Senior Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design
Posted date [2026-08-31]
(ID: 50456)
 |
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
Senior Project Manager - Pre-Contract DesignJob Snapshot
Role: Senior Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Construction
Function: Project Management
Experience: Minimum 10 years
Job Type: Full-time
Position Overview
Senior Project Manager - Pre-Contract Design in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior Construction opportunity with AECOM for an experienced project leader specializing in design management, pre-contract planning, stakeholder coordination, cost control, tender preparation, and multidisciplinary building projects. The role will lead projects through critical early-stage development, translating client requirements into coordinated design strategies while controlling scope, programme, budget, technical compliance, and delivery risk before construction begins.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Construction
Function: Project Management
Salary: 30000-45000
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 Senior Project Manager takes
ownership of the pre-contract design phase, where decisions regarding scope, technical solutions, cost, procurement strategy, approvals, and programme establish the foundation for successful project delivery.
Working across architects, engineers, specialist consultants, commercial teams, vendors, clients, and approving authorities, the position ensures design information is coordinated and sufficiently developed for tender and subsequent execution. Strong leadership at this stage helps reduce design conflicts, manage commercial exposure, improve constructability, and prevent avoidable changes once projects move into construction.
The role also requires informed decision-making within the UAE built environment, combining international project management practices with knowledge of local regulations, authority approvals, design standards, and market conditions.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead pre-contract activities across design projects, covering scope definition, feasibility assessment, planning, design coordination, procurement preparation, and readiness for tender.
* Translate client objectives and project requirements into structured design strategies with clearly defined deliverables and responsibilities.
* Review architectural, engineering, and multidisciplinary design proposals for alignment with agreed scope, technical requirements, regulations, and applicable industry standards.
* Establish detailed project plans, design programmes, budgets, milestones, resource requirements, and reporting controls.
* Identify design, commercial, programme, approval, and coordination risks early and establish practical mitigation measures.
* Coordinate architects, structural and MEP engineers, specialist consultants, vendors, and internal disciplines to maintain an integrated design approach.
* Resolve technical interfaces and multidisciplinary conflicts before they create cost or programme consequences.
* Manage stakeholder expectations through clear reporting, design presentations, progress updates, workshops, and structured decision-making.
* Prepare and review tender packages, specifications, contract documentation, and supporting technical information for accuracy and completeness.
* Monitor project budgets and undertake cost estimation reviews throughout design development.
* Lead value engineering exercises that improve cost efficiency, constructability, and project performance without undermining required quality.
* Facilitate design reviews and technical workshops with clients, consultants, internal specialists, and other project stakeholders.
* Maintain comprehensive design records, meeting minutes, action trackers, approvals, decision logs, and project correspondence.
* Monitor pre-contract deliverables against established deadlines and intervene where design progress threatens key milestones.
* Coordinate requirements associated with UAE building regulations and relevant authority approval processes.
* Introduce practical improvements to pre-contract workflows, reporting, coordination, and design management processes.
* Provide direction and mentoring to junior project team members while encouraging disciplined collaboration across project functions.
Ideal Profile
The position requires a Bachelor\'s degree in a built environment discipline and at least 10 years of project management experience, with substantial exposure to design-led projects in construction, engineering, or real estate.
Candidates should demonstrate a strong record of managing multidisciplinary design development, project budgets, schedules, resources, stakeholder relationships, tender documentation, and complex technical interfaces.
Advanced knowledge of design processes and industry standards is important, together with practical capability in Microsoft Project, Primavera, or comparable project planning and management systems.
Experience working within the UAE or wider Middle East market is strongly relevant. Candidates should understand UAE building codes, regulatory requirements, authority approvals, and the coordination challenges associated with major development projects.
PMP or PRINCE2 certification is required. International professional accreditation such as MIStructE, MICE, RIBA, AIA, PMP, or an equivalent recognized credential is preferred.
The successful candidate will bring strong analytical judgment, commercial awareness, leadership capability, and the confidence to make informed decisions across complex project variables.
Skills Set
* Pre-contract project management
* Design management
* Multidisciplinary design coordination
* Construction project management
* Project scope definition
* Feasibility studies
* Project planning
* Design programme management
* Budget management
* Cost estimation
* Value engineering
* Design risk management
* Tender package preparation
* Contract documentation
* Technical specifications
* Stakeholder management
* Consultant coordination
* Architectural coordination
* Engineering coordination
* Design review workshops
* UAE building codes
* UAE authority approvals
* Project documentation
* Primavera
* Microsoft Project
* PMP
* PRINCE2
* Resource planning
* Schedule control
Why Join Us
Dubai\'s continuing investment in buildings and infrastructure creates sustained demand for senior professionals who can manage complex projects before they enter construction. This AECOM position offers the opportunity to influence major developments at the stage where design quality, commercial strategy, programme certainty, and technical coordination can have the greatest effect on eventual project performance.
The hybrid role also provides access to multidisciplinary expertise, international project experience, advanced technical resources, and structured professional development within a global infrastructure organization. It offers a strong platform for an established project manager seeking broader leadership responsibility across sophisticated design and construction programmes.
About the Company
AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering advisory, planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management services across buildings, transportation, water, environment, and energy. A Fortune 500 company with more than 50000 professionals worldwide, AECOM works with public and private sector clients to develop sustainable, resilient, and technically complex infrastructure solutions.
Working across architects, engineers, specialist consultants, commercial teams, vendors, clients, and approving authorities, the position ensures design information is coordinated and sufficiently developed for tender and subsequent execution. Strong leadership at this stage helps reduce design conflicts, manage commercial exposure, improve constructability, and prevent avoidable changes once projects move into construction.
The role also requires informed decision-making within the UAE built environment, combining international project management practices with knowledge of local regulations, authority approvals, design standards, and market conditions.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead pre-contract activities across design projects, covering scope definition, feasibility assessment, planning, design coordination, procurement preparation, and readiness for tender.
* Translate client objectives and project requirements into structured design strategies with clearly defined deliverables and responsibilities.
* Review architectural, engineering, and multidisciplinary design proposals for alignment with agreed scope, technical requirements, regulations, and applicable industry standards.
* Establish detailed project plans, design programmes, budgets, milestones, resource requirements, and reporting controls.
* Identify design, commercial, programme, approval, and coordination risks early and establish practical mitigation measures.
* Coordinate architects, structural and MEP engineers, specialist consultants, vendors, and internal disciplines to maintain an integrated design approach.
* Resolve technical interfaces and multidisciplinary conflicts before they create cost or programme consequences.
* Manage stakeholder expectations through clear reporting, design presentations, progress updates, workshops, and structured decision-making.
* Prepare and review tender packages, specifications, contract documentation, and supporting technical information for accuracy and completeness.
* Monitor project budgets and undertake cost estimation reviews throughout design development.
* Lead value engineering exercises that improve cost efficiency, constructability, and project performance without undermining required quality.
* Facilitate design reviews and technical workshops with clients, consultants, internal specialists, and other project stakeholders.
* Maintain comprehensive design records, meeting minutes, action trackers, approvals, decision logs, and project correspondence.
* Monitor pre-contract deliverables against established deadlines and intervene where design progress threatens key milestones.
* Coordinate requirements associated with UAE building regulations and relevant authority approval processes.
* Introduce practical improvements to pre-contract workflows, reporting, coordination, and design management processes.
* Provide direction and mentoring to junior project team members while encouraging disciplined collaboration across project functions.
Ideal Profile
The position requires a Bachelor\'s degree in a built environment discipline and at least 10 years of project management experience, with substantial exposure to design-led projects in construction, engineering, or real estate.
Candidates should demonstrate a strong record of managing multidisciplinary design development, project budgets, schedules, resources, stakeholder relationships, tender documentation, and complex technical interfaces.
Advanced knowledge of design processes and industry standards is important, together with practical capability in Microsoft Project, Primavera, or comparable project planning and management systems.
Experience working within the UAE or wider Middle East market is strongly relevant. Candidates should understand UAE building codes, regulatory requirements, authority approvals, and the coordination challenges associated with major development projects.
PMP or PRINCE2 certification is required. International professional accreditation such as MIStructE, MICE, RIBA, AIA, PMP, or an equivalent recognized credential is preferred.
The successful candidate will bring strong analytical judgment, commercial awareness, leadership capability, and the confidence to make informed decisions across complex project variables.
Skills Set
* Pre-contract project management
* Design management
* Multidisciplinary design coordination
* Construction project management
* Project scope definition
* Feasibility studies
* Project planning
* Design programme management
* Budget management
* Cost estimation
* Value engineering
* Design risk management
* Tender package preparation
* Contract documentation
* Technical specifications
* Stakeholder management
* Consultant coordination
* Architectural coordination
* Engineering coordination
* Design review workshops
* UAE building codes
* UAE authority approvals
* Project documentation
* Primavera
* Microsoft Project
* PMP
* PRINCE2
* Resource planning
* Schedule control
Why Join Us
Dubai\'s continuing investment in buildings and infrastructure creates sustained demand for senior professionals who can manage complex projects before they enter construction. This AECOM position offers the opportunity to influence major developments at the stage where design quality, commercial strategy, programme certainty, and technical coordination can have the greatest effect on eventual project performance.
The hybrid role also provides access to multidisciplinary expertise, international project experience, advanced technical resources, and structured professional development within a global infrastructure organization. It offers a strong platform for an established project manager seeking broader leadership responsibility across sophisticated design and construction programmes.
About the Company
AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm delivering advisory, planning, design, engineering, program management, and construction management services across buildings, transportation, water, environment, and energy. A Fortune 500 company with more than 50000 professionals worldwide, AECOM works with public and private sector clients to develop sustainable, resilient, and technically complex infrastructure solutions.
