Project Director Railway

About the Role

Ashley Frazer Executive is seeking a Project Director Railway to lead a multi-billion SAR railway infrastructure project in Western Saudi Arabia, specifically in Jeddah and Makkah. This full-time position requires a professional with over 10 years of experience in delivering major railway, transportation, or infrastructure projects. The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership throughout the project lifecycle, working with various stakeholders including clients, consultants, JV partners, and internal teams.

Project Overview

Our client is an established Saudi Arabian construction and infrastructure group with over four decades of experience. The group has a strong track record in civil construction, infrastructure, roads, bridges, railways, water, energy, buildings, and specialist industrial projects, with a current portfolio exceeding SAR 50 billion. This specific project involves the delivery of major railway and associated civil infrastructure, encompassing track, stations, depots, earthworks, structures, roads, utilities, drainage, MEP, landscaping, and interfaces with specialist railway systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the project, establishing a clear delivery strategy.
• Take full accountability for project performance across programme, cost, quality, HSE, and delivery.
• Lead project mobilisation and establish the project organisation, governance, and delivery structure.
• Manage large multidisciplinary teams across construction, engineering, commercial, planning, procurement, HSE, and QA/QC.
• Oversee the delivery of major civil, structural, railway, and associated infrastructure works.
• Ensure effective coordination between design, construction, railway infrastructure, and specialist systems interfaces.
• Establish and maintain robust project programmes and ensure critical milestones are achieved.
• Lead commercial performance, cost management, variations, claims, and contractual obligations.
• Manage major subcontractors, suppliers, consultants, and project partners.
• Develop effective relationships with the client, authorities, consultants, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify and proactively manage project risks, opportunities, and critical delivery issues.
• Maintain the highest standards of HSE, quality, and environmental performance.
• Ensure compliance with Saudi regulations, project specifications, and contractual requirements.
• Provide regular reporting and strategic recommendations to senior management.
• Lead the project through construction, testing, commissioning, and handover as required.

Candidate Profile and Requirements

• Proven experience leading large-scale, multi-billion SAR/USD projects or programmes.
• Strong GCC experience, with significant Saudi Arabia experience highly preferred.
• Demonstrable experience operating at Project Director level with overall responsibility for major project delivery.
• Strong civil infrastructure and construction background.
• Experience managing complex multidisciplinary teams and major project interfaces.
• Strong commercial and contractual understanding.
• Experience working within major contractor, JV, or consortium environments.
• Strong understanding of project controls, programme management, risk, HSE, and QA/QC.
• Excellent stakeholder-management and communication skills.
• Experience with major Saudi clients, government entities, consultants, and international JV partners is highly advantageous.

Work Environment

This role is based on-site in Western Saudi Arabia, covering locations such as Jeddah and Makkah. The Project Director will work within a dynamic environment, collaborating with senior client representatives, consultants, joint venture/consortium partners, specialist contractors, and internal project teams to deliver a significant national infrastructure programme.

Application Information

This is a full-time position. Salary details will be disclosed during the recruitment process.