Project Director

Job Title :
Interim Project Director / Senior Project Delivery Manager

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Contract Duration: Up to 3 Years

Start Date: January (or earlier by mutual agreement)

Remuneration: Up to AED 70,000 per month, dependent on experience

The Opportunity

An international power and infrastructure developer is seeking an experienced Project Delivery professional to support the development and execution of major utility-scale energy projects in the Middle East.

This is a strategic owner/developer-side role requiring strong experience across project development, project company establishment, contract management and EPC oversight. The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering complex power generation assets from financial close through construction and commercial operation.

Candidates with experience in either:

• Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) projects, or
• Utility-scale Solar PV projects incorporating Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) will be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead project execution activities on behalf of the project owner/developer.
• Support the establishment and governance of project companies (SPVs).
• Develop project delivery strategies, execution plans, budgets and schedules.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on time and within budget.

Commercial & Contract Management

• Manage and administer major project agreements including:
• PPP structures
• Independent Power Producer (IPP) contracts
• Independent Water and Power Producer (IWPP/IWPP) contracts
• EPC contracts
• Owner's Engineer contracts
• Manage contractor performance, claims, variations, extensions of time and contractual disputes.
• Coordinate with lenders, offtakers, shareholders and key stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

EPC & Construction Oversight

• Oversee EPC contractors during engineering, procurement and construction phases.
• Monitor project progress, identifying and mitigating risks.
• Lead project reporting and governance processes.
• Drive HSE, quality and compliance standards across all project activities.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as a senior interface between project companies, EPC contractors, consultants, regulators and shareholders.
• Support relationships with lenders, government entities and strategic partners.
• Facilitate coordination between development, delivery, operations and asset management teams.

Experience Required Essential

• Degree qualified in Engineering or a related discipline.
• Significant experience working on the owner/developer side of major power and infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrable experience establishing and managing project companies/SPVs.
• Strong knowledge of PPP, IPP and/or IWPP contract structures.
• Experience managing EPC contractors on large-scale energy projects.
• Proven delivery experience through construction and commissioning phases.

Technical Background

Applicants should have substantial experience in either:

Option 1 – Thermal Power

• Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power projects.

Option 2 – Renewables

• Utility-scale Solar PV projects.
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

Preferred

• Middle East project experience.
• Experience working with developers, utilities, investors or project companies.
• Strong understanding of project finance and lender requirements.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary project teams and external stakeholders.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be a commercially minded project leader capable of operating within complex contractual environments while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. They will have a proven track record of delivering large-scale energy projects and navigating the unique challenges associated with project-financed power developments.