Chief Projects

Job PurposeTo serve as the executive authority driving construction delivery, engineering execution, and program controls across the real estate portfolio, while holding overall lifecycle accountability from project inception to commercial launch, sales alignment, and handover. The role focuses primarily on building assets on time, within CapEx baselines, and to premier engineering standards, ensuring seamless integration with feasibility, permitting, off-plan sales, and customer handover.Key Responsibilities1. Project Execution, Construction & Site Operations Direct on-site construction operations, site logistics, and contractor execution across all active developments, master plans, and vertical assets.Oversee Project Management Consultants (PMC), supervision consultants, and Tier-1 general contractors to enforce strict schedule adherence and productivity targets.Implement advanced Project Controls: Earned Value Management (EVM), Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling, cash-flow S-curves, and weekly 3-week lookaheads.Drive constructability reviews, value engineering (VE), and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), including modular construction, precast systems, and BIM (4D/5D) integration.Enforce zero-tolerance Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) policies and institutionalize multi-tier Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) regimes to prevent rework and structural defects.Manage commercial contractor administration: review progress billings, manage variations/change orders, mitigate contractual disputes, and enforce FIDIC provisions.2. Engineering, Technical Design & Permitting Steer the technical translation of concept designs into detailed engineering, architectural, and infrastructure packages ready for execution.Expedite end-to-end municipal and statutory permitting (e.g., Balady, Civil Defense, environmental clearances, and utility tie-ins).Ensure full alignment with off-plan sales engineering requirements and regulatory escrow account guidelines (e.g., Wafi certification).3. Feasibility, Strategy & ProcurementPartner with executive leadership to evaluate land feasibility, development briefs, constructability viability, and baseline CapEx models.Define and execute the project procurement and contracting strategy (EPC, Design-Build, Traditional, GMP) and lead contractor pre-qualification, tendering, and contract awards.Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) and governance frameworks for the Project Management Office (PMO).4. Commercial Alignment, Sales Integration & Handover Synchronize construction milestones with commercial release phases, marketing campaigns, and off-plan sales launches to ensure cash inflows match build progress.Direct testing, commissioning, Building Completion Certificates (BCC), and snagging protocols to guarantee zero-defect unit transfers.Oversee the end-to-end customer handover journey, title deed issuance, and operational asset transition to Property/Facility Management (FM) and Owners' Associations (Mullak).Qualifications & ExperienceEducation:Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or Architectural Engineering.Master’s degree in Construction Engineering, Project Management, or MBA is preferred.Experience:18+ years of extensive experience in engineering and construction management within the real estate development sector.Proven track record leading large-scale master-planned infrastructure and vertical building execution (residential communities, towers, mixed-use assets).Minimum 6–8 years in an executive capacity (Chief Projects Officer, VP of Projects/Construction, Executive Delivery Director).In-depth mastery of full project lifecycles, off-plan developments, contractor management, and site execution.Certifications & Professional Credentials:Project Management Professional (PMP) or Program Management Professional (PgMP) — RequiredRICS / CIOB / Professional Engineer (PE) status — Preferred