Project Manager, Industrial Automation Projects

Role Overview

Project Manager, Industrial Automation Projects at Emirates Electrical & Instrumentation Company LLC (Ghobash Group). The role is based in the UAE, serving the Oil & Gas sector through onshore and offshore projects.

Company Overview

Emirates Electrical & Instrumentation Company LLC has delivered vital contributions to the Oil & Gas sector of the UAE for almost 20 years. The company executes both onshore and offshore projects, with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as a principal client alongside Tier 1 and Tier 2 EPC contractors. The company provides full EPC&M services for electrical and instrumentation works, applying localized expertise to measure and automate exploration, production, separation, refining processes, and distribution.

Role Purpose

The Project Manager leads the full lifecycle of internal and external industrial automation projects from initiation and planning through execution, commissioning, and closeout. The role ensures safe, timely, and cost-effective delivery aligned with client and business objectives, serves as the central point of accountability for project performance, and carries full P&L responsibility while maintaining strong focus on client satisfaction and delivery excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Project Initiation and Planning

• Formulate the project team and participate in project kick-off meetings.
• Understand scope of work, estimation basis, execution strategy, and subcontracting strategy.
• Establish work procedures, sequences, and develop schedules, budgets, staffing requirements, vendor lists, and progress milestones in collaboration with the planning team.
• Establish project procedures and lead production of the project execution plan including scope of work, deliverables list, master schedule, budget, organizational charts, and risk register.
• Prepare manpower loading plans and resource forecasts for the project.

Contract and Commercial Management

• Review contract terms, notice requirements, liquidated damages, and payment conditions with the Contracts Department at contract award and brief the project team accordingly.
• Obtain quotations and negotiate prices with OEMs for products, equipment, and solutions.
• Maintain prices and commercial registers and contribute to estimation efforts.
• Maintain relationships with OEMs, learn about new and upcoming technology and solutions in the market, and provide technical awareness to the sales team.
• Act as a focal point of contact with OEMs for technical and commercial matters related to projects, work orders, and solutions.
• Manage subcontractors from pre-award through closeout, including evaluation, negotiation, scope and interface control, performance monitoring, and settlement of subcontract final accounts.
• Manage P&L responsibility with associated commercial and financial accountability including revenue delivery, margin and overhead management, budget and forecast determination and attainment, risk and opportunity reviews, cost controls, accounts payable, billing, and timely cash collection.
• Negotiate changes to project scope or specification with the client.
• Follow Change Management process to identify and approve modifications to scope, cost, schedule, and quality.
• Identify, prepare, and submit variations and change orders on external projects in coordination with the Head of Projects and Contracts Department, ensuring notices are issued on time and supporting records are maintained.
• Support Head of Projects and Planning in identifying EOT (Extent of Time / Cost) and provide guidance and leadership in development of claims and variations.

Stakeholder Coordination and Communication

• Coordinate with client Project Manager and project management team.
• Set up project information system and communications.
• Regularly report project progress to senior management and/or the client.
• Manage technical issues with team and client.
• Collaborate with Head of Projects and act as the Projects Manager for customers and assign Lead Engineer for day-to-day coordination, execution, and supervision.
• Interact with clients to proactively resolve issues.
• Maintain a continuing business relationship with all clients as part of ongoing business development efforts.

Execution and Project Controls

• Execute the project according to established strategy.
• Manage a project team to ensure project safety, scope, schedule, and budgets are being tracked and implemented.
• Facilitate setup of information management systems and applications as applicable to suit various life phases of projects and manage information management project team.
• Review and analyze cost and cost-control progress, financial and other site-generated data to evaluate job status and progress.
• Lead procurement planning, vendor selection, long lead item tracking, expediting, and logistics coordination to ensure required material is available for manufacturing.
• Manage and supervise manufacturing and visit client and customer sites for execution, installation, and commissioning.
• Ensure the best use of project personnel and equipment.
• Ensure project team members are competent to carry out their assigned work and duties.
• Responsible for delivery of agreed schedule and financial performance, proactively intervening to avoid slippage.
• Where a project falls behind on time or cost, develop and implement a recovery plan and report it to the Head of Projects.

Technical Oversight

• Provide technical oversight on automation projects, including review of designs, PLC, DCS, SCADA programming, and test procedures.
• Witness FAT and SAT to ensure systems meet project specifications.
• Stay updated on new technologies and solutions relevant to Industrial Automation projects.

Risk and Quality Management

• Lead ongoing focus on risk identification and mitigation during project execution.
• Maintain the project risk and opportunity register and review it with the project team at regular intervals.
• Responsible for project HSSE leadership.
• Ensure a program of initiatives and auditing schedule are established.
• Ensure HSSE and quality management issues are proactively addressed.

Project Closeout

• At project completion, close out all punch list items.
• Agree the final account with the client.
• Secure completion certificates and the release of retention and bonds where applicable.
• Manage warranty and defects liability obligations.
• Obtain final client approvals.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Instrumentation, Mechatronics, or other relevant fields of study.
• Master's degree and/or PMP certification is desired.
• Minimum 12+ years of project management experience.
• 5+ years or more experience in the UAE or Middle East on Industrial Automation Projects.
• Experience working as a Project Manager on electrical projects.
• Experience working on brownfield projects is preferred.
• Brownfield experience in oil and gas industry, power, and DCPs.
• HSE leadership compliance and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Good level of experience in the related field, industry, and locations of work in the UAE.

Skills & Competencies

• Proven project management experience and good understanding of business issues.
• Knowledge of commercial and contract conditions applicable to the procurement of various types of goods and services.
• Good knowledge and experience in project monitoring and forecasting.
• Ability to manage change control process on project with subcontractors and interfaces.
• In-depth knowledge of all types of project information (deliverables) and its uses.
• Capable of managing information management project teams.
• Good knowledge of all handover and closeout activities required for clients and suppliers.
• Understanding of Cash Flow management and projection/forecast of cost at completion.
• Coaches, mentors, and empowers others to make decisions within established parameters.
• Champion and role model for ethical behaviour and compliance with applicable laws and policies.
• Excellent personality with strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office products, specifically Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.