Program Director - PMO and Portfolio Management

Parsons; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 1,500,000 - 2,250,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is seeking a Program Director to lead a high‑impact PMO and portfolio program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This senior role directs governance, planning, execution, and performance across multiple projects and workstreams, with enterprise‑level oversight of scope, schedule, cost, risk, and quality.

You will engage with clients, lead multidisciplinary teams, and strengthen PMO capabilities while aligning deliverables with contractual obligations and business objectives.

Qualifications

• 25+ years of senior leadership experience in program management or PMO environments.
• Experience directing large, complex programs or portfolios with enterprise-level oversight.
• Strong governance, planning, execution, and performance management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and executive leadership for complex programs and portfolios.
• Establish PMO methodologies, governance frameworks, processes, and tools.
• Oversee scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality, and stakeholder outcomes across multiple projects.
• Direct delivery of major programs and coordinate dependencies between workstreams.
• Lead client interactions, negotiations, and executive reporting.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Program management

Stakeholder management

Governance

Risk management

Job description

Program Director - PMO and Portfolio Management Job Snapshot

Role: Program Director - Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Industry: Engineering - Function: Program Management - Experience: 25 years - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

Parsons is seeking an accomplished Program Director to provide strategic leadership and oversight for a complex Project Management Office (PMO) program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This senior leadership position involves directing large-scale programs and portfolios, typically valued at up to USD 5 billion, while maintaining accountability for project performance, contractual commitments, and client expectations. The Program Director will lead multidisciplinary teams and oversee the governance, planning, execution, and performance of multiple projects and workstreams. The role requires enterprise-level oversight of scope, schedule, cost, risk, quality, and stakeholder outcomes, ensuring that program activities remain aligned with Parsons' strategic objectives and contractual responsibilities. Serving as Parsons' senior representative to the client, the successful candidate will bring extensive experience in complex program delivery, executive stakeholder management, commercial negotiations, and organizational leadership. The position also involves strengthening PMO capabilities, optimizing resources, and supporting business growth through successful program execution and client relationships.

Job Details

Country: Saudi Arabia - City: Riyadh - Industry: Engineering - Function: Program Management - Salary: Not disclosed - Gender: No Preference - Candidate Nationality: Not specified - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

What You 'll Be Doing

Strategic Program Leadership and Governance

• Provide strategic direction and executive leadership for complex programs and portfolios, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, client requirements, and contractual commitments.
• Establish, develop, and strengthen Project Management Office methodologies, governance frameworks, processes, and management tools.
• Ensure program management practices comply with applicable organizational standards, procedures, and established governance requirements.
• Direct the planning and execution of large-scale initiatives involving multiple projects, technical disciplines, and delivery teams.
• Maintain oversight of program scope, schedules, budgets, quality requirements, risks, and stakeholder outcomes.
• Guide senior management decisions concerning program priorities, performance, and delivery challenges.
• Promote consistent project management practices and accountability across program workstreams.

Portfolio and Project Delivery Management

• Oversee the complete delivery lifecycle of major programs and enterprise-wide project portfolios.
• Direct project execution activities and coordinate dependencies between projects, workstreams, and technical teams.
• Monitor progress against established program objectives, contractual milestones, and performance expectations.
• Identify and address coordination challenges that may affect overall program delivery.
• Maintain effective integration between engineering, project management, construction management, and technical support activities.
• Ensure delivery teams maintain appropriate standards of quality, performance, and responsiveness.
• Provide executive oversight of complex operational and technical environments.

Program Performance and Financial Oversight

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to evaluate program health, delivery efficiency, and achievement of strategic objectives.
• Develop and oversee management dashboards and performance reporting systems.
• Monitor financial forecasts and support informed decisions concerning program expenditure and resource requirements.
• Evaluate program performance against scope, schedule, cost, and quality objectives.
• Track benefits realization and assess progress toward intended program outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and strengthen delivery performance.
• Provide senior leadership with clear information on program status, emerging challenges, and required management decisions.

Risk, Issue, and Change Management

• Identify, assess, and manage risks affecting program delivery, contractual obligations, and stakeholder expectations.
• Establish effective processes for monitoring, mitigating, and escalating significant program risks and issues.
• Lead management decisions involving scope adjustments, schedule changes, cost implications, and competing program priorities.
• Coordinate responses to complex delivery challenges requiring executive-level intervention.
• Support the evaluation and management of program changes and their commercial or contractual consequences.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of risk mitigation measures and outstanding program decisions.

Client and Executive Stakeholder Management

• Serve as Parsons' senior representative in dealings with clients, key subcontractors, and executive stakeholders.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with senior client representatives throughout program execution.
• Lead discussions and negotiations involving scope changes, contractual matters, and commercial adjustments.
• Manage stakeholder expectations through transparent communication, timely reporting, and effective issue resolution.
• Represent program interests in executive-level meetings and strategic discussions.
• Maintain alignment between client priorities, contractual responsibilities, and program delivery objectives.
• Build confidence and trust through consistent leadership, accountability, and delivery performance.

People, Resource, and Capability Leadership

• Build, lead, and mentor multidisciplinary teams of Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, and technical support professionals.
• Direct recruitment, coaching, performance development, and leadership activities within assigned program teams.
• Promote a working environment focused on accountability, collaboration, high performance, and professional development.
• Mobilize organizational resources across offices, regions, and support functions to meet program requirements.
• Coordinate resource allocation across multiple projects and workstreams to maintain delivery efficiency.
• Oversee operational management activities involving personnel, facilities, and complex technical environments.
• Strengthen program management capabilities and support the development of future technical and project leadership talent.

Business Development and Growth

• Collaborate with Parsons' Business Development teams to identify additional opportunities with existing and prospective clients.
• Support the positioning and pursuit of new work by drawing on program delivery experience and established client relationships.
• Contribute to business growth initiatives that align with organizational capabilities and strategic objectives.
• Maintain strong client engagement to support long‑term professional relationships and potential future assignments.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum 25 years of relevant professional experience, including substantial supervisory and senior leadership responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience directing large, complex programs or portfolios with values ranging from approximately USD 1 billion to USD 5 billion.
• Proven background in project management, program management, or construction management at Program Director level or an equivalent senior leadership position.
• Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams comprising Engineers, Project Managers, Designers, and technical support personnel.
• Strong operational management experience covering personnel, facilities, organizational resources, and complex technical environments.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee multiple projects and coordinate delivery across major program workstreams.
• Comprehensive understanding of industry practices, applicable regulations, and modern engineering and project management technologies.
• Experience establishing program governance arrangements, managing delivery performance, and coordinating senior stakeholders.
• Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to manage complex organizational and program delivery responsibilities.

Desired Skills and Leadership Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to engage effectively with executive management, clients, and board-level stakeholders.
• Strong commercial management capabilities and understanding of major contractual obligations.
• Advanced risk management skills and the ability to evaluate complex program challenges.
• Sound executive judgment when balancing program scope, schedule, cost, quality, and stakeholder priorities.
• Ability to influence strategic decisions and maintain productive relationships across senior leadership teams.
• Strong negotiation, organizational leadership, and multidisciplinary team management capabilities.

Program Leadership Expectations

The Program Director will maintain executive accountability for the coordination and performance of complex programs involving multiple projects, technical disciplines, and organizational stakeholders. The position requires a strategic approach to governance, financial oversight, resource planning, and risk management, supported by the ability to make timely decisions in demanding delivery environments. An important aspect of the role is ensuring that individual projects contribute effectively to wider program objectives while maintaining consistency in management practices, contractual performance, and client engagement. The successful candidate will also be expected to strengthen organizational capabilities, support leadership development, and contribute to Parsons' continued business growth through effective program execution.

Working at Parsons

Parsons promotes a professional environment built around collaboration, technical expertise, adaptability, and innovation. The company encourages employees to develop their capabilities while contributing to challenging engineering and program delivery assignments. Parsons emphasizes employee wellbeing, professional development, and opportunities for individuals to contribute their leadership and technical experience to complex projects.

About Parsons Corporation

Parsons Corporation delivers engineering, technical, project management, and program management services through multidisciplinary professional teams. The company emphasizes innovation, operational excellence, collaboration, and effective delivery of complex projects and programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Parsons is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair representation at all job levels without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.