Associate Director Infrastructure Project Delivery

About WhiteCrow

We are global talent research, insight, and sourcing specialists with offices in the UK, USA, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Dubai, and India. Our international reach has helped us to understand and penetrate specialist markets at a global level. In addition to this, our service is also extended to complement our client’s in-house talent acquisition teams.

About our client

Since its inception in 2000, our client has emerged as a prominent and fast-growing retail group serving markets across the Middle East. The organization partners with world-class fashion and lifestyle brands, delivering globally inspired products and experiences to discerning consumers throughout the GCC. Guided by a vision to become a leading regional gateway for international retailers, the company has successfully built a broad portfolio across diverse consumer categories. Its collaborative approach with global brand partners, combined with extensive market expertise and a customer-first mindset, has enabled sustained growth and ongoing expansion across the region. Today, our client remains well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities within the dynamic Middle Eastern retail market.

As an Associate Director – Infrastructure Project Delivery, you will be responsible for...

• Supporting the Director in defining and implementing infrastructure project delivery strategies, execution plans, governance requirements and operational priorities aligned with the approved business plan.
• Leading assigned infrastructure projects and work packages through procurement, construction, testing, commissioning and handover, with clear accountability for scope, programme, cost, quality, safety and sustainability outcomes.
• Directing multidisciplinary consultants, contractors, utility providers and internal teams, ensuring coordinated delivery across roads, drainage, sewerage, potable water, irrigation, power, district cooling, telecommunications and related civil works. Establishing and maintaining integrated schedules, budgets, cash-flow forecasts, risk registers and performance dashboards; identifying emerging variances and implementing timely mitigation, recovery and escalation measures.
• Overseeing technical reviews, constructability assessments, value engineering, interface management and design change control to ensure solutions are compliant, coordinated, buildable and commercially sound.
• Managing procurement and contract-administration activities for assigned packages, including scope development, tender evaluation, contractor and consultant performance, payment recommendations, variations, claims and commercial close-out in accordance with the Delegation of Authority.
• Developing and managing the project authority approvals strategy and responsibility matrix, ensuring all required submissions, NOCs, permits, technical clearances, inspections, utility service connections and completion certificates are identified, programmed and secured in line with project milestones.
• Leading and coordinating all formal engagement with RTA, DEWA, Dubai Municipality, DDA/Trakhees, Civil Defence, telecommunications operators and other approving bodies, acting as the principal project-delivery focal point for authority-related matters.
• Overseeing the preparation, quality review and timely submission of authority drawings, reports, calculations, applications and supporting documents; ensuring consultant and contractor responses are fully addressing authority comments within agreed timelines.
• Maintaining an authority approvals tracker covering submissions, review cycles, fees, undertakings, permits, inspections and dependencies; identifying risks to the programme, driving mitigation actions and escalating critical delays with clear recommendations.
• Chairing and participating in authority coordination meetings, technical workshops and site inspections; recording decisions and commitments, assigning actions and ensuring timely closure of comments, non-compliances and outstanding requirements.
• Ensuring approved authority conditions and utility requirements are being incorporated into design, procurement, construction and handover deliverables; managing proposed deviations or changes and maintaining complete approval and close-out records for final acceptance.
• Ensuring rigorous compliance with approved drawings, specifications, contracts, authority requirements and quality, health, safety and environmental standards; driving the timely closure of NCRs, defects and audit findings.
• Chairing project, technical, commercial and progress reviews; providing concise, accurate and decision-oriented reports to senior management on delivery status, key risks, financial exposure and required actions.
• Managing interfaces with master planning, development, design, commercial, finance, legal, community management and handover teams to ensure infrastructure readiness supports plot, asset and community delivery milestones.
• Leading the resolution of critical site, utility, access, stakeholder and third-party issues, escalating material matters with clear recommendations and protecting project objectives and contractual entitlements.
• Providing leadership, coaching and performance direction to project team members, promoting accountability and collaboration, and driving continuous improvement, lessons learned and the adoption of industry best practices and digital delivery tools.

What you already have...

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline from a recognized university.
• Professional engineering registration and/or a recognized project management qualification such as PMP, PRINCE2 or an equivalent certification is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of infrastructure design and construction standards, contract administration, project controls and Dubai authority approval processes.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in infrastructure project delivery, including at least 5 years in a senior project management or leadership capacity.
• Demonstrable experience delivering large-scale roads, utilities and masterdevelopment infrastructure projects through design, procurement,
• construction, commissioning and handover.
• Substantial UAE experience is preferred, with practical knowledge of Dubai authorities, utility providers, regulatory requirements and stakeholder interfaces.