Job Description

Programme Director - Major Rail Infrastructure - Parsons Corporation - Abu Dhabi, UAE
Position Overview
This senior leadership role with Parsons Corporation in Abu Dhabi focuses on directing one of the UAE's most ambitious rail programmes. The Programme Director provides strategic oversight across design, construction, systems integration, and commissioning, ensuring safe, on-schedule, high-quality delivery of a multi-billion-dollar national mobility initiative.
Job Details
Country: UAE
City: Abu Dhabi
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Project-Program Management
Salary: 55000-75000 monthly (Market estimated)
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Parsons representative to the client, authorities, and key delivery partners
• Lead strategic planning and execution across business, technical, construction, and commissioning stages
• Oversee the Program Execution Plan, HSE Plan, Quality Plan, Risk Management Plan, and other governance documents
• Define programme requirements and review deliverables for compliance with safety, quality, and performance criteria
• Ensure robust governance, reporting, and assurance frameworks across all project workstreams
• Manage contracts, scope changes, and variations, maintaining strict control of cost, schedule, and quality
• Lead programme-wide risk management, identifying challenges and leveraging opportunities
• Mobilize and manage Parsons' multidisciplinary teams across offices and sites, fostering a high-performance culture
• Champion digital delivery through PMIS platforms, BIM lifecycle tools, and data-driven reporting
• Drive quality excellence through established QA processes
• Ensure sustainability, innovation, and continuous improvement remain central to programme delivery
• Provide leadership across stakeholder and interface management, ensuring effective coordination among all entities
• Report programme performance, progress, and risks to executive leadership
• Chair regular strategic meetings covering governance, progress, risks, and actions
• Represent Parsons' values, ensuring integrity, transparency, and technical excellence

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree in engineering; master's degree or Chartered Engineer preferred
• Minimum 20 years' experience managing major rail or infrastructure programmes
• Strong background delivering programmes above USD 8 billion in complex stakeholder environments
• At least 5 years of Middle East experience, ideally within the UAE or GCC rail sector
• Experience with metro or high-speed rail is highly desirable
• Strong leadership skills with ability to guide large multidisciplinary teams
• Deep understanding of FIDIC, design-and-build models, governance frameworks, and risk management
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and client engagement skills
• Strong knowledge of PMIS, BIM, and digital delivery processes
• Commitment to exceptional safety, quality, and sustainability outcomes

Skills Set

• Programme governance and controls
• Rail infrastructure leadership
• Multi-disciplinary team management
• Contract and commercial oversight
• Risk and opportunity management
• Digital project delivery (PMIS/BIM)
• Stakeholder and authority coordination
• High-value megaproject oversight

Why Join Us

• Lead a transformative national rail programme shaping the UAE's future mobility
• Work within a global engineering leader known for innovation and world-class delivery
• Career-defining opportunity at the forefront of major infrastructure development
• Dynamic, collaborative environment with access to advanced digital delivery tools

About the Company
Parsons Corporation is a global engineering and project management firm delivering complex infrastructure, mobility, utilities, and smart city programmes across the Middle East. Parsons is recognized for technical excellence, digital innovation, and a commitment to building sustainable, future-ready cities.
Job Title Programme Director - Major Rail Infrastructure - Parsons Corporation - Abu Dhabi, UAE
Programme Director - Major Rail Infrastructure - Parsons Corporation - Abu Dhabi, UAE
Position Overview
This senior leadership role with Parsons Corporation in Abu Dhabi focuses on directing one of the UAE's most ambitious rail programmes. The Programme Director provides strategic oversight across design, construction, systems integration, and commissioning, ensuring safe, on-schedule, high-quality delivery of a multi-billion-dollar national mobility initiative.
Job Details
Country: UAE
City: Abu Dhabi
Industry: Civil Engineering
Function: Project-Program Management
Salary: 55000-75000 monthly (Market estimated)
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time
Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Parsons representative to the client, authorities, and key delivery partners
• Lead strategic planning and execution across business, technical, construction, and commissioning stages
• Oversee the Program Execution Plan, HSE Plan, Quality Plan, Risk Management Plan, and other governance documents
• Define programme requirements and review deliverables for compliance with safety, quality, and performance criteria
• Ensure robust governance, reporting, and assurance frameworks across all project workstreams
• Manage contracts, scope changes, and variations, maintaining strict control of cost, schedule, and quality
• Lead programme-wide risk management, identifying challenges and leveraging opportunities
• Mobilize and manage Parsons' multidisciplinary teams across offices and sites, fostering a high-performance culture
• Champion digital delivery through PMIS platforms, BIM lifecycle tools, and data-driven reporting
• Drive quality excellence through established QA processes
• Ensure sustainability, innovation, and continuous improvement remain central to programme delivery
• Provide leadership across stakeholder and interface management, ensuring effective coordination among all entities
• Report programme performance, progress, and risks to executive leadership
• Chair regular strategic meetings covering governance, progress, risks, and actions
• Represent Parsons' values, ensuring integrity, transparency, and technical excellence

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree in engineering; master's degree or Chartered Engineer preferred
• Minimum 20 years' experience managing major rail or infrastructure programmes
• Strong background delivering programmes above USD 8 billion in complex stakeholder environments
• At least 5 years of Middle East experience, ideally within the UAE or GCC rail sector
• Experience with metro or high-speed rail is highly desirable
• Strong leadership skills with ability to guide large multidisciplinary teams
• Deep understanding of FIDIC, design-and-build models, governance frameworks, and risk management
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and client engagement skills
• Strong knowledge of PMIS, BIM, and digital delivery processes
• Commitment to exceptional safety, quality, and sustainability outcomes

Skills Set

• Programme governance and controls
• Rail infrastructure leadership
• Multi-disciplinary team management
• Contract and commercial oversight
• Risk and opportunity management
• Digital project delivery (PMIS/BIM)
• Stakeholder and authority coordination
• High-value megaproject oversight

Why Join Us

• Lead a transformative national rail programme shaping the UAE's future mobility
• Work within a global engineering leader known for innovation and world-class delivery
• Career-defining opportunity at the forefront of major infrastructure development
• Dynamic, collaborative environment with access to advanced digital delivery tools

About the Company
Parsons Corporation is a global engineering and project management firm delivering complex infrastructure, mobility, utilities, and smart city programmes across the Middle East. Parsons is recognized for technical excellence, digital innovation, and a commitment to building sustainable, future-ready cities.
Post Details
Job Start Date
Salary from 55000.00
Salary to 75000.00
Number of Vacancies 1
Location -
Location City Abu Dhabi
Desired Candidate's Profile
Gender No Preference
Nationality
Candidate Current Location

Skills Required