Senior Project Director

Xircle Talent; Singapore; On-site; SGD 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Unknown Client, a Japanese-origin construction and real estate group, seeks a Senior Project Director to steer strategic direction, governance, and delivery of major projects in Asia.

The role leads senior management teams, aligns safety, quality, schedule, and cost objectives, and represents the client to stakeholders. Extensive Singapore experience is essential for project governance and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Substantial leadership experience on major construction projects.
• Experience with contracts and large-scale budgeting.
• Proven ability to manage senior clients and stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of Singapore construction regulations.
• Track record of delivering projects safely, on schedule and within budget.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and governance for one or more major construction projects.
• Establish objectives, delivery strategies, governance structures, and decision-making frameworks.
• Lead and mentor Project Directors, Senior Project Managers, and functional heads.
• Ensure alignment with contractual, operational, commercial, and organisational goals.
• Review performance and implement corrective or recovery measures as needed.
• Maintain oversight of planning, design coordination, procurement, construction, testing, and handover.
• Ensure safety, quality, schedule, and cost compliance across projects.
• Oversee contract administration, claims, variations, procurement, and commercial risk.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Governance

Strategic planning

Risk management

Contract management

Budgeting & cost control

Negotiation

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

About Our Client

Our client is a well-established Japanese-origin construction and real estate group with an extensive international network across Asia.

Job Summary

This Senior Project Director role holds overall accountability for the strategic direction, commercial performance, and successful delivery of major construction projects. The position leads senior project management teams, establishes project governance, and ensures safety, quality, programme, cost, contractual, and client objectives are achieved. The role also serves as the primary senior representative to external and internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall strategic leadership and governance for one or more major construction projects.
• Establish project objectives, delivery strategies, governance structures, and decision-making frameworks.
• Lead and mentor Project Directors, Senior Project Managers, commercial leaders, and functional heads.
• Ensure project teams remain aligned with contractual, operational, commercial, and organisational objectives.
• Review overall project performance and intervene with corrective or recovery measures when required.
• Maintain executive oversight of project planning, design coordination, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within approved budgets, and to required quality standards.
• Approve major construction methodologies, resource plans, procurement strategies, and project execution programmes.
• Oversee recovery planning for delays, productivity issues, design challenges, and other major delivery risks.
• Ensure effective coordination across civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, and specialist work packages.
• Hold overall accountability for project financial performance, profitability, cash flow, and cost control.
• Oversee contract administration, claims, variations, procurement, subcontractor performance, and commercial risk.
• Review project forecasts, cost-to-complete positions, and financial reporting.
• Lead the resolution of major contractual, commercial, and claims-related matters.
• Ensure commercial decisions protect the company’s contractual and financial interests.
• Champion a strong safety culture across all projects and project leadership teams.
• Ensure compliance with workplace safety, environmental, statutory, and organisational requirements.
• Maintain executive oversight of quality performance, non-conformance management, and corrective actions.
• Identify and manage major project risks relating to programme, design, construction, commercial exposure, and stakeholder expectations.
• Ensure appropriate risk controls, contingency plans, and escalation procedures are in place.
• Serve as the senior point of contact for clients, consultants, authorities, joint-venture partners, and key subcontractors.
• Manage high-level stakeholder expectations and maintain strong client relationships.
• Lead major project negotiations, executive meetings, and dispute-resolution discussions.
• Ensure statutory approvals, authority interfaces, and utility requirements are properly managed.
• Provide clear and timely project reporting to executive management and other stakeholders.
• Support tender strategy, project reviews, bid governance, and pre-construction planning.
• Participate in project selection, risk assessment, and commercial evaluation of new opportunities.
• Support business development and strengthen relationships with strategic clients and industry partners.
• Develop succession plans and strengthen the capability of project-management teams.
• Drive continuous improvement across project governance, productivity, digital construction, and delivery processes.

Requirements

• Degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management, Building, or a related discipline.
• Typically 20–25 years of construction industry experience, including substantial experience in Project Director or equivalent leadership positions.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale and complex construction projects, preferably with individual contract values exceeding S$500 million.
• Experience overseeing multiple projects, major work packages, or large multidisciplinary delivery teams is advantageous.
• Strong background in major building, mixed-use, institutional, healthcare, commercial, industrial, or infrastructure developments.
• Comprehensive understanding of project delivery, construction methodology, contracts, procurement, cost management, claims, and risk management.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing project profitability, cash flow, and major contractual exposures.
• Extensive knowledge of Singapore construction regulations, authority requirements, and statutory approval processes.
• Proven ability to manage senior clients, consultants, authorities, and complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong leadership, negotiation, decision-making, and crisis-management capabilities.
• Strategic, commercially focused, and capable of balancing project delivery requirements with broader organisational objectives.