Senior Commercial Manager

AtkinsRéalis Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 918,000 - 2,020,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis Group in the UAE seeks a Project Director to lead large-scale data centre developments across the UAE and GCC. You will provide strategic leadership, drive delivery, governance, and critical decisions, coordinating multidisciplinary teams through feasibility, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover while maintaining safety, quality, schedule, and cost targets.

The role requires extensive experience delivering hyperscale data centres and mission-critical

Qualifications

• Minimum 18-20 years of project management and construction experience.
• Minimum 8-10 years in a senior leadership role managing major capital projects.
• Proven delivery of projects exceeding USD 250M+ in value.
• Extensive experience delivering hyperscale data centres and related facilities.
• Minimum 10 years UAE/GCC experience and strong local regulations knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage multiple large-scale data centre projects from inception to completion.
• Develop and implement project execution strategies aligned with client objectives.
• Lead cross-functional teams of project managers, design and construction managers, and consultants.
• Establish governance, reporting structures, and project controls.
• Ensure delivery within budget, schedule, quality, and risk parameters.
• Serve as executive contact for clients, investors, developers and authorities.
• Oversee procurement strategies, contracts, and commercial reporting.
• Drive risk mitigation, HSSE compliance, and project closeout activities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Project delivery

Risk management

Budget governance

Commercial oversight

Multi-disciplinary teams

Governance frameworks

Education

Bachelor's in Civil/Mechanical/Electrical Engineering

Master's in PM/Engineering/ MBA

Tools

BIM

FIDIC contracts

Design coordination

Job description

• Colocation Data Centres
• Data Centre Specialist Certifications

N.B: We are currently pending award on several significant projects. Should we be awarded, this position is key role. Consequently we are keen to speak to individuals in the market place with the experience listed below for such potential future programmes of work"

Overview

The Project Director will provide strategic leadership, direction, and delivery oversight for large-scale industrial and mission-critical data centre developments across the UAE and wider Middle East region. The role is responsible for leading multidisciplinary teams through all project phases from feasibility and design management through procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover while ensuring excellence in safety, quality, schedule, cost, and stakeholder management.

The successful candidate will possess significant experience delivering hyperscale data centres, industrial manufacturing facilities, logistics hubs, warehouses, semiconductor facilities, pharmaceutical facilities, or other mission-critical infrastructure projects, preferably within the UAE or GCC region.

Your role

Leadership & Project Delivery

• Direct and manage multiple large-scale industrial and data centre projects from inception through completion.
• Develop and implement project execution strategies aligned with client objectives and business goals.
• Lead project teams comprising project managers, design managers, commercial managers, construction managers, and specialist consultants.
• Establish governance frameworks, reporting structures, and project controls.
• Ensure delivery of projects within approved budget, schedule, quality, and risk parameters.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary executive point of contact for clients, investors, developers, and key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with hyperscale operators, colocation providers, industrial developers, and government authorities.
• Lead executive-level project reviews and steering committee meetings.
• Provide strategic advice on project risks, opportunities, and commercial decisions.

Design & Technical Oversight

• Oversee design development and technical coordination for mission-critical infrastructure.
• Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, international codes, and client standards.
• Guide design optimization efforts focusing on operational efficiency, resilience, sustainability, and lifecycle cost reduction.
• Review and approve key technical deliverables.

Commercial & Contract Management

• Lead procurement strategies and contract negotiations.
• Oversee administration of EPC, Design & Build, PMC, and consultant contracts.
• Manage project budgets, cash flow forecasts, and commercial reporting.
• Drive cost control initiatives and evaluate change management requirements.

Construction Management

• Provide executive oversight of construction activities.
• Monitor contractor performance, productivity, safety, and quality compliance.
• Ensure implementation of project recovery plans where schedule or cost deviations occur.
• Oversee commissioning, integrated systems testing, and project closeout.

Risk, Safety & Compliance

• Champion a strong Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE) culture.
• Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, client standards, and international best practices.
• Lead risk management processes and mitigation strategies.
• Ensure regulatory approvals and operational readiness requirements are achieved.

Business Development & Growth

• Support business development initiatives and key pursuits.
• Participate in client presentations, bid submissions, and project interviews.
• Contribute to market growth strategies for industrial and data centre sectors across the region.
• Mentor and develop senior project management talent.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction
• Management, Architecture, or related discipline.

Preferred

• Master's Degree in Project Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration (MBA), or related field.

Essential

• Minimum 18-20 years of project management and construction experience.
• Minimum 8-10 years in a senior leadership role managing major capital projects.
• Proven delivery of projects exceeding USD 250M+ in value.
• Extensive experience delivering:
• Hyperscale Data Centres
• Colocation Data Centres
• Industrial Manufacturing Facilities
• Logistics Parks
• Warehousing Developments
• Mission-Critical Infrastructure

UAE/GCC Experience

• Minimum 10 years working in the UAE or GCC region.
• Strong understanding of UAE construction regulations, authority approvals, and project delivery practices.

Technical Expertise

• Data Centre Design and Delivery
• Tier III and Tier IV Data Centre Infrastructure
• Uptime Institute standards
• ANSI/TIA-942 Standards
• Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Programs
• Building Information Modelling (BIM)
• Design Management
• Construction Management
• Program Management
• Project Controls
• Commercial Management
• Commissioning Management
• Risk Management
• Hyperscale operators such as Microsoft, AWS, Google, Oracle, Equinix, Digital Realty, Khazna, or similar.
• Industrial EPC projects.
• FIDIC contracts and major procurement strategies.
• Digital project delivery and reporting platforms.

Professional Certifications

• PMP