Senior Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design

AECOM Middle East Ltd; Dubai; On-site; AED 335,000 - 502,000; Full time

Job summary

AECOM Middle East Ltd in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead the pre-contract design phase for major construction projects. You will manage design coordination, risk, budgets, and stakeholder collaboration to prepare robust tender packages and compliant design delivery.

The role requires a minimum of 10 years' experience in design-led project management within the UAE, PMP/PRINCE2 certification, and strong leadership across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a built environment discipline and 10+ years in project management.
• Experience leading design-led projects in construction, engineering or real estate.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, resources and tender documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-contract activities across design projects from scope to tender readiness.
• Translate client objectives into structured design strategies with clear deliverables.
• Review multidisciplinary design proposals for alignment with scope and standards.
• Establish detailed design plans, budgets, milestones, and reporting controls.
• Identify risks early and implement mitigation measures with stakeholders.
• Coordinate architects, engineers, consultants, vendors and internal teams.
• Manage design reviews, workshops, and decision logs; maintain design records.
• Monitor pre-contract deliverables against deadlines and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Pre-contract project management

Design management

Multidisciplinary design coordination

Budget management

Cost estimation

Stakeholder management

Schedule control

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in built environment

PMP or PRINCE2 certification

MIStructE/MICE/RIBA preferred

Tools

Primavera

Microsoft Project

Job description

Senior Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design Job Snapshot

Role: Senior Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Construction

Function: Project Management

Experience: Minimum 10 years

Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview Senior Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior Construction opportunity with AECOM for an experienced project leader specializing in design management, pre-contract planning, stakeholder coordination, cost control, tender preparation, and multidisciplinary building projects. The role will lead projects through critical early-stage development, translating client requirements into coordinated design strategies while controlling scope, programme, budget, technical compliance, and delivery risk before construction begins.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Construction Function: Project Management Salary: 30000-45000 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 Senior Project Manager takes ownership of the pre-contract design phase, where decisions regarding scope, technical solutions, cost, procurement strategy, approvals, and programme establish the foundation for successful project delivery. Working across architects, engineers, specialist consultants, commercial teams, vendors, clients, and approving authorities, the position ensures design information is coordinated and sufficiently developed for tender and subsequent execution. Strong leadership at this stage helps reduce design conflicts, manage commercial exposure, improve constructability, and prevent avoidable changes once projects move into construction. The role also requires informed decision-making within the UAE built environment, combining international project management practices with knowledge of local regulations, authority approvals, design standards, and market conditions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead pre-contract activities across design projects, covering scope definition, feasibility assessment, planning, design coordination, procurement preparation, and readiness for tender.
• Translate client objectives and project requirements into structured design strategies with clearly defined deliverables and responsibilities.
• Review architectural, engineering, and multidisciplinary design proposals for alignment with agreed scope, technical requirements, regulations, and applicable industry standards.
• Establish detailed project plans, design programmes, budgets, milestones, resource requirements, and reporting controls.
• Identify design, commercial, programme, approval, and coordination risks early and establish practical mitigation measures.
• Coordinate architects, structural and MEP engineers, specialist consultants, vendors, and internal disciplines to maintain an integrated design approach.
• Resolve technical interfaces and multidisciplinary conflicts before they create cost or programme consequences.
• Manage stakeholder expectations through clear reporting, design presentations, progress updates, workshops, and structured decision-making.
• Prepare and review tender packages, specifications, contract documentation, and supporting technical information for accuracy and completeness.
• Monitor project budgets and undertake cost estimation reviews throughout design development.
• Lead value engineering exercises that improve cost efficiency, constructability, and project performance without undermining required quality.
• Facilitate design reviews and technical workshops with clients, consultants, internal specialists, and other project stakeholders.
• Maintain comprehensive design records, meeting minutes, action trackers, approvals, decision logs, and project correspondence.
• Monitor pre-contract deliverables against established deadlines and intervene where design progress threatens key milestones.
• Coordinate requirements associated with UAE building regulations and relevant authority approval processes.
• Introduce practical improvements to pre-contract workflows, reporting, coordination, and design management processes.
• Provide direction and mentoring to junior project team members while encouraging disciplined collaboration across project functions.

Ideal Profile

The position requires a Bachelor 's degree in a built environment discipline and at least 10 years of project management experience, with substantial exposure to design-led projects in construction, engineering, or real estate. Candidates should demonstrate a strong record of managing multidisciplinary design development, project budgets, schedules, resources, stakeholder relationships, tender documentation, and complex technical interfaces. Advanced knowledge of design processes and industry standards is important, together with practical capability in Microsoft Project, Primavera, or comparable project planning and management systems.

Experience working within the UAE or wider Middle East market is strongly relevant. Candidates should understand UAE building codes, regulatory requirements, authority approvals, and the coordination challenges associated with major development projects. PMP or PRINCE2 certification is required. International professional accreditation such as MIStructE, MICE, RIBA, AIA, PMP, or an equivalent recognized credential is preferred.

The successful candidate will bring strong analytical judgment, commercial awareness, leadership capability, and the confidence to make informed decisions across complex project variables.

Skills Set

• Pre-contract project management
• Design management
• Multidisciplinary design coordination
• Construction project management
• Project scope definition
• Feasibility studies
• Project planning
• Design programme management
• Budget management
• Cost estimation
• Value engineering
• Design risk management
• Tender package preparation
• Contract documentation
• Technical specifications
• Stakeholder management
• Consultant coordination
• Architectural coordination
• Engineering coordination
• Design review workshops
• UAE building codes
• UAE authority approvals
• Project documentation
• Primavera
• Microsoft Project
• PMP
• PRINCE2
• Resource planning
• Schedule control

Why Join Us

Dubai 's continuing investment in buildings and infrastructure creates sustained demand for senior professionals who can manage complex projects before they enter construction. This AECOM position offers the opportunity to influence major developments at the stage where design quality, commercial strategy, programme certainty, and technical coordination can have the greatest effect on eventual project performance. The hybrid role also provides access to multidisciplinary expertise, international project experience, advanced technical resources, and structured professional development within a global infrastructure organization. It offers a strong platform for an established project manager seeking broader leadership responsibility across sophisticated design and construction programmes.

About the Company

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering advisory, planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management services across buildings, transportation, water, environment, and energy. A Fortune 500 company with more than 50000 professionals worldwide, AECOM works with public and private sector clients to develop sustainable, resilient, and technically complex infrastructure solutions.