Program Director - Rail Consultancy
Posted date [2026-05-30]
(ID: 45831)
 |
Founded in 1944, Parsons Corporation, a digitally enabled solutions provider, is focused on creating the future of the defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets. From Earth to outer space, we deliver tomorrow’s solutions today. Equipped with the capabilities required to take on any defense, intelligence, or critical infrastructure challenge, our agile, innovative, and disruptive approach enables us to deliver solutions at the speed of relevance.
Our people are our greatest asset. We strive to be an employer of choice that engages employees in the community and creates rewarding career paths to cultivate a resilient workforce that is ready for the future.... |
Job Description and Requirements
Program Director - Rail ConsultancyJob Snapshot
Role: Program Director - Rail Consultancy
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Program Management
Experience: Minimum 20 years of experience, including at least 10 years managing large-scale rail or metro infrastructure programmes
Job Type: Full-time
Position Overview
Program Director - Rail Consultancy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Civil Engineering leadership opportunity for a senior rail infrastructure professional who can lead a landmark multi-stage, multi-discipline consultancy programme across the UAE. This role is suited for an experienced programme leader with strong expertise in rail and metro delivery, airport-rail integration, Design and Construct contract administration, stakeholder management, systems assurance, BIM governance, commercial control, and major infrastructure programme delivery from feasibility through commissioning and close-out.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Program Management
Salary: 55000-75000
Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Role Context
The Program Director - Rail Consultancy will act as the principal representative of the Parsons-led consultancy team and will be accountable to the client for all aspects of programme delivery. The role covers feasibility and concept design, preliminary design, tender documentation, Design and Construct contract award, design review, contract administration, defects liability, and project close-out. The position requires strong executive presence, technical judgment, commercial awareness, and the ability to lead complex rail-airport integration programmes involving government authorities, airport operators, utility agencies, contractors, designers, and specialist sub-consultants.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the multidisciplinary consultancy team across all programme stages, ensuring delivery in line with client policies, approved programme, budget, quality requirements, and contractual obligations.
* Act as the primary interface with the client, government authorities, airport stakeholders, utility agencies, and other project stakeholders.
* Chair design workshops, technical coordination sessions, stakeholder meetings, and project charrettes as required by the contract.
* Establish, maintain, and update the Programme Management Plan and all subsidiary management plans required under the client framework.
* Mobilize and manage project resources, specialist sub-consultants, technical teams, and delivery personnel across all stages of the programme.
* Direct multidisciplinary design integration across civil, structural, rail systems, MEP, architecture, infrastructure, and operational disciplines.
* Ensure design compliance with the client’s rail project design guidelines and wider programme requirements.
* Oversee airport-rail interface definition, including coordination with airport stakeholders, mobility hub requirements, baggage handling systems, and security systems integration.
* Govern the project BIM framework and Master Information Delivery Plan in line with PAS 1192 requirements.
* Oversee systems assurance, RAMS, hazard management, verification, validation, and technical assurance activities.
* Lead Design and Construct tender preparation, including pre-qualification, tender administration, technical evaluation, commercial coordination, and award support.
* Administer the Design and Construct contract, including design review, contractor submissions, cost control, schedule monitoring, and supervision through testing and commissioning.
* Manage stakeholder interfaces and coordinate timely NOC approvals from relevant Dubai authorities and service agencies.
* Manage project correspondence through Aconex and ensure accurate weekly, biweekly, and monthly reporting to the client.
* Monitor programme performance against baseline schedules, budgets, deliverables, risk registers, and quality requirements.
* Manage risks, changes, claims, value management, and value engineering activities across all design and delivery stages.
* Oversee CAPEX and OPEX estimation, cost monitoring, commercial reporting, and financial submissions in client-required formats.
* Provide senior leadership during defects liability, close-out planning, final documentation, and handover-related activities.
Ideal Profile
* Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical discipline is required.
* Master’s degree will be an advantage.
* Professional certification such as ICE, PMP, APM, or equivalent will be desirable.
* Minimum 20 years of overall professional experience is required.
* At least 10 years of experience managing large-scale rail or metro infrastructure programmes at Project Director or Program Director level.
* Proven track record delivering major rail programmes such as metro, commuter rail, express rail, airport connector, or inter-terminal transit systems.
* Strong experience across the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and concept design through commissioning, close-out, and defects liability.
* Experience managing Design and Construct contracts exceeding 1bn in value.
* Strong knowledge of complex multi-stakeholder environments involving government authorities, airport operators, utility agencies, contractors, and technical consultants.
* Strong understanding of rail systems integration, including signalling, rolling stock, traction power, AFC, platform screen doors, communications, and operational control systems.
* Practical knowledge of airport-rail interface requirements, passenger flow planning, baggage handling integration, security systems, and mobility hub coordination.
* Familiarity with BIM, PAS 1192, systems assurance, RAMS, hazard management, verification, and validation.
* Excellent English communication skills with strong executive reporting and stakeholder engagement capability.
* Direct Middle East project experience will be a significant advantage.
* Familiarity with FIDIC-based consultancy agreements, IBM DOORS-NG, IBM ELM, and Aconex will be desirable.
* Knowledge of LEED certification, sustainability frameworks, and renewable energy integration in infrastructure projects will be an advantage.
Skills Set
* Rail programme leadership
* Program management
* Metro infrastructure
* Express rail projects
* Airport rail integration
* Multi-disciplinary consultancy delivery
* Design and Construct contracts
* Contract administration
* Feasibility studies
* Concept design
* Preliminary design
* Tender documentation
* Tender evaluation
* Project close-out
* Defects liability management
* Stakeholder management
* NOC coordination
* Government authority coordination
* Airport operator coordination
* Utility agency coordination
* Rail systems integration
* Signalling systems
* Rolling stock
* Traction power
* AFC systems
* Platform screen doors
* Communications systems
* Mobility hub coordination
* Baggage handling systems
* Security systems integration
* BIM governance
* Master Information Delivery Plan
* PAS 1192
* Systems assurance
* RAMS
* Hazard management
* Verification and validation
* CAPEX estimation
* OPEX estimation
* Commercial management
* Risk management
* Change management
* Claims management
* Value engineering
* Aconex
* IBM DOORS-NG
* IBM ELM
* FIDIC agreements
* Passenger flow modelling
* Peak demand analysis
* LEED awareness
* Sustainability frameworks
* Board-level reporting
Why Join Us
This opportunity offers a high-impact leadership role within Dubai’s Civil Engineering and rail infrastructure sector, with responsibility for a landmark consultancy programme involving complex rail-airport integration, multi-stakeholder governance, major contract administration, and full lifecycle programme delivery. The position is ideal for a senior rail leader who wants to guide strategic infrastructure delivery, influence major mobility outcomes, and work with Parsons on technically demanding transportation programmes across the UAE.
About the Company
Parsons Corporation is a global engineering, infrastructure, and technology company delivering design, consulting, project management, and technical services across transportation, buildings, utilities, defense, environmental, and critical infrastructure sectors. In Dubai and across the Middle East, Parsons supports major public and private sector programmes with innovative solutions that improve mobility, safety, resilience, sustainability, and long-term infrastructure performance.
