Projects Director / Operations Director

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the execution of multiple concurrent EPC and industrial projects from contract award through commissioning, handover and close-out.
• Provide leadership and direction to Project Managers, Construction Managers, Project Controls teams and multidisciplinary project personnel.
• Maintain overall accountability for project safety, quality, schedule, cost, profitability, cash flow and client satisfaction.
• Review and approve project execution plans, baseline schedules, procurement strategies, mobilisation plans and resource requirements.
• Monitor the overall project portfolio and intervene in delayed, high-risk or commercially underperforming projects.
• Ensure effective coordination between engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, commercial, project controls, HSE and QA/QC functions.
• Oversee project budgets, cost forecasts, estimates at completion, commitments and gross-margin performance.
• Ensure variations, claims, extensions of time and additional works are identified, documented and submitted within contractual timeframes.
• Monitor invoicing, payment certification, collections, retention and working-capital exposure.
• Oversee critical procurement packages, long-lead equipment, vendor performance and material delivery.
• Manage fabrication and construction priorities across multiple projects and work locations.
• Oversee mechanical completion, pre-commissioning, commissioning, performance testing and final handover.
• Maintain senior-level relationships with clients, consultants, partners, subcontractors and key stakeholders.
• Lead executive project reviews and resolve major technical, commercial and contractual escalations.
• Support tender reviews, bid-risk assessments, contract negotiations and project mobilisation.
• Develop the capability and succession pipeline of Project Managers and senior project personnel.
• Ensure variations, claims, extensions of time and additional works are identified, documented and submitted within contractual timeframes.
• Monitor invoicing, payment certification, collections, retention and working-capital exposure.
• Oversee critical procurement packages, long-lead equipment, vendor performance and material delivery.
• Manage fabrication and construction priorities across multiple projects and work locations.
• Oversee mechanical completion, pre-commissioning, commissioning, performance testing and final handover.
• Maintain senior-level relationships with clients, consultants, partners, subcontractors and key stakeholders.
• Lead executive project reviews and resolve major technical, commercial and contractual escalations.
• Support tender reviews, bid-risk assessments, contract negotiations and project mobilisation.
• Develop the capability and succession pipeline of Project Managers and senior project personnel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Electrical or another relevant engineering discipline.
• PMP, Chartered Engineer or an equivalent professional qualification is preferred.
• Minimum 20 years of experience within EPC, oil and gas, petrochemical, terminals, storage facilities, process plants or heavy industrial projects.
• At least 8 years in senior project leadership as Projects Director, Project Director, Head of Projects or General Manager – Projects.
• Direct experience working for an EPC contractor.
• Proven experience overseeing multiple Project Managers and concurrent projects.
• Strong UAE or GCC project-delivery experience.
• Full responsibility for project budgets, P&L, margins, cash flow and commercial performance.
• Strong experience across engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Proven experience managing contracts, variations, claims, extensions of time and project risks.
• Experience recovering delayed or commercially underperforming projects.
• Strong client-management, negotiation, leadership and decision-making capabilities.