Senior Project Manager

Role Overview

Senior Project Manager at WSP in the Middle East. You will provide strategic leadership and successful delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary projects, with a focus on mixed-use and commercial developments, from early concept through to completion.

Role Purpose

Lead the strategic delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary projects with full autonomy across multiple workstreams. You will manage all aspects of project execution—from contract setup through handover—acting as trusted advisor to clients while ensuring alignment with client objectives, operational requirements, and programme commitments.

Key Responsibilities

Contract & Scope

• Lead project setup, including contract finalisation, internal alignment, and team mobilisation.
• Fully understand and manage the contract, ensuring compliance with key obligations and deliverables.
• Define, agree, and manage scope across all disciplines, ensuring clarity of responsibilities.
• Lead the appointment and coordination of sub-consultants, including scope, fees, and agreements.
• Identify and manage changes to scope, leading variation preparation, negotiation, and agreement with the client.
• Ensure all deliverables meet WSP quality standards and client expectations.

Communication & Team Leadership

• Act as the primary interface with clients, consultants, contractors, end users, and key stakeholders.
• Provide clear leadership, establishing a high-performing "one team" culture.
• Lead client engagement, workshops, and presentations, including executive-level reporting.
• Manage complex stakeholder environments, including developers, consultants, contractors, operators, end users, and authorities.
• Support clients with strategic decision-making, balancing commercial, operational, technical, and design priorities.
• Proactively manage expectations, risks, and issues to maintain trust and project momentum.

Programme

• Lead development of detailed, realistic programmes aligned with project delivery requirements and key milestones.
• Manage programmes proactively, identifying and mitigating risks to delivery.
• Coordinate with design teams to ensure alignment across all disciplines and project phases.
• Oversee integration of design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover activities.
• Ensure programmes reflect authority approvals, procurement strategies, construction sequencing, and phased handovers where applicable.
• Work with Planning & Controls to maintain robust P6 programmes and client reporting.

Design & Technical Coordination

• Lead multidisciplinary design coordination through all stages (Concept to IFC and construction support).
• Ensure alignment between client requirements, operational objectives, and technical design solutions.
• Oversee design reviews, ensuring buildability, compliance, and coordination across disciplines.
• Drive high-quality outputs through structured QA/QC processes.
• Ensure coordination across all project stakeholders and technical interfaces.

Risk Management

• Establish and lead the project Risk Register, ensuring regular review and active management.
• Identify key risks associated with project delivery, stakeholder requirements, authority approvals, procurement activities, and programme constraints.
• Develop and implement mitigation strategies.
• Escalate critical risks to senior leadership and clients as required.

Commercial Management

• Lead all project commercial aspects, including budget management and financial reporting.
• Manage project invoicing, cost tracking, and financial performance.
• Lead preparation, negotiation, and agreement of variations.
• Provide commercial advice to clients, particularly relating to programme impacts, scope changes, and project-related risks.

Delivery & Handover

• Oversee project delivery through to completion, ensuring alignment with client and operational objectives.
• Coordinate phased handovers and ensure effective management of interfaces between project stakeholders and delivery packages.
• Ensure smooth transition between project phases, including design, supervision, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Lead project close-out, ensuring all deliverables, approvals, and documentation are complete.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a related field.
• 13+ years professional experience delivering complex mixed-use, commercial, or large-scale developments.
• Proven track record delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects from Concept through to IFC and construction.
• Demonstrable experience delivering complex multidisciplinary projects through all project lifecycle stages.
• Experience working with major developers, operators, or large organizations preferred.
• Experience managing large, multidisciplinary teams and multiple stakeholders.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and ability to operate at a senior, client-facing level.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent stakeholder management within complex, multidisciplinary project environments.
• Commercial acumen and contractual awareness.
• Strong programme and risk management capability.
• Ability to drive quality, coordination, and technical excellence.
• Collaborative and proactive communication style.
• Ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of health and safety in design.