Director – Cruise Programme

Who we are looking for

We’re looking for a Programme Director who can see the big picture while keeping the moving parts aligned. Someone who thrives on delivering impact, brings clarity to complexity, and inspires teams to achieve ambitious goals. If you are passionate about driving successful project outcomes and leading with purpose, read on.

Job Purpose

Overall responsibility for the successful end-to-end delivery of the new Cruise programme within a major capital investment Portfolio.

Core Responsibilities

• Programme Strategy Alignment: Provide guidance and leadership in the development of a Cruise programme aligned with Portfolio roadmap and management plan.
• Business Plan Development: Lead the development of the Cruise business plan in collaboration with the Cruise and Portfolio Teams, defining the programme’s commercial objectives and securing necessary approvals for funding and execution.
• Programme Governance: Lead a programme framework and control mechanisms, including decision making structures and controls.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Provide senior engagement with leadership stakeholders to meet their expectations.
• Risk Management: Oversee programme risks ensuring implementation of risk response strategies and monitor effectiveness.
• Programme Planning: Ensure the integration of project plans, define interdependencies, and manage programme schedule.
• Programme Execution and Delivery: Oversee the execution of projects within the programme, manage programme-level changes, monitor progress against the programme baseline, and adjust execution strategies as necessary.
• Programme Cost Management: Accountable for the programme budget, financial performance, and programme contingency.
• Operational Readiness & Relocation: Plan and oversee operational readiness activities, ensuring a smooth relocation/transition from the old facility to the new cruise terminal.
• Accountable for overall Cruise programme delivery and integration with the wider Portfolio progress to ensure that key milestones are being met across all projects.
• Own project key risks, monitor the resolution of issues with the relevant parties and ensure implementation of mitigation plans to safeguard programme success.
• Oversight of Cruise programme data enforcing statistical, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive analytics.
• Accountable for both dependencies and interfaces between Cruise programme and other Portfolio programmes and enable cross functional and departmental collaboration.
• Provide HSE leadership for all construction activities across the programme and enforce the promotion of a positive HSE culture.

People Management Responsibilities

• Organizational Setup & Recruitment: Establish the programme’s organizational structure and recruit a qualified team to deliver the Cruise programme, ensuring all necessary roles (internal staff and external consultants) are in place and clearly assigned.
• Oversee the work of multi-disciplinary programme and project management teams.
• Ensure the effective allocation of work across resources and planning future resource requirements (both internal and external) effectively to meet programme requirements.
• Communicate technical information to non-technical stakeholders, including clusters and potential customers.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations for team members, providing constructive feedback and setting goals for professional growth.
• Offer coaching and mentoring to team members to enhance their capabilities and problem-solving skills.

Strategic Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain relationships with other senior management, suppliers, consultants, and contractors.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of departmental working practices.
• Ensure that programme budgets, business strategies, and resources are prepared in accordance with the Portfolio strategy.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or equivalent. Master's degree is a plus
• Excellent English. Arabic is an added advantage
• A minimum of 20 years of experience in a similar field
• Proven experience in delivering cruise terminals, airports or commercial real estate.
• Experience in a senior leadership position.
• Working in a multi-disciplinary engineering environment.
• Extensive experience in the field of corporate and commercial real estate development.
• Experience in working in both Developer and PMC organisations.

Desired Competencies

• Project and programme. management expertise
• Strategic planning and execution.
• Financial acumen.
• Stakeholder management.
• Change management.
• Leadership and team management.