Competency Program Manager - Quality Development

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons Corporation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is seeking a Competency Program Manager - Quality Development to design and manage a project-wide system for defining, assessing, developing, and maintaining quality competencies. You will link assessments with risks, audits, NCR trends, and lessons learned to improve the Quality Management System across multidisciplinary teams.

The ideal candidate will have 15+ years of experience in quality, competency, or technical training, with ISO 9001 knowledge

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Management, competency development, or technical training.
• Strong experience implementing competency management within major infrastructure, airport, construction, engineering, or large-scale project environments.
• Extensive understanding of Quality personnel qualification, certification, assessment, and competency assurance requirements.
• Proven ability to develop competency frameworks and structured assessment programs for multidisciplinary Quality teams.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 and Quality Management System principles.
• Experience coordinating with clients, consultants, contractors, external certification organizations, and third-party inspection bodies.
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer certification is required or strongly preferred.
• Certified Quality Professional, Quality Engineer, or equivalent professional qualification is beneficial.
• ASQ certifications such as CQE, CQA, or equivalent would strengthen the candidate profile.
• NEBOSH, IOSH, or similar HSE credentials are advantageous where competency requirements interface with integrated project systems.
• PMP or equivalent project management certification is beneficial.
• Technical credentials such as CSWIP, AWS, NDT, API, or equivalent are advantageous depending on project requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Quality Competency Management Framework across the project.
• Define competency requirements and qualification criteria for Quality personnel and other quality-critical project roles.
• Establish and maintain competency matrices covering QA, QC, inspection, testing, auditing, commissioning, and specialist Quality functions.
• Determine competency requirements based on project scope, specifications, technical risks, codes, standards, and client expectations.
• Conduct periodic competency assessments for Quality personnel and selected project functions.
• Perform structured skills gap analyses and establish individual or team development plans for identified deficiencies.
• Develop and manage the Quality Competency Development Program in alignment with project priorities.
• Define minimum education, experience, qualification, certification, and technical capability requirements for quality-critical positions.
• Review professional credentials, technical certificates, licenses, and qualifications submitted by Quality personnel.
• Establish role-specific requirements for Inspectors, QA-QC Engineers, Quality Engineers, Auditors, Welding Inspectors, NDT personnel, Material Inspectors, testing specialists, and related roles.
• Coordinate training in Quality Management Systems, inspection practices, testing, auditing, NCR management, Root Cause Analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement.
• Develop Quality awareness programs for engineering, construction, procurement, commissioning, and operations teams.
• Work with Discipline Managers and Quality Managers to identify technical competency requirements for individual project scopes.
• Design competency-based training plans, assessment methodologies, evaluation standards, and progression criteria.
• Monitor completion and effectiveness of mandatory Quality training and competency development activities.
• Establish and maintain a centralized Quality Competency and Training Register.
• Track expiry dates for professional certifications, technical licenses, mandatory training, and specialist qualifications.
• Verify that personnel performing inspection, testing, auditing, and other quality-sensitive activities remain appropriately qualified.
• Coordinate with approved external training organizations, certification bodies, technical specialists, and assessors.
• Develop and implement Quality Induction and awareness programs for newly mobilized project personnel.
• Define competency requirements for contractor and subcontractor Quality teams and support verification of their credentials.
• Participate in Quality audits and assessments to confirm compliance with personnel competency requirements.
• Analyze NCRs, audit findings, observations, recurring defects, and lessons learned to identify capability-related weaknesses.
• Develop targeted improvement programs where project performance indicates specific competency deficiencies.
• Support Root Cause Analysis when insufficient capability, qualification, or training contributes to a quality failure.
• Establish Quality Competency KPIs and develop dashboards for management visibility.
• Prepare periodic competency status reports for the Project Quality Director, Quality Manager, and senior leadership.
• Monitor competency program delivery against approved objectives, schedules, and performance targets.
• Ensure competency requirements are reflected in Quality Plans, procedures, Inspection and Test Plans, Method Statements, and supporting project processes where applicable.
• Support preparation and implementation of Quality Improvement Plans arising from competency assessment findings.
• Promote a strong Quality Culture through workshops, awareness campaigns, coaching sessions, toolbox activities, and structured learning.
• Establish lessons‑learned processes focused on improving technical competence and Quality capability.
• Maintain alignment with ISO requirements, project procedures, client specifications, contractual obligations, and relevant international standards.
• Support internal, client, consultant, and third‑party audits by providing training records, competency evidence, and personnel qualification documentation.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives covering Quality training, qualification management, professional development, and competency assurance.

Skills

Quality Competency Management

Quality Framework Development

Competency Assessment

Training Needs Analysis

Quality Auditing

NCR Management

Root Cause Analysis

Continuous Improvement

Dashboard Reporting

Certification Management

Quality Documentation

Training Coordination

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Competency Program Manager - Quality Development Job Snapshot Role: Competency Program Manager - Quality Development Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Industry: Professional Training and Coaching Function: Training and Development Experience: Minimum 15 years of relevant quality, competency, or technical training experience Job Type: Full-time Position Overview Competency Program Manager - Quality Development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is a Professional Training and Coaching opportunity focused on building structured competency frameworks, qualification standards, technical training programs, and assessment systems for Quality personnel working across major project environments. Parsons is hiring an experienced competency leader to strengthen workforce capability, certification compliance, quality performance, and continuous improvement across multidisciplinary engineering and construction teams.

Job Details

• Country: Saudi Arabia
• City: Riyadh
• Industry: Professional Training and Coaching
• Function: Training and Development
• Salary: 32000-45000
• Gender: Any
• Candidate Nationality: Any
• Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Competency Program Manager will establish and manage a project-wide system for defining, assessing, developing, and maintaining Quality competencies. The position will ensure that inspectors, engineers, auditors, testing personnel, contractors, and specialist Quality professionals possess the technical qualifications and practical capability required for their assigned responsibilities. By linking competency assessment with project risks, audit findings, NCR trends, lessons learned, and performance data, the role will help strengthen Quality Management System effectiveness and reduce capability-related failures.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain the Quality Competency Management Framework across the project.
• Define competency requirements and qualification criteria for Quality personnel and other quality-critical project roles.
• Establish and maintain competency matrices covering QA, QC, inspection, testing, auditing, commissioning, and specialist Quality functions.
• Determine competency requirements based on project scope, specifications, technical risks, codes, standards, and client expectations.
• Conduct periodic competency assessments for Quality personnel and selected project functions.
• Perform structured skills gap analyses and establish individual or team development plans for identified deficiencies.
• Develop and manage the Quality Competency Development Program in alignment with project priorities.
• Define minimum education, experience, qualification, certification, and technical capability requirements for quality-critical positions.
• Review professional credentials, technical certificates, licenses, and qualifications submitted by Quality personnel.
• Establish role-specific requirements for Inspectors, QA-QC Engineers, Quality Engineers, Auditors, Welding Inspectors, NDT personnel, Material Inspectors, testing specialists, and related roles.
• Coordinate training in Quality Management Systems, inspection practices, testing, auditing, NCR management, Root Cause Analysis, corrective action, and continuous improvement.
• Develop Quality awareness programs for engineering, construction, procurement, commissioning, and operations teams.
• Work with Discipline Managers and Quality Managers to identify technical competency requirements for individual project scopes.
• Design competency-based training plans, assessment methodologies, evaluation standards, and progression criteria.
• Monitor completion and effectiveness of mandatory Quality training and competency development activities.
• Establish and maintain a centralized Quality Competency and Training Register.
• Track expiry dates for professional certifications, technical licenses, mandatory training, and specialist qualifications.
• Verify that personnel performing inspection, testing, auditing, and other quality-sensitive activities remain appropriately qualified.
• Coordinate with approved external training organizations, certification bodies, technical specialists, and assessors.
• Develop and implement Quality Induction and awareness programs for newly mobilized project personnel.
• Define competency requirements for contractor and subcontractor Quality teams and support verification of their credentials.
• Participate in Quality audits and assessments to confirm compliance with personnel competency requirements.
• Analyze NCRs, audit findings, observations, recurring defects, and lessons learned to identify capability-related weaknesses.
• Develop targeted improvement programs where project performance indicates specific competency deficiencies.
• Support Root Cause Analysis when insufficient capability, qualification, or training contributes to a quality failure.
• Establish Quality Competency KPIs and develop dashboards for management visibility.
• Prepare periodic competency status reports for the Project Quality Director, Quality Manager, and senior leadership.
• Monitor competency program delivery against approved objectives, schedules, and performance targets.
• Ensure competency requirements are reflected in Quality Plans, procedures, Inspection and Test Plans, Method Statements, and supporting project processes where applicable.
• Support preparation and implementation of Quality Improvement Plans arising from competency assessment findings.
• Promote a strong Quality Culture through workshops, awareness campaigns, coaching sessions, toolbox activities, and structured learning.
• Establish lessons‑learned processes focused on improving technical competence and Quality capability.
• Maintain alignment with ISO requirements, project procedures, client specifications, contractual obligations, and relevant international standards.
• Support internal, client, consultant, and third‑party audits by providing training records, competency evidence, and personnel qualification documentation.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives covering Quality training, qualification management, professional development, and competency assurance.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor 's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Quality Management, competency development, or technical training.
• Strong experience implementing competency management within major infrastructure, airport, construction, engineering, or large-scale project environments.
• Extensive understanding of Quality personnel qualification, certification, assessment, and competency assurance requirements.
• Proven ability to develop competency frameworks and structured assessment programs for multidisciplinary Quality teams.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 9001 and Quality Management System principles.
• Experience coordinating with clients, consultants, contractors, external certification organizations, and third‑party inspection bodies.
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer certification is required or strongly preferred.
• Certified Quality Professional, Quality Engineer, or equivalent professional qualification is beneficial.
• ASQ certifications such as CQE, CQA, or equivalent would strengthen the candidate profile.
• NEBOSH, IOSH, or similar HSE credentials are advantageous where competency requirements interface with integrated project systems.
• PMP or equivalent project management certification is beneficial.
• Technical credentials such as CSWIP, AWS, NDT, API, or equivalent are advantageous depending on project requirements.
• Strong analytical capability for interpreting competency results, audit findings, quality trends, and performance data.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, coaching, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to influence multidisciplinary teams and senior stakeholders on capability and Quality improvement priorities.
• Strong attention to certification validity, assessment evidence, competency records, and compliance requirements.
• Capable of managing multiple development programs across a complex project organization.

Skills Set

• Quality Competency Management
• Quality Competency Framework Development
• Quality Competency Matrix
• Personnel Qualification Management
• Certification Management
• Competency Assessment
• Skills Gap Analysis
• Training Needs Analysis
• Quality Training
• Quality Awareness Programs
• Quality Management Systems
• ISO 9001
• Quality Auditing
• Inspection and Testing
• NCR Management
• Corrective Action Management
• Root Cause Analysis
• Continuous Improvement
• Quality KPI Development
• Performance Dashboards
• Quality Risk Management
• Lessons Learned
• Contractor Quality Management
• Quality Documentation
• Competency Records
• Training Effectiveness Measurement
• Qualification Verification
• Technical Training Coordination
• Quality Culture Development
• Professional Development
• External Training Provider Coordination
• Certification Body Coordination
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Management Reporting
• Dashboard Reporting
• Audit Evidence Management
• Technical Competency Development

Why Join Us

This position offers the opportunity to shape how Quality capability is developed and measured across a major project environment in Riyadh. The role goes beyond conventional training administration by linking qualifications, technical competence, audit performance, project risks, and continuous improvement into a structured competency system. For an experienced Quality professional, it provides significant influence over workforce readiness, contractor performance, technical standards, and long‑term capability development across complex Saudi infrastructure and construction programs.

About the Company

Parsons Corporation delivers engineering, infrastructure, construction management, and technology solutions for major projects worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, Parsons supports aviation, transportation, urban development, and large‑scale infrastructure programs through multidisciplinary engineering, Quality Management, project delivery, construction supervision, and professional capability development.