Project Director – High-Rise Residential
- Company: Tier 1 General Contractor
- Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Experience Required: Minimum 20 Years
- Sector: High-Rise Residential / Mixed-Use
- Reporting To: Executive Director / Chief Operating Officer
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly accomplished and visionary Project Director to spearhead flagship, high-rise residential developments in Abu Dhabi. Representing a premier Tier 1 General Contractor, this leadership role requires an elite professional with a minimum of 20 years of robust experience in the civil construction sector, explicitly leading complex, fast-track vertical residential towers.
The successful candidate will assume ultimate accountability for the end-to-end execution of multi-billion AED projects. This includes strategic directive over engineering, procurement, construction management, QHSE compliance, sub-contractor ecosystems, and commercial profitability, ensuring seamless delivery from substructure to turnkey handovers.
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Leadership & Strategic Governance
- Provide comprehensive operational and strategic direction to the entire project management team, aligning all site practices with Tier 1 corporate benchmarks.
- Serve as the primary liaison for the Client, Project Management Consultants (PMCs), Supervision Consultants, and local Abu Dhabi Municipal authorities.
- Establish macro-level milestones and project execution plans spanning enabling works, deep basements, core walls, structural MEP integration, architectural facades, and premium interior fit-outs.
2. Operational Execution & Engineering Excellence
- Direct the deployment of advanced high-rise construction methodologies, including self-climbing formwork, heavy-lifting tower cranes, high-pressure concrete pumping, and modular MEP strategies.
- Oversee day-to-day site operations to guarantee that structural cycle times (floor-to-floor targets) are met without compromising safety or quality.
- Resolve highly technical engineering variations, design clashes, and constructability bottlenecks in collaboration with the technical office.
3. Commercial, Contractual & Financial Accountability
- Manage the comprehensive project budget, P&L, cash flow forecasts, and resource allocation models to protect contract margins.
- Mitigate commercial risks by strictly governing FIDIC-based contracts, claims management, variation orders, and extension of time (EOT) applications.
- Oversee the strategic selection, evaluation, and management of specialized trade subcontractors and major materials vendors.
4. QHSE & Regulatory Compliance
- Enforce a zero-harm culture across all project phases, ensuring absolute compliance with ADOSH (Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health) frameworks and Tier 1 corporate HSE standards.
- Ensure the project secures all mandatory statutory completions, Civil Defence approvals, and Estidama green building rating certifications.
Education & Certifications
- Bachelor’s Degree: Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Architecture from a recognized international university (Mandatory).
- Postgraduate Degree: MSc in Construction Management or an MBA is highly advantageous.
- Professional Credentials: Chartership (MRICS, ICE, or equivalent) and PMP certification are strongly preferred.
Experience
- Minimum 20 years of total post-qualification experience within the civil construction industry.
- A proven track record of at least 5–8 years in a Project Director capacity specifically delivering high-rise residential or mixed-use towers (typically 20+ stories featuring deep basements and high-end finishes).
- Extensive tenure working directly for reputable Tier 1 General Contractors.
- Deep familiarity with the Middle Eastern construction landscape, with a strong preference for localized experience within Abu Dhabi or the wider UAE region.
Technical & Leadership Competencies
- Mastery of high-rise construction logistics, structural concrete technology, advanced MEP coordination, and premium façade systems.
- Robust commercial acumen with profound expertise in managing contract variations, dispute resolutions, and cost-control systems.
- Exceptional command of English (written and verbal), with the executive presence necessary to negotiate and present directly to high-profile developers and board members.
- Commanding leadership skills with a proven capacity to manage, mentor, and unify multicultural workforces exceeding thousands of personnel.
