness, including fee proposal development and scope and risk review.
• Proficiency in MS Office and project reporting tools, and working knowledge of Primavera P6 outputs and CDE platforms.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation and communication skills, with executive-level credibility.
• Desirable: Experience on data center, mission-critical or other complex, fast-track projects.
• Experience in the wider Middle East / EMEA region.
• Professional qualifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, chartered engineer status, or CIOB or RICS membership.
• HSE certification such as NEBOSH or IOSH.

Responsibilities

• Own the delivery of a portfolio of major projects, or one large programme, for JLL PDS clients and act as the executive lead for outcomes across programme, cost, quality, safety and risk.
• Lead, coach and develop Project Managers and Associate Project Managers, and allocate resources to match complexity and phase.
• Set and maintain project delivery governance, including execution plans, reporting lines and communication protocols.
• Oversee budget control, forecasting, variations, claims and extension of time positions with the Cost Manager and contract specialists.
• Oversee the development of fee proposals, scope definitions and appointment terms for PDS services.
• Ensure design development meets client brief, budget and programme and govern design change and value engineering.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationship management

Executive communications

Risk management

Project governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture or a related discipline

Tools

Primavera P6

CDE platforms

MS Office

Job description

Purpose

We are looking for a Project Director to own the delivery of a portfolio of major projects, or one large programme, for JLL Project & Development Services (PDS) clients. Be the senior accountable lead for outcomes across programme, cost, quality, safety and risk, and the client’s trusted advisor at executive level. Build and lead the Project Management team that delivers.

Key Responsibilities

Client Leadership and Account Delivery Act as the senior PDS contact for client executives on assigned projects, and hold accountability for client satisfaction and delivery performance. Build long-term client relationships, identify follow-on work and support account strategy with business development and the PDS leadership team. Represent JLL in senior client, authority and stakeholder forums, and manage escalations.

Project and Programme Governance Set and maintain the delivery governance for each project, including project execution plans, reporting lines, decision rights and communication protocols. Assure that Project Managers apply JLL PDS standards, processes and quality procedures consistently. Review project health regularly, intervene early on projects off track, and report status to PDS leadership.

Team Leadership and Development Lead, coach and develop Project Managers and Associate Project Managers, and set clear objectives and performance expectations. Resource projects to match their complexity and phase, and work with PDS leadership on staffing, recruitment and succession. Build a culture of accountability, safety and technical rigour.

Programme, Cost and Commercial Control Own the review of master programmes, critical path risk and recovery strategies, supported by the Senior Planner. Oversee budget control, forecasting, variations, claims and extension of time positions with the Cost Manager and contract specialists. Protect the client’s contractual position through timely decisions, robust records and sound commercial judgement. Oversee the development of fee proposals, scope definitions and appointment terms for PDS services, in line with JLL commercial and contractual review processes.

Design, Procurement and Delivery Assurance Assure that design development meets the client’s brief, budget and programme, and govern design change and value engineering. Direct procurement strategy, tender evaluation and contract award, and monitor long-lead and supply chain risk. Assure that quality, inspection, testing, commissioning and handover regimes are implemented and that works comply with approved designs, specifications and authority requirements.

Health, Safety and Risk Set the expectation of a strong safety culture, and review HSE performance, incidents and corrective actions. Maintain project and portfolio risk registers, lead risk reviews and elevate significant exposure with clear recommendations. Comply with JLL information classification requirements in all project communications and records.

Requirements

• Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture or a related discipline.
• 18 to 25 years’ experience in construction and project management, including at least 8 years leading large-scale projects or programmes as Project Director, Senior Project Manager or equivalent.
• Proven record of delivering complex projects from inception through design, construction and handover for institutional or corporate clients.
• Minimum 5 years’ PMC or consultancy experience in the UAE, with strong knowledge of local authorities, contracting practice and market conditions.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC and equivalent contract forms, including claims, variations and EOT.
• Commercial awareness, including fee proposal development and scope and risk review.
• Proficiency in MS Office and project reporting tools, and working knowledge of Primavera P6 outputs and CDE platforms.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation and communication skills, with executive-level credibility.
• Desirable: Experience on data center, mission-critical or other complex, fast-track projects.
• Experience in the wider Middle East / EMEA region.
• Professional qualifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, chartered engineer status, or CIOB or RICS membership.
• HSE certification such as NEBOSH or IOSH.

Location

On-site - Dubai, ARE

Job Tags

Corporate Strategy Development, Processing Expense Reports, Working Independently

Equal Opportunity and Accessibility

Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process - including the online application and/or overall selection process - you may email us at [e-mail]. This email is only to request an accommodation.