Project Director

Position overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Project Director to take ownership of the critical stage gate process for all developments within the Qiddiya project. This role is the linchpin for ensuring that every project phase—from initial concept to final handover—is rigorously reviewed, approved, and aligned with Qiddiya's strategic, financial, and quality objectives. The successful candidate will be the central authority for governance, ensuring that no project proceeds without the necessary approvals, thus mitigating risk and maximizing value.

Key responsibilities

1. Stage gate process leadership & governance:

• Serve as the company-wide expert and custodian of the stage gate governance framework.
• Attend the stage gate review meetings, facilitating decision-making with senior executives and key stakeholders.
• Ensure all projects adhere to the defined process, submitting the required deliverables and documentation at each gate.
• Define, implement, and continuously improve the stage gate procedures, templates, and tools.

2. Approval management & coordination:

• Act as the single point of contact for all development and project teams seeking approvals to proceed to the next phase.
• Manage the end-to-end approval workflow, tracking submissions, feedback, and final decisions.
• Proactively identify potential bottlenecks or roadblocks in the approval process and drive resolutions.
• Secure all necessary internal approvals and ensure alignment before presenting to the relevant committee.

3. Stakeholder management & communication:

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with project directors, department heads, and C-suite executives.
• Clearly communicate stage gate requirements, timelines, and expectations to all project teams.
• Provide regular, concise, and accurate reporting to senior management and PMO on the status of all projects within the stage gate pipeline.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to resolve inter-departmental dependencies that impact approvals.

4. Strategic alignment & quality assurance:

• Ensure that every project proposal is thoroughly vetted for its strategic fit with the overall Qiddiya master plan and business objectives.
• Scrutinize project deliverables for completeness, quality, and accuracy before they are presented for approval.
• Champion risk management, ensuring that all risks, mitigations, and opportunities are clearly identified and assessed at each stage gate.

5. Reporting & performance monitoring:

• Develop and maintain a dashboard for tracking the health and status of all projects as they move through the stage gate process.
• Report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to approval cycle times, gate pass rates, and reasons for deferrals or rejections.

Requirements

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, architecture, construction management, business administration, or a related field. A master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in project management, with at least 8 years in a senior leadership or director-level role overseeing complex, large-scale real estate, infrastructure, or entertainment projects.
• Proven, hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and managing a formal stage gate (or gated) process within a major development organization or PMO.
• Demonstrated experience in a highly matrixed environment, successfully influencing C-level executives and senior stakeholders to achieve consensus and secure approvals.
• Exceptional understanding of the entire project lifecycle, from feasibility and design to procurement, construction, and commissioning.

Desired:

• Experience working on mega-projects or within the entertainment, hospitality, or large-scale mixed-use development sector.
• Professional certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional), PgMP (Program Management Professional), or similar.
• Previous experience in the Middle East, particularly within the GCC, is advantageous.

Competencies & skills

• Strategic thinker: Ability to see the big picture and assess project alignment with overarching business goals.
• Decisive leader: Strong leadership presence with the ability to chair high-stakes meetings and drive decisions.
• Exceptional communicator: Superior verbal, written, and presentation skills, capable of distilling complex information for executive audiences.
• Process-oriented: A passion for structure, governance, and continuous process improvement.
• Influencer & negotiator: Skilled at building consensus and navigating organizational dynamics to overcome challenges.
• Results-driven: Focused on outcomes, with a relentless drive to ensure projects move forward efficiently and in a controlled manner.