Project Director-Architecture

Job Description

With more than 14000 people around the globe, GHD is one of the world’s leading professional services companies operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Serving clients across five continents and the Pacific region, GHD people share a passion for exceeding the expectations of our clients and contributing to their success.

Project Director Architecture

We are seeking an accomplished Project Director with an Architecture background to lead the delivery of a major, highly complex, master-planned, multi-discipline development. The role requires deep expertise in large-scale mixed-use communities, encompassing residential, hospitality, commercial, recreational, cultural, and educational facilities, delivered within a coordinated program environment.

The Project Director will provide strategic, technical, commercial, and people leadership across all phases of the project lifecycle with a focus on Architecture, ensuring alignment with client objectives, regional business strategy, and global best practice.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Commercial Leadership

• Contribute towards achieving regional financial and growth targets, with full accountability for a major Operational Area, Market Sector, or Project/Program portfolio within a complex regional environment.
• Influence and support the development and execution of the Business Group’s strategic business plan, including market positioning, capability development, and pursuit strategy for major opportunities.
• Lead commercial governance across assigned projects, including fee strategy, scope management, change control, risk exposure, and margin performance.
• Act as a key contributor to major bids and pursuits, including oversight of design strategy, resourcing, program, and commercial inputs.
• Provide overall leadership and direction for large, multi-discipline project teams, ensuring the successful delivery of multiple, interrelated building typologies under a unified master program.
• Oversee all project phases from master planning and concept design through detailed design, authority approvals, tender, construction, and handover.
• Ensure time, cost, quality, and safety performance targets are achieved across all assigned projects and programs.
• Establish and maintain robust project governance, reporting, risk management, and decision-making frameworks appropriate to complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Manage interfaces between architecture, engineering, landscape, infrastructure, sustainability, cost management, and specialist consultants to ensure integrated outcomes.
  
  

• Provide overall leadership and direction for large, multi-discipline project teams, ensuring the successful delivery of multiple, interrelated building typologies under a unified master program.
• Oversee all project phases from master planning and concept design through detailed design, authority approvals, tender, construction, and handover.
• Ensure time, cost, quality, and safety performance targets are achieved across all assigned projects and programs.
• Establish and maintain robust project governance, reporting, risk management, and decision-making frameworks appropriate to complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Manage interfaces between architecture, engineering, landscape, infrastructure, sustainability, cost management, and specialist consultants to ensure integrated outcomes.
  
  

• Serve as Technical Lead on high-profile, complex, or multi-discipline projects, providing architectural oversight and ensuring design intent is maintained across all stages.
• Apply deep technical expertise and global best practices to resolve highly complex, novel, or unprecedented challenges.
• Approve and champion the use of innovative design approaches, digital tools, delivery methodologies, and emerging technologies in response to market trends and client needs.
• Consolidate and leverage innovative solutions developed across projects to deliver broader regional and organizational benefit.
  
  

• Act as a trusted senior advisor to national and international clients, joint venture partners, government entities, and regulatory authorities.
• Lead senior-level client engagement, ensuring alignment on vision, scope, risk, program, and commercial matters.
• Represent the organization at key client, authority, and industry forums, strengthening relationships and market reputation.
• Manage functional or operational areas, processes, or programs, including dotted-line leadership of discipline leads and project teams where applicable.
• Provide day-to-day people leadership, including resource planning, performance management, mentoring, succession planning, and capability development.
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture that supports innovation, accountability, and professional growth.
• Communicate project and program strategy, objectives, and context clearly to internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders.
• Implement, monitor, and enhance operating policies, processes, and procedures, ensuring compliance with UAE regulations, authority requirements, contractual obligations, and delegated authority frameworks.
• Ensure adherence to quality management systems, health and safety standards, and ethical and professional obligations.
  
  

• 20+ years of industry experience, with 8–10+ years in the UAE or GCC strongly preferred.
• Proven experience as a Project Director or equivalent senior leadership role on large-scale, multi-discipline developments with multiple building typologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex programs or portfolios, rather than single standalone projects.
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture or a related field.
• Professional registration in Architecture; Project Management certification is an advantage.
• Strong consultancy background with experience across pre-contract and post-contract stages, including authority approvals and construction delivery.
• Deep understanding of UAE planning, building regulations, and approval processes.
• Excellent commercial acumen, including fee management, risk mitigation, and contractual awareness.
• Proven leadership capability with large, multi-discipline teams across geographically distributed environments.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leveraging digital delivery platforms (e.g. BIM, data-driven design, digital twins) and integrated project delivery methodologies.
• Ability to operate with a high degree of independence, exercising sound judgement in complex and ambiguous situations.