Senior Project Director - Infrastructure

Parsons

Dubai

On-site

AED 55,000 - 85,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Senior Project Director - Infrastructure in Dubai. This leadership role demands significant experience in major infrastructure projects, focusing on program execution and stakeholder management.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in engineering, at least 20 years of experience, and proven skills in project delivery within live operational environments.

Qualifications

Minimum 20 years of experience in construction or infrastructure project delivery.
At least 10 years in senior leadership roles.
Professional membership like PMP or RICS is desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead overall delivery of a large multi-phase venue and infrastructure development.
Act as the main interface with clients and stakeholders.
Manage project phasing, logistics, and contractor activities.

Skills

Project direction

Programme delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Risk management

Construction management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or Architecture

Master's degree in a relevant field (advantage)

Tools

Project management software

Job description

Senior Project Director - Infrastructure

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Civil Engineering

Function: Project-Program Management

Experience: Minimum 20 years of major construction or infrastructure project delivery experience, including 10 years in senior leadership.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: 55,000 - 85,000 (estimated)

Gender: Any

Candidate Nationality: Any

Overview

Senior Project Director - Infrastructure in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Civil Engineering leadership opportunity for an accomplished project delivery executive who can lead a landmark multi-phase venue and infrastructure program from mobilisation through final handover. This role is suited for a senior project leader with strong experience in complex developments, live operational environments, client leadership, multidisciplinary design coordination, construction delivery, commercial control, risk management, sustainability, commissioning, and major stakeholder engagement.

Role Context

The Senior Project Director - Infrastructure will lead the end-to-end delivery of a major venue and infrastructure development for Parsons Corporation in Dubai. The position carries full responsibility for programme execution, client interface, design management, procurement coordination, construction leadership, testing, commissioning, and handover readiness. The role requires a strategic leader who can integrate new works with existing assets, maintain business continuity in live environments, control cost and schedule performance, drive sustainability outcomes, and ensure that the completed destination is operationally efficient, future-ready, and aligned with client objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Lead overall delivery of a large multi-phase venue and infrastructure development from mobilisation, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and final handover.
Act as the main interface with the client, stakeholders, authorities, consultants, contractors, specialists, and suppliers.
Manage stakeholder expectations, secure approvals, coordinate NOCs, and maintain clear communication across all project stages.
Ensure new works are fully integrated with existing facilities, concourses, parking structures, utilities, access systems, and masterplan infrastructure.
Oversee planning and delivery of exhibition halls, offices, in-hall food and beverage areas, washrooms, prayer rooms, EMS spaces, storage areas, back-of-house zones, service yards, and supporting facilities.
Lead multidisciplinary design management across architecture, structure, MEP, ICT, infrastructure, fit-out, and operational interfaces.
Align design outputs with the project brief, client expectations, operational requirements, authority conditions, and long-term facility use.
Direct project phasing, logistics, construction sequencing, and programme strategy to meet key milestones and minimize disruption to ongoing operations.
Maintain safe and efficient site access while coordinating work fronts, live facility constraints, temporary arrangements, and contractor activities.
Manage budgets, forecasts, cost plans, change control, value engineering initiatives, and commercial performance across all project phases.
Drive economical design solutions while protecting quality, operational performance, safety, sustainability, and client value.
Champion sustainability objectives, green building targets, efficient systems, smart building solutions, and responsible infrastructure delivery.
Oversee risk management, opportunity tracking, governance frameworks, quality assurance, reporting cycles, and HSE performance.
Lead project controls across schedule, cost, risk, reporting, change management, procurement progress, and executive-level decision support.
Ensure construction delivery remains aligned with approved design, contract requirements, programme milestones, safety obligations, and quality standards.
Coordinate testing, commissioning, training, operational readiness, and handover documentation so facilities are prepared for major events.
Lead senior project meetings, progress reviews, commercial reviews, technical workshops, authority discussions, and client briefings.
Resolve day-to-day delivery issues while keeping focus on strategic objectives, programme outcomes, and final operational success.
Build high-performing project teams and drive accountability across design consultants, contractors, specialists, suppliers, and internal Parsons resources.
Provide clear leadership during complex decisions involving programme pressure, cost constraints, technical interfaces, design optimisation, and operational needs.

Ideal Profile (Qualifications)

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or a related discipline.
Master's degree in a relevant field is an advantage.
Professional membership or chartered status such as PMP, RICS, CEng, or equivalent is desirable.
Minimum 20 years of experience delivering large-scale complex construction or infrastructure projects.
At least 10 years of senior leadership experience as Project Director or in an equivalent executive project delivery role.
Demonstrable major project experience on multidisciplinary developments such as exhibition and convention centres, mixed-use buildings, airports, venue infrastructure, or comparable complex facilities.
Proven record managing multidisciplinary teams and multiple work packages, including design consultants, contractors, specialists, and suppliers.
Strong commercial and contractual acumen with experience administering major consultancy and construction contracts.
Practical experience managing change, claims, risk, commercial strategy, procurement interfaces, and cost control.
Extensive experience in project planning, phasing, logistics, and programme delivery within complex, live, or operational environments.
Strong understanding of design and construction processes across architecture, structure, MEP, infrastructure, ICT, fit-out, and operational readiness.
Ability to challenge technical proposals, optimise design solutions, and maintain alignment between client objectives and project delivery.
Experience implementing project controls, including schedule management, cost reporting, risk tracking, governance, reporting frameworks, and performance dashboards.
Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to influence senior stakeholders, drive consultant and contractor performance, and maintain team focus under pressure.
Strong decision-making capability with the ability to manage competing priorities while maintaining quality, safety, sustainability, and programme discipline.

Skills Set