Project Director Aviation
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Key skills for this role
About the Role
WSP in the Middle East is currently hiring for a Project Director Aviation to join our team in KSA. The Project Director holds full accountability for the successful delivery of.
Key Skills for This Role
Responsibilities
- Provide strategic direction and leadership to all project teams operating on site and across remote support functions
- Establish and maintain a strong governance framework ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, reporting lines, and escalation protocols
- Drive a culture of delivery excellence, safety, compliance, and continuous improvement
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the client, ensuring transparent communication and alignment on objectives
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior client representatives, aviation authorities, and regulatory bodies
- Represent WSP in high level steering committees, progress reviews, and commercial discussions
- Lead the overall delivery of the aviation project from initiation to handover, ensuring compliance with contractual, technical, and statutory requirements
- Oversee planning, design, construction, and commissioning phases, ensuring deliverables meet required standards
- Monitor schedule performance, identify critical paths, and implement recovery plans when required
- Ensure adherence to WSP quality frameworks, aviation standards, and global best practice
- Establish and manage a robust risk management strategy covering technical, commercial, operational, and external risks
- Provide oversight of all commercial activities including contract performance, change management, claims avoidance, and budget control
Requirements
- Deep understanding of aviation standards, airport systems, airside/landside operations, and regulatory frameworks
- Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills
- Strong commercial acumen with experience managing large budgets and complex contracts
- Ability to lead diverse teams across multiple geographies and disciplines
- 20+ years of experience in aviation project delivery
Full Job Posting
Job Overview
- WSP in the Middle East is currently hiring for a Project Director Aviation to join our team in KSA.
- The Project Director holds full accountability for the successful delivery of a major aviation programme within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a strong emphasis on airport design modernisation and infrastructure enhancement.
Strategic Leadership & Governance
- Provide strategic direction and leadership to all project teams operating on site and across remote support functions.
- Establish and maintain a strong governance framework ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, reporting lines, and escalation protocols.
- Drive a culture of delivery excellence, safety, compliance, and continuous improvement.
Client & Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the client, ensuring transparent communication, alignment on objectives, and proactive issue resolution.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior client representatives, aviation authorities, regulatory bodies, and key external stakeholders.
- Represent WSP in high level steering committees, progress reviews, and commercial discussions.
Project Delivery & Execution
- Lead the overall delivery of the aviation project from initiation to handover, ensuring compliance with contractual, technical, and statutory requirements.
- Oversee planning, design, construction, and commissioning phases, ensuring deliverables meet required standards.
- Monitor schedule performance, identify critical paths, and implement recovery plans when required.
Quality Assurance & Technical Oversight
- Ensure adherence to WSP quality frameworks, aviation standards, and global best practice.
- Drive technical excellence across all engineering, design, and operational workstreams.
- Review and validate key technical submissions, design packages, and project deliverables.
Risk, Safety & Compliance
- Establish and manage a robust risk management strategy, covering technical, commercial, operational, and external risks.
- Champion a strong safety culture, ensuring compliance with HSE regulations and WSP safety principles.
- Implement proactive measures to mitigate project risks and ensure long term programme stability.
Commercial, Financial & Contract Management
- Provide oversight of all commercial activities including contract performance, change management, claims avoidance, and budget control.
- Ensure financial integrity through accurate forecasting, cost monitoring, and commercial reporting.
- Lead commercial negotiations where required, safeguarding WSP's contractual and financial position.
Team Leadership & People Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high performing multi disciplinary project team.
- Ensure optimal resource planning, performance management, and succession planning.
- Promote collaboration across WSP teams in KSA, the UAE, and global support offices.
Technical & Leadership Competencies
- Deep understanding of aviation standards, airport systems, airside/landside operations, and regulatory frameworks.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience managing large budgets and complex contracts.
- Ability to lead diverse teams across multiple geographies and disciplines.
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