Project Director

About the Role

Parsons Corporation is seeking a Project Director to provide overall leadership, planning, execution, and successful delivery of projects in Makkah. This full-time role involves overseeing the full project lifecycle, ensuring alignment with the client’s strategic vision and objectives. The Project Director will coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage high-level stakeholders across various sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and mentor multidisciplinary project teams (internal and external), defining roles, responsibilities, performance objectives, and development plans.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Manage senior-level relationships with consultants, contractors, and partners.
• Lead the overall strategic direction of the project in line with client objectives, establishing and maintaining project governance structures.
• Translate strategic objectives into clear implementation plans, milestones, and KPIs.
• Provide high-level guidance on master planning, urban design, and functional mix (education, R&D, technology, healthcare, culture, residential, commercial).
• Develop and maintain the integrated project management plan, coordinating feasibility studies, market assessments, and financial analyses.
• Establish and monitor project KPIs across time, cost, quality, safety, sustainability, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Oversee the preparation and approval of master schedules, cash flow forecasts, and resource plans.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for key stakeholders, developing and implementing engagement and communication plans.
• Facilitate approvals, permits, and coordination with regulatory authorities, managing expectations and resolving conflicts.
• Review and approve key design deliverables, value-engineering proposals, and technical solutions.
• Ensure contracts effectively manage risk, performance, and incentives.
• Provide executive oversight of construction activities from site preparation to completion, ensuring adherence to approved design, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and environmental standards.
• Lead the development and monitoring of the project budget and financial model, ensuring cost control and value engineering.
• Integrate sustainability, ESG, and resilience principles into all project phases.
• Establish and maintain a comprehensive risk register and mitigation plan.
• Ensure compliance with local laws, regulations, internal policies, audit, governance requirements, and international best practices and safety standards.
• Implement robust quality assurance and quality control frameworks across all work packages.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, RICS, or PMI are required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in large-scale development or infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience as a Project Director or equivalent on projects of high complexity and value.
• Proven track record working with government and semi-government entities, and coordinating complex permitting and approvals.
• Background in leading multi-phase, multi-package programs from planning through handover.

Required Skills

• Strong command of Project and program management methodologies, Master planning, Construction and engineering contracts, Cost management, and Risk, change, and claims management.
• Strategic and visionary thinking with the ability to translate vision into an executable plan.
• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills.
• High level of cultural sensitivity and respect for local context.
• Decisive, analytical, and solution-oriented approach.
• Ability to manage complexity, prioritize effectively, and perform under pressure.