Project Director

Knight Frank MENA; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 550,000; Full time

Job summary

Knight Frank MENA seeks an experienced Project Director to act as the Client's senior representative for a landmark super high-rise in Riyadh. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive governance and strategic leadership, and oversee delivery from design through handover while safeguarding budget, safety and quality.

Role requires extensive PMC or client-side experience, executive communication skills and a track record delivering iconic towers in the GCC.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture or civil engineering is required.
• 18+ years delivering major buildings, with super high-rise experience.
• Experience in PMC or client-side consultancy is essential.
• Fluent English; Arabic is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Client's senior representative for delivery of a landmark super high-rise.
• Lead the PMC team across programme, cost, quality and risk.
• Establish governance, reporting and decision-making frameworks.
• Provide strategic leadership and executive updates to the Client.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Client-facing

PMC experience

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture or Civil Engineering

Master's degree in Project Management or Construction Management

Tools

FIDIC contracts proficiency

Job description

Knight Frank is seeking an experienced Project Director to act as the Client's senior representative, leading the team responsible for the successful delivery of a landmark super high-rise tower development in Riyadh.

Operating within Knight Frank's Programmes service line, this role carries executive responsibility for managing the Client's interests throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring the project is delivered safely, within budget and to the highest international quality standards.

The successful candidate will lead multidisciplinary consultant teams, manage complex stakeholder relationships and provide strategic leadership across all phases of the development. This is a client-facing consultancy role requiring exceptional communication, governance and management capability, together with extensive experience delivering iconic high-rise developments within a PMC or client-side environment.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Client's primary representative, providing strategic leadership throughout the delivery of a landmark super high-rise development.
• Lead the Project Management Consultancy (PMC) team, ensuring the Client's objectives are achieved across programme, cost, quality and risk.
• Establish governance frameworks, reporting structures and decision-making protocols across the project.
• Provide trusted strategic advice to senior Client representatives throughout the project lifecycle.
• Chair executive project meetings and steering committee sessions with senior stakeholders.
• Direct the delivery of one of Riyadh's flagship super high-rise developments from design through construction and handover.
• Oversee all aspects of project execution, ensuring alignment with approved programme, budget and quality objectives.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across architecture, structural engineering, civil engineering, MEP, façade, vertical transportation and specialist consultants.
• Ensure seamless coordination between consultants, contractors, authorities and client representatives.
• Drive timely decision-making and proactively resolve technical and commercial challenges.
• Maintain executive oversight of the master programme and all critical path activities.
• Monitor consultant and contractor performance against agreed milestones and contractual obligations.
• Identify programme risks and implement mitigation and recovery strategies where required.
• Provide accurate programme reporting and executive updates to the Client.
• Drive schedule optimisation while maintaining quality and commercial objectives.

Design Management

• Lead the management and coordination of the full design consultant team throughout all project stages.
• Ensure architectural and engineering designs satisfy the Client's commercial, operational and technical objectives.
• Manage design interfaces between multiple disciplines and specialist consultants.
• Oversee design review workshops and value engineering initiatives.
• Ensure design deliverables are coordinated, buildable and aligned with project objectives.

Commercial & Contract Management

• Oversee contract administration under FIDIC and other recognised forms of contract.
• Review consultant recommendations relating to contractor payment applications, variations and claims.
• Protect the Client's commercial position through proactive contract administration and change control.
• Lead high-level commercial discussions with contractors and consultants.
• Ensure transparent commercial reporting and financial governance.

Stakeholder & Consultant Management

• Build and maintain exceptional relationships with the Client, project stakeholders and executive leadership teams.
• Lead coordination across architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, MEP consultants, specialist designers and external advisors.
• Manage relationships with government authorities, regulatory bodies and utility providers.
• Represent Knight Frank during executive meetings with senior stakeholders.
• Ensure clear communication protocols are maintained across all project participants.

Risk Management & Quality Assurance

• Establish and maintain comprehensive project risk registers covering design, construction, commercial and operational risks.
• Monitor consultant and contractor performance against agreed KPIs.
• Ensure independent quality assurance procedures are implemented throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee testing, commissioning and handover strategies.
• Promote continuous improvement and lessons learned across the project team.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and mentor Project Managers, Design Managers, Commercial Managers, Planning Managers and specialist consultants.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture across the PMC team.
• Establish clear accountability frameworks and performance expectations.
• Support the development of junior project management professionals within Knight Frank.
• Promote excellence in client service, technical delivery and professional standards.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Master's Degree in Project Management or Construction Management is advantageous.
• Minimum 18 years' experience delivering major building developments, with significant experience on super high-rise or iconic mixed-use towers.
• Demonstrable experience operating within a Project Management Consultancy (PMC) or Client-side consultancy environment is essential.
• Proven track record managing high-profile Clients throughout complex project lifecycles.
• Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary consultant teams across architecture, engineering and specialist disciplines.
• Strong understanding of high-rise construction methodologies, structural systems, façade engineering and complex building services.
• Proven experience administering FIDIC contracts and managing commercial risk.
• Excellent programme management and project controls capability.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing large multidisciplinary teams.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Experience delivering projects within Saudi Arabia or the wider GCC is highly desirable.
• Membership of a recognised professional body (MRICS, RIBA, ICE, PMI, CIOB or equivalent) is advantageous.
• Fluent English is essential; Arabic would be advantageous.