Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design
Posted date [2026-08-31]
(ID: 50458)
 |
AECOM is a global leader in infrastructure development, engineering, and project management solutions, dedicated to building a better, smarter, and more sustainable world. With unmatched expertise in construction, civil engineering, architecture, environmental consulting, and urban development, AECOM helps clients tackle complex challenges across water, energy, transportation, oil and gas, renewable energy, and smart city projects. As one of the world’s leading engineering and construction companies in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the wider Gulf region, AECOM partners with both government and private organizations to deliver innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective infrastructure solutions through every stage of the project lifecycle from advisory and design to engineering, procurement, and construction management. Headquartered in the United States and operating across the Middle East, AECOM is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of USD 16.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. Its projects shape skylines, transportation systems, and energy networks across major Gulf cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, and Muscat. For those seeking engineering jobs in Dubai, construction management roles in the UAE, civil engineering careers in Saudi Arabia, or infrastructure project opportunities across the Middle East, AECOM offers a world-class environment for growth and innovation. Discover the latest AECOM Gulf and Middle East job openings at careersingulf.com, the region’s leading job portal for engineering, architecture, construction, and project management careers.... |
Job Description and Requirements
Project Manager - Pre-Contract DesignJob Snapshot
Role: Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Construction
Function: Project Management
Experience: Minimum 5 years
Job Type: Full-time
Position Overview
Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a Construction opportunity with AECOM for an experienced professional managing design-phase delivery, consultant coordination, project schedules, budgets, compliance, and stakeholder requirements before construction begins. The role supports successful project outcomes by organizing multidisciplinary design activities, controlling risk, maintaining quality, and ensuring pre-contract deliverables are completed in line with client expectations, UAE regulations, and agreed commercial objectives.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Construction
Function: Project Management
Salary: 22000-32000
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 Project Manager is responsible for bringing structure
and control to the pre-contract design stage, where project scope, technical decisions, consultant performance, budgets, approvals, and schedules must be aligned before procurement and construction progress.
The position coordinates internal disciplines, clients, consultants, finance, procurement, and external stakeholders while maintaining clear visibility of design progress and emerging risks. Effective management during this stage helps reduce downstream changes, strengthens cost certainty, improves coordination, and supports smoother transition into tendering and project execution.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage design-phase activities from project initiation through completion of pre-contract requirements.
* Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, and resource requirements for design delivery.
* Coordinate architects, engineers, specialist consultants, internal teams, clients, and external stakeholders.
* Maintain clear communication channels so design decisions, actions, responsibilities, and deadlines are understood.
* Conduct structured design reviews and quality checks against project specifications, approved requirements, and applicable regulations.
* Monitor consultant deliverables and ensure design information is submitted according to agreed programmes.
* Manage design consultant contracts, scopes of work, responsibilities, and performance against contractual commitments.
* Identify technical, commercial, programme, coordination, and approval risks and implement suitable mitigation measures.
* Track project performance against agreed KPIs and provide clear progress reporting to senior management.
* Maintain accurate design specifications, meeting minutes, compliance records, decisions, correspondence, and project documentation.
* Adapt project management procedures where required to reflect client expectations while maintaining organizational controls.
* Coordinate with procurement teams on design-related requirements that affect tendering, consultant engagement, and downstream purchasing activities.
* Work with finance teams to monitor design expenditure, forecasts, commitments, and budget performance.
* Ensure projects follow relevant UAE building codes, approval procedures, regulatory requirements, and industry practices.
* Monitor design changes and evaluate their potential effect on budget, programme, scope, and project objectives.
* Support timely resolution of issues that could delay design completion or affect pre-contract readiness.
* Maintain disciplined reporting and documentation throughout the design lifecycle to support decision-making and project governance.
Ideal Profile
Candidates should hold a Bachelor\'s degree in a built environment discipline and bring at least 5 years of project management experience within construction, engineering, real estate, or a comparable design-led environment.
Experience managing multidisciplinary design projects is essential, including responsibility for consultants, schedules, budgets, deliverables, risks, documentation, and stakeholder coordination.
Applicants should have strong working knowledge of design processes, project management methodologies, technical standards, and the interaction between design development and later construction delivery.
Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Primavera, or equivalent planning and project management tools is required.
PMP or PRINCE2 certification is expected, while international professional accreditation such as MIStructE, MICE, RIBA, AIA, PMP, or an equivalent credential is preferred.
Previous experience in the UAE or wider Middle East market is particularly valuable, together with knowledge of local building codes, authority approvals, regulatory procedures, and regional project practices.
Skills Set
* Pre-contract project management
* Design phase management
* Design consultant management
* Multidisciplinary coordination
* Construction project planning
* Project scheduling
* Budget management
* Resource planning
* Risk management
* Design quality assurance
* Project KPI monitoring
* Consultant contract management
* Scope management
* Stakeholder coordination
* Design review
* Technical documentation
* Project reporting
* Compliance management
* UAE building codes
* UAE authority approvals
* Procurement coordination
* Financial coordination
* Primavera
* Microsoft Project
* PMP
* PRINCE2
* Change management
* Design programme control
Why Join Us
The role offers strong exposure to the early stages of major building and infrastructure projects in Dubai, where disciplined design management can significantly influence cost, programme, quality, and construction readiness. Professionals in this position can deepen their capability across consultant management, commercial coordination, planning, regulatory compliance, and multidisciplinary project delivery.
AECOM\'s regional and international project portfolio also provides opportunities to work with experienced technical teams, established project management systems, and complex client environments while building a pathway toward senior project management and programme leadership responsibilities.
About the Company
AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management services across buildings, transportation, water, environment, and energy. Its multidisciplinary teams support public and private sector clients throughout the project lifecycle, combining technical expertise with structured delivery methods for complex and resilient developments.
The position coordinates internal disciplines, clients, consultants, finance, procurement, and external stakeholders while maintaining clear visibility of design progress and emerging risks. Effective management during this stage helps reduce downstream changes, strengthens cost certainty, improves coordination, and supports smoother transition into tendering and project execution.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage design-phase activities from project initiation through completion of pre-contract requirements.
* Develop project plans, schedules, budgets, milestones, and resource requirements for design delivery.
* Coordinate architects, engineers, specialist consultants, internal teams, clients, and external stakeholders.
* Maintain clear communication channels so design decisions, actions, responsibilities, and deadlines are understood.
* Conduct structured design reviews and quality checks against project specifications, approved requirements, and applicable regulations.
* Monitor consultant deliverables and ensure design information is submitted according to agreed programmes.
* Manage design consultant contracts, scopes of work, responsibilities, and performance against contractual commitments.
* Identify technical, commercial, programme, coordination, and approval risks and implement suitable mitigation measures.
* Track project performance against agreed KPIs and provide clear progress reporting to senior management.
* Maintain accurate design specifications, meeting minutes, compliance records, decisions, correspondence, and project documentation.
* Adapt project management procedures where required to reflect client expectations while maintaining organizational controls.
* Coordinate with procurement teams on design-related requirements that affect tendering, consultant engagement, and downstream purchasing activities.
* Work with finance teams to monitor design expenditure, forecasts, commitments, and budget performance.
* Ensure projects follow relevant UAE building codes, approval procedures, regulatory requirements, and industry practices.
* Monitor design changes and evaluate their potential effect on budget, programme, scope, and project objectives.
* Support timely resolution of issues that could delay design completion or affect pre-contract readiness.
* Maintain disciplined reporting and documentation throughout the design lifecycle to support decision-making and project governance.
Ideal Profile
Candidates should hold a Bachelor\'s degree in a built environment discipline and bring at least 5 years of project management experience within construction, engineering, real estate, or a comparable design-led environment.
Experience managing multidisciplinary design projects is essential, including responsibility for consultants, schedules, budgets, deliverables, risks, documentation, and stakeholder coordination.
Applicants should have strong working knowledge of design processes, project management methodologies, technical standards, and the interaction between design development and later construction delivery.
Proficiency with Microsoft Project, Primavera, or equivalent planning and project management tools is required.
PMP or PRINCE2 certification is expected, while international professional accreditation such as MIStructE, MICE, RIBA, AIA, PMP, or an equivalent credential is preferred.
Previous experience in the UAE or wider Middle East market is particularly valuable, together with knowledge of local building codes, authority approvals, regulatory procedures, and regional project practices.
Skills Set
* Pre-contract project management
* Design phase management
* Design consultant management
* Multidisciplinary coordination
* Construction project planning
* Project scheduling
* Budget management
* Resource planning
* Risk management
* Design quality assurance
* Project KPI monitoring
* Consultant contract management
* Scope management
* Stakeholder coordination
* Design review
* Technical documentation
* Project reporting
* Compliance management
* UAE building codes
* UAE authority approvals
* Procurement coordination
* Financial coordination
* Primavera
* Microsoft Project
* PMP
* PRINCE2
* Change management
* Design programme control
Why Join Us
The role offers strong exposure to the early stages of major building and infrastructure projects in Dubai, where disciplined design management can significantly influence cost, programme, quality, and construction readiness. Professionals in this position can deepen their capability across consultant management, commercial coordination, planning, regulatory compliance, and multidisciplinary project delivery.
AECOM\'s regional and international project portfolio also provides opportunities to work with experienced technical teams, established project management systems, and complex client environments while building a pathway toward senior project management and programme leadership responsibilities.
About the Company
AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management services across buildings, transportation, water, environment, and energy. Its multidisciplinary teams support public and private sector clients throughout the project lifecycle, combining technical expertise with structured delivery methods for complex and resilient developments.
