Project Manager

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM); Dubai; On-site; AED 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Dubai seeks an experienced Architectural Project Leader to guide the project team through design, technical and financial objectives. The role collaborates with SOM Partners to align scope, schedule and budget while maintaining high design standards.

You will lead client relationships, prepare quality agreements, oversee risk management, and drive profitable delivery. Proficiency in Revit, AutoCAD, Rhino, and related tools, plus strong communication,

Qualifications

• Professional degree in Architecture and licensure nearing completion.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Architectural Project Team with SOM leadership to ensure design, technical, and financial success.
• Prepare and manage client agreements including LOI and MSAs with leadership input.
• Execute additional service agreements and obtain phase authorization.
• Develop and monitor compliance plans aligning budget, deliverables, and schedule.
• Monitor project profitability through reports, billing, collections, and expenditures.
• Manage owner/client relationships to support effective collaboration.
• Chair weekly team meetings, maintain records, and share project information.
• Oversee risk management with partners and legal group.

Skills

Team leadership

Budget management

Scheduling

Communication skills

Sustainability concepts

Client relationship management

Risk management

Education

Architecture degree

Licensure nearing completion

LEED accreditation

Tools

Revit

AutoCAD

Rhino

Parametric software

Rendering software

Microsoft Office

Smartsheets

Adobe Suite

Google Workspace

Deltek Vision

Salesforce

Job description

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

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.