Position summary

Parsons is seeking a Program Director to join its team in Abu Dhabi, managing and developing major utilities clients and delivering Parsons’ position as a predictive, disruptive solutions provider. In this role you will act as the company’s primary representative to the client throughout a PMO/PMC program for water and wastewater utility infrastructure, providing overall leadership and governance across technical, commercial, financial, administrative, and operational aspects to ensure successful delivery.

Why this role matters

Large-scale water and wastewater infrastructure underpins public health and resilient communities across the UAE and GCC. This role leads the program that delivers it, keeping complex capital programs on scope, budget, schedule, quality, and safety while building Parsons’ capability and reputation in the utility infrastructure sector.

Key responsibilities

• Represent the company to the client as principal point of contact, leading negotiations on scope changes, contractual matters, and strategic project decisions.
• Provide overall program leadership and governance across all technical, commercial, financial, administrative, and operational aspects.
• Lead governance planning by developing the Project Execution Plan, Health & Safety Plan, QA/QC Plan, risk management framework, and other governance documents in compliance with client requirements and industry standards.
• Set and monitor program objectives including execution strategies, budgets, schedules, resource plans, and performance metrics, ensuring delivery within scope, budget, schedule, quality, and safety.
• Direct multidisciplinary teams by assigning responsibilities, mobilizing resources, and leading recruitment, development, performance management, and succession planning for key personnel.
• Lead project controls including integrated scheduling, progress reporting, document, risk, and change management, with timely risk identification and corrective action.
• Manage contracts and commercial matters including change orders, client instructions, and contractual commitments, keeping client and company leadership informed.
• Promote excellence and growth by driving a culture of quality, safety, and continuous improvement, chairing project reviews, and identifying and retaining top talent.

Team and stakeholders

You will serve as the primary interface between the client, contractors, consultants, and site supervision teams, coordinating multidisciplinary project teams and liaising with the global QHSSE team and company leadership.

Key details

This is a full-time, fixed-term role based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or a related discipline).
• Minimum 20 years of progressive experience managing utility programs, PMO/PMC assignments, or large-scale infrastructure projects, with significant experience in wastewater and water utility systems in the UAE/GCC.
• Comprehensive knowledge of utility infrastructure, including wastewater collection, treatment, water transmission, distribution, and asset management.
• Demonstrated success managing large multidisciplinary utility programs, including budgets, schedules, risk management, and resource planning.
• Strong understanding of utility regulations, standards, permitting, and compliance obligations.
• Extensive knowledge of PMO/PMC methodologies, engineering design, procurement, construction management, contract administration, and capital program delivery.
• Proven experience implementing integrated digital project management platforms.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills, with strong commercial acumen.