Project Director - Construction

Confidential Company; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Company in Dubai seeks an experienced Project Director to lead a major hospitality development from design to handover, ensuring compliance with Dubai Municipality, DEWA, Dubai Civil Defence, and other authorities. The role requires direct engagement with clients and regulators to deliver a 4-star facility.

Senior leadership with 20+ years construction industry experience, including at least 10+ years in a senior Project Director capacity, is essential.

Qualifications

• Must hold current Dubai Municipality approval/registration as an engineering professional.
• DM registration certificate – G+12 and above – must be provided.
• Registration with UAE Society of Engineers or eligibility for registration is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership from design development through handover to operations.
• Chair steering committee meetings and report progress, risk and finances to Client.
• Own project budget, master programme, and risk register; approve variations and change orders.

Skills

Strategic leadership & stakeholder mgm

Commercial & contractual acumen

Risk management & crisis decisions

Negotiation & dispute resolution

Fluent English & Arabic

Dubai regulatory familiarity

Job description

Provide overall strategic leadership and direction for the project from design development through construction testing commissioning statutory approvals snagging and handover to operations Act as the primary interface with the Client design consultants main contractor s Dubai Municipality Dubai Civil Defence DEWA RTA and other statutory authorities Chair project steering committee board meetings and issue executive-level progress risk and financial reports to the Client Own the project business plan and budget performance where the project or its main contractor operates under a GMP Guaranteed Maximum Price open-book model lead the monthly Cost Value Reconciliation CVR review with the Commercial Manager and protect overall margin budget certainty Direct Early Contractor Involvement ECI input at each design gate where a main contractor is engaged early buildability methodology and open-book cost transparency Own the overall project master programme budget and risk register approve major variations claims and change orders within an agreed Delegated Authority Matrix escalates matters beyond it to the General Manager Client without delay Direct and coordinate the Project Manager Contracts Manager Commercial Manager and Construction Manager to ensure fully integrated project delivery Ensure all design and construction activities comply with Dubai Municipality building regulations the UAE Fire Life Safety Code Al Sa fat green building requirements and DTCM DET hotel hostel classification standards applicable to a 4-star rating Lead the contractor consultant procurement strategy and participate personally in key tender evaluations and contract negotiations Ensure all statutory approvals building permit NOCs completion certificate are secured in line with the project programme Own the project HSE culture championing zero-harm targets independent audits and incident escalation protocols Where night-shift work is adopted to protect the programme ensure it is properly permitted with Dubai Municipality night-work permits and compliant with noise regulations target resolution of cross-party blockers within 48 hours or escalates Manage relationships with the Client investigators and the appointed hotel hostel operator ensuring operational requirements are reflected in design and construction Own the project's quality and commissioning strategy to ensure the completed facility is fit for 4-star hospitality operation Oversee project close-out Defects Liability Period DLP management contractor demobilization and formal handover to operations.

Minimum 20+ years of progressive construction industry experience, including at least 10+ years in a senior Project Director / Project Head capacity.

• Proven track record of delivering at least two hospitality, hostel, staff accommodation or residential developments of comparable scale (mid-to-high rise) in the UAE, preferably Dubai, from inception to handover.
• Track record delivering GMP / open-book contracts is an advantage.
• Demonstrated first-hand experience interfacing directly with Dubai Municipality, DEWA, Dubai Civil Defence, RTA and other Dubai regulatory authorities.

REGULATORY & LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

• MANDATORY: Must hold a current, valid Dubai Municipality (DM) approval / registration as an engineering professional.
• Candidates must submit a copy of their valid DM registration / approval certificate – G+12 and above
• Registration with the UAE Society of Engineers (or demonstrable eligibility for registration) is required.
• Home-country professional engineering registration/chartership is an advantage.

KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Strategic leadership and executive stakeholder management
• Commercial and contractual acumen, including GMP / open-book delivery models
• Risk management and crisis decision-making
• Negotiation and dispute resolution
• Fluent English & Arabic
• Deep familiarity with the Dubai regulatory and approvals landscape