Senior Projects Manager

Cognita; United Arab Emirates; On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in education is seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee K-12 education projects across the GCC. The successful candidate will manage a range of budgets, ensure compliance with international standards, and lead a team of professionals, driving quality outcomes and advocating for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in project management, with at least 3 years in education projects.
• In-depth understanding of GCC regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with curriculum-led design for educational facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of K-12 education projects across the GCC.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Monitor progress and ensure compliance with education standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder Management

Negotiation

Budgeting

Scheduling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Master’s degree or PMP certification

Tools

MS Project

Primavera P6

Jira

Aconex

Job description

Lead end to end delivery of K–12 education projects across the GCC.

Ensure compliance with international curriculum standards (British, IB, American).

Obtain approvals from ministries of education and relevant authorities.

Coordinate closely with developers, architects, engineers, consultants, and contractors.

Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, and detailed work plans.

Monitor progress using industry standard tools and report to senior leadership.

Manage resources across internal and external teams.

Proactively identify risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Maintain high quality outcomes aligned with client and regulatory expectations.

Conduct post project evaluations for continuous improvement.

Mentor junior team members and promote knowledge sharing.

Budget & Resource Management

Oversee budgets ranging from US$20m to US$100m.

Track financial performance and resource allocation to ensure efficiency.

Adjust plans dynamically to maintain schedule and budget integrity.

Required Skills & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.

Master’s degree or PMP certification preferred.

Minimum of 10 years’ experience in project management, with at least 3 years leading education or school infrastructure projects in the Middle East.

In depth understanding of GCC regulatory and approval frameworks.

Experience with curriculum led design (labs, libraries, multipurpose halls).

Proficiency in tools such as MS Project, Primavera P6, Jira, or Aconex.

Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management capabilities.

Expertise in budgeting, scheduling, and contract administration.

Knowledge of sustainability frameworks (LEED, Estidama, etc.).

Excellent negotiation and reporting skills.

Culturally adept with the ability to engage diverse teams and stakeholders.

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