Project Director

Project Director – Construction

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Salary: Highly Competitive – typically USD 115,795 – USD 217,116 per year (depending on seniority & experience)

Languages: Chinese & English (Fluent); Arabic preferred

Sector: Biotechnology · Industrial Construction · Large‑Scale Infrastructure

Employment Type: Full-time, On-site

Employer Overview

A major public-sector organisation within the biotechnology and advanced research sector is undergoing a significant global expansion. Headquartered in Asia, the employer is recognised for:

• World-leading R&D capabilities
• Strategic investment in global biotech and industrial infrastructure
• Large-scale project delivery across international markets
• A strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and technology localisation

The company is rapidly developing its footprint across the Middle East , with major industrial, logistics, and biotech facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. This expansion requires seasoned leadership capable of driving complex project delivery in fast-growing, high-impact environments.

This is a rare opportunity for a senior construction professional to shape the regional execution of cutting-edge biotech and industrial infrastructure projects.

Position Overview: Project Director

The Project Director will serve as the senior-most leader overseeing project management, construction execution, technology localisation, and multidisciplinary coordination across major Middle East projects. This is a high-visibility leadership position responsible for the successful delivery of strategic industrial and logistics developments.

Key Responsibilities

1. Regional Project Leadership

• Lead all construction and project management activities across Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
• Represent the client-side (Party A) in major offshore and local contractor engagements.
• Oversee project lifecycle management from design through execution and commissioning.

2. Contracting Strategy & Multi-Prime Management

• Manage complex projects delivered through multiple prime contracts or parallel contracting models .
• Provide senior-level interface management between contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders.

3. Compliance, Governance & Market Awareness

• Maintain expert understanding of regional construction laws, policies, and approval regulations.
• Ensure compliance across all project phases while proactively identifying and mitigating territory-specific risks.

4. Technical & Design Coordination

• Interpret and adapt technical standards such as Saudi Building Code (SBC) and the UAE Fire & Life Safety Code .
• Lead harmonisation between domestic engineering outputs and local engineering requirements.

5. Localisation of Advanced Technologies

• Translate domestic R&D and technical innovations into feasible Middle East applications.
• Optimise and localise engineering solutions to ensure cost efficiency, constructability, and regulatory compliance.

6. Cross-Cultural and Multi-National Leadership

• Serve as the communication bridge between domestic technical teams and Middle East project teams.
• Build cohesive relationships across design, supervision, supply chain, and subcontractor networks.

7. Procurement & Supply Chain Alignment

• Conduct local market analysis for materials and equipment.
• Work with procurement teams to define supply chain strategies, supplier selection, and contract technical terms.

8. On-site Oversight & Technical Assurance

• Deliver technical briefings to construction teams and validate site-level execution.
• Ensure all work meets quality, safety, budget, and schedule expectations.

9. Issue Resolution & Continuous Improvement

• Identify and resolve design, technical, or progress-related challenges.
• Collect feedback and data to support ongoing optimisation of processes and technical solutions.

Candidate Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture , or related field.

Experience

• 8–12+ years of senior project or construction management experience in the Middle East.
• Proven leadership in industrial plants, logistics real estate, or infrastructure megaprojects .
• Client-side (Party A) experience is highly advantageous.
• Strong exposure to multi-prime contracting, parallel contracting, and interface-heavy environments.

Technical Expertise

• Strong understanding of regional regulatory requirements and authority approval pathways.
• Sound knowledge of construction costs, procurement strategies, and major project challenges.
• Experience with project management systems such as Aconex, Procore, Primavera, BIM .

Languages & Cultural Fit

• Fluency in Chinese & English required; Arabic proficiency strongly preferred.
• Ability to manage diverse, multinational teams and operate in a high-paced environment.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional leadership and stakeholder management
• Outstanding communication and coordination skills
• Strong commercial awareness and cost management capability
• Strategic problem solver with hands-on execution ability
• High adaptability in multicultural and evolving project environments

Role Structure & Hiring Process

• Based full-time on-site at the project headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Direct reporting to the departmental director
• Two-stage international interview process
• Immediate or near-immediate joining preferred

Why This Role Is Attractive

• Shape the delivery of major biotech and industrial infrastructure in a rapidly growing region
• Senior strategic leadership role with global exposure
• Tax-efficient salary structures in Saudi Arabia
• Opportunity to drive technology localisation in a groundbreaking sector
• Work within a high-growth, innovation-centric organisation with long-term security