Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 246,000 - 357,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM Middle East Ltd in Dubai seeks a Project Manager for the pre-contract design phase. You will lead design coordination, manage consultant performance, and ensure budgets, schedules, and approvals align with UAE regulations before procurement begins.

Ideal candidate has 5+ years in design-led project management, proficiency with Primavera or MS Project, and professional certifications such as PMP/PRINCE2. UAE experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a built environment discipline and 5+ years in project management in construction/engineering.
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Responsibilities

• Lead design-phase activities from initiation through pre-contract completion.
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Skills

Pre-contract project management

Design phase management

Multidisciplinary coordination

Budget management

Risk management

Design quality assurance

Project KPI monitoring

Stakeholder coordination

Change management

Design programme control

Procurement coordination

Financial coordination

UAEbuilding codes

UAE authority approvals

Design review

Education

Bachelor's degree in built environment

PMP or PRINCE2 certification

MIStructE / MICE / RIBA / AIA preferred

Tools

Primavera

Microsoft Project

Job description

Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design

Role: Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Construction Function: Project Management Experience: Minimum 5 years Job Type: Full-time Position Overview Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Construction opportunity with AECOM for an experienced professional managing design-phase delivery, consultant coordination, project schedules, budgets, compliance, and stakeholder requirements before construction begins. The role supports successful project outcomes by organizing multidisciplinary design activities, controlling risk, maintaining quality, and ensuring pre-contract deliverables are completed in line with client expectations, UAE regulations, and agreed commercial objectives.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Construction Function: Project Management Salary: 22000-32000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Role Context The Project Manager is responsible for bringing structure and control to the pre-contract design stage, where project scope, technical decisions, consultant performance, budgets, approvals, and schedules must be aligned before procurement and construction progress. The position coordinates internal disciplines, clients, consultants, finance, procurement, and external stakeholders while maintaining clear visibility of design progress and emerging risks. Effective management during this stage helps reduce downstream changes, strengthens cost certainty, improves coordination, and supports smoother transition into tendering and project execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage design-phase activities from project initiation through completion of pre-contract requirements.


• Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, and resource requirements for design delivery.


• Coordinate architects, engineers, specialist consultants, internal teams, clients, and external stakeholders.


• Maintain clear communication channels so design decisions, actions, responsibilities, and deadlines are understood.


• Conduct structured design reviews and quality checks against project specifications, approved requirements, and applicable regulations.


• Monitor consultant deliverables and ensure design information is submitted according to agreed programmes.


• Manage design consultant contracts, scopes of work, responsibilities, and performance against contractual commitments.


• Identify technical, commercial, programme, coordination, and approval risks and implement suitable mitigation measures.


• Track project performance against agreed KPIs and provide clear progress reporting to senior management.


• Maintain accurate design specifications, meeting minutes, compliance records, decisions, correspondence, and project documentation.


• Adapt project management procedures where required to reflect client expectations while maintaining organizational controls.


• Coordinate with procurement teams on design-related requirements that affect tendering, consultant engagement, and downstream purchasing activities.


• Work with finance teams to monitor design expenditure, forecasts, commitments, and budget performance.


• Ensure projects follow relevant UAE building codes, approval procedures, regulatory requirements, and industry practices.


• Monitor design changes and evaluate their potential effect on budget, programme, scope, and project objectives.


• Support timely resolution of issues that could delay design completion or affect pre-contract readiness.


• Maintain disciplined reporting and documentation throughout the design lifecycle to support decision-making and project governance.

Ideal Profile Candidates should hold a Bachelor 's degree in a built environment discipline and bring at least 5 years of project management experience within construction, engineering, real estate, or a comparable design-led environment. Experience managing multidisciplinary design projects is essential, including responsibility for consultants, schedules, budgets, deliverables, risks, documentation, and stakeholder coordination. Applicants should have strong working knowledge of design processes, project management methodologies, technical standards, and the interaction between design development and later construction delivery. Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Primavera, or equivalent planning and project management tools is required. PMP or PRINCE2 certification is expected, while international professional accreditation such as MIStructE, MICE, RIBA, AIA, PMP, or an equivalent credential is preferred. Previous experience in the UAE or wider Middle East market is particularly valuable, together with knowledge of local building codes, authority approvals, regulatory procedures, and regional project practices.

Skills Set

• Pre-contract project management


• Design phase management


• Design consultant management


• Multidisciplinary coordination


• Construction project planning


• Project scheduling


• Budget management


• Resource planning


• Risk management


• Design quality assurance


• Project KPI monitoring


• Consultant contract management


• Scope management


• Stakeholder coordination


• Design review


• Technical documentation


• Project reporting


• Compliance management


• UAE building codes


• UAE authority approvals


• Procurement coordination


• Financial coordination


• Primavera


• Microsoft Project


• PMP


• PRINCE2


• Change management


• Design programme control

Why Join Us The role offers strong exposure to the early stages of major building and infrastructure projects in Dubai, where disciplined design management can significantly influence cost, programme, quality, and construction readiness. Professionals in this position can deepen their capability across consultant management, commercial coordination, planning, regulatory compliance, and multidisciplinary project delivery. AECOM 's regional and international project portfolio also provides opportunities to work with experienced technical teams, established project management systems, and complex client environments while building a pathway toward senior project management and programme leadership responsibilities.

About the Company AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management services across buildings, transportation, water, environment, and energy. Its multidisciplinary teams support public and private sector clients throughout the project lifecycle, combining technical expertise with structured delivery methods for complex and resilient developments.