Market Director Roads & Highways📣 Job Ad

About the Role

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Market Director for Roads & Highways to lead market strategy and business growth across the Middle East region. This full-time, senior leadership position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and requires a professional with over 10 years of experience in the sector.

Market Strategy and Business Development

The Market Director will be responsible for developing and executing the regional roads and highways market strategy, aligning with corporate objectives. This includes identifying emerging market opportunities across the GCC and wider Middle East, such as major projects in Saudi Arabia, mobility initiatives in the UAE, expressway upgrades in Qatar, and transport development programs in Oman. The role will drive annual business growth targets, market positioning, and competitive differentiation.

Client and Stakeholder Engagement

Key responsibilities involve leading client relationship management with government entities such as Ministries of Transport, Public Works Authorities, Royal Commissions, and PPP authorities, as well as major private-sector developers and design-build contractors. The Market Director will act as the primary executive sponsor for key accounts and represent the company at industry forums and government meetings.

Pursuit Leadership and Operational Alignment

This role entails leading major pursuits and proposal strategies to ensure high-quality, competitive submissions. Oversight includes bid-no-bid decisions, capture planning, pricing strategies, and partnership models. The Market Director will also collaborate with design, engineering, project management, and construction supervision teams to ensure successful project delivery and support resource planning and talent acquisition.

Financial and Leadership Accountabilities

The Market Director will own the market P&L, sales forecasts, and project margin performance, while evaluating commercial risks and contractual terms. This leadership position requires providing direction to multidisciplinary teams across the region, mentoring emerging leaders, and fostering a culture of collaboration and high performance.

Qualifications and Experience

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a related field. A Master's degree in Transportation Engineering, an MBA, or a related discipline is preferred. Professional registration (*, PE, CEng, PMP) is advantageous. A minimum of 25 years of experience in roads, highways, or transportation engineering is required, with at least 8–10 years in senior business development, market leadership, or client-facing roles within the Middle East. A proven track record in winning and delivering large-scale infrastructure projects is essential. Deep knowledge of highway geometric design, traffic and transport planning, pavement design, construction supervision frameworks, and regional procurement processes is required. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, financial acumen, and excellent communication and negotiation skills are necessary. Existing client relationships in KSA and UAE are strongly preferred, and Arabic language skills are a plus.