Project Manager

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM); Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) seeks a senior architect to lead multidisciplinary project teams in Dubai. You will drive design excellence, manage budgets and schedules, and collaborate with partners to deliver high-impact architectural solutions.

Role requires professional architecture degree, 6+ years of experience, and proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, and rendering tools. LEED preferred; UAE market knowledge is a plus.

Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture.
• LEED accreditation preferred.
• Minimum 6 years of experience or equivalent knowledge.
• Demonstrated ability to lead project teams and manage schedule, budget, and program.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, parametric and rendering software; graphical tools.

Responsibilities

• Leads the Architectural Project Team with SOM Partners to achieve design, technical and financial success.
• Prepares quality client agreements including letters of intent and service agreements.
• Manages scope, budget, schedule and risk; chairs weekly team meetings.

Skills

Architectural design

Project leadership

Communication

Sustainability

Revit

AutoCAD

Rhino

Parametric/Rendering

MS Office/Workspace tools

Deltek Vision/Salesforce

Education

Professional degree in Architecture

LEED accreditation (preferred)

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Rhino

Parametric/Rendering software

Microsoft Office

Smartsheets

Adobe Suite

Google Workspace

Deltek Vision

Salesforce

Job description

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things. Success at SOM Means Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm. Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge. Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work. Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm. Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential. Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Position Responsibilities

• Leads the Architectural Project Team through close collaboration with SOM Partners project leadership to achieve design, technical and financial success.
• Prepares, with Leadership input, quality agreements with clients including letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, and professional service agreements.
• Executes additional service agreements and gains authorization by phase.
• Collaborates with Partners and senior team to prepare, issue, and manage compliance plans to align project goals including budget, deliverables and schedule.
• Gains agreement with the senior team for labor allocation.
• Chairs weekly team meetings to address variances from the project plan.
• Administers internal control procedures with Project Accountant including billing, collections, percent complete, expense management, and year-end activities.
• Analyzes project reports and proactively manages the profitability of a project.
• Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making.
• Communicates actively through chairing weekly meetings, issuing meeting minutes, accurate project record keeping and sharing project information and correspondence.
• Assists in Managing the owner/client relationship and expectations to allow SOM and team to work effectively, efficiently and collaboratively.
• Participated in new business and marketing efforts including responses to marketing requests and maintenance of firm relationships.
• Initiates, monitors and maintains project schedule and work plan including schedule of meetings and presentations.
• Schedules and leads internal team weekly project meetings; develops the meeting agenda and project status update.
• Initiates, monitors and maintains project plan and financial performance of project.
• Initiates and maintains SOM-Client Services Agreement, SOM Sub-Consultant Agreements and requests for additional services.
• Monitors scope for contract compliance and potential additional services.
• Actively engages in project risk management through close collaboration with SOM Partners and legal group.
• Manages time and workload of own work efforts and those of others to meet project task deadlines and commitments, with occasional interaction and direction from team leaders while guiding and teaching less experienced staff.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Inspires and leads others by example, participates in staff mentoring and training, clearly defines team member expectations and responsibilities, empowers others, and delegates where appropriate based on team members’ recognized abilities and potential.
• Directly supervises staff and is committed to direct reports’ professional development.
• Develops and engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm through resume review and interviews.
• In collaboration with team members, develops a clear and consistent work plan to achieve the project budget, deliverables, and schedule.
• Actively engages in internal and external professional development opportunities.
• Contributes to the implementation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments and the associated development of staff knowledge.
• Contributes to the development of standards, policies, and procedures.
• Protects SOM from financial and legal risk.

Minimum Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture.
• Professional licensure process is close to completion; LEED accreditation preferred.
• Minimum 6 years of experience or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead project teams and manage project schedule, budget and program.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• General understanding of sustainable strategies and principles including familiarity with LEED or other green building rating systems.
• Understands and is conversant in Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, parametric and rendering software, and other graphic software.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Smartsheets, Adobe Suite and Google Workspace.
• Familiarity with Deltek Vision, Salesforce.

SOM offers opportunities to work on transformational projects, competitive salaries, health insurance, wellness, retirement and financial and other work/life plans. At SOM, we welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace. We believe an inclusive environment benefits our employees, our firm, and our community, while also enriching and challenging our own thinking about design. We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. For more about SOM: www.som.com

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is a global practice of architects, engineers, and planners renowned for designing buildings, interiors, and public spaces that push the boundaries of technical and environmental innovation. Our interdisciplinary teams collaborate across an international network of studios to deliver projects of lasting impact. Through our built work, research, and advocacy, we are advancing strategies to decarbonize the built environment. Learn more about our commitment to climate action.

Working at SOM Our practice was built to champion inclusivity of expertise, people, and ideas. Together, we cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset that equips our teams to face new challenges. Our studio culture offers opportunities for mentorship, growth, and leadership across project teams, offices, and employee resource groups.

SOM is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, and we have been recognized with the highest ranking awarded on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. We publish an annual Impact Report as part of our ongoing commitment to advancing equity in our practice and the profession.

Our Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package is built to support many facets of your well-being—your health, your financial future, and your continued professional growth. We offer medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and accident insurance. We also offer retirement support, free access to employee assistance programs for employees and family members, workplace flexibility, paid holidays, family leave, and paid time off. We reimburse costs for professional licenses, certifications, and exams, and offer specialized, in-house career development and mentorship programs designed to help you advance your knowledge and expertise.