General Manager - Construction

The General Manager will

Key Responsibilities

Construction Setup & Organizational Design

• Advise on and help define the construction organization structure
• Identify key leadership and critical hires (Project Managers, QS, QA/QC, Planning, HSE)
• Support recruitment decisions through role definition, capability benchmarking, and interview input.
• Define delegation of authority, reporting lines, and accountability frameworks

2. Process, Governance & Systems Setup

• Establish core construction processes:
• Project controls & reporting
• Cost management & approvals
• Change management & variations
• Quality and HSE frameworks
• Set up standard operating procedures (SOPs) for execution and controls
• Define management reporting cadence and dashboards for leadership visibility

3. Project Execution & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end delivery of low-rise and mid-rise projects in the initial phase and High Rise and complex developments in the later phases.
• Ensure adherence to time, cost, quality, and safety standards
• Oversee consultant coordination, contractor performance, and site execution
• Manage risks, sequencing, and resource optimization
• Ensure timely achievement of authority approvals, inspections, and completion certifications.
• Proactively resolve execution challenges to avoid delays, cost overruns, and quality issues.

4. Construction Strategy & Long-Term Planning

• Lead overall construction strategy aligned with the developer’s long-term development pipeline.
• Oversee pre-construction activities including feasibility studies, constructability reviews, value engineering, and execution planning.
• Define resource allocation, manpower planning, and phasing strategies across multiple towers.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, commercial, and delivery risks at early stages.
• 5.
• Scaling & Readiness for High-Rise Developments (Future-Focused)
• Design systems and teams with future high-rise readiness in mind
• Advise leadership on timing, capability gaps, and risk thresholds before moving into high-rise
• Support transition planning as the project portfolio grows in complexity

6. Commercial, Contracts & Procurement

• Advise on procurement strategy aligned with project scale and risk profile
• Lead procurement strategy, subcontractor selection, and supplier prequalification.
• Support contract structuring, tender evaluation, and contractor appointments
• Drive cost discipline, value engineering, and claims mitigation

7. Quality, HSE & Compliance

• Enforce robust QA/QC systems aligned with project specifications and international standards.
• Ensure strict compliance with UAE construction codes, authority regulations, and safety standards.
• Champion a zero-harm safety culture, ensuring strong HSE leadership across all sites.
• Ensure readiness for audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews.

8. Governance, Controls & Methodologies

• Implement best-in-class construction methodologies, project governance frameworks, and reporting systems.
• Establish and track KPIs covering cost, time, productivity, quality, safety, and risk.
• Enforce strong project controls, cost monitoring, and manage change.
• Drive consistency and discipline across all sites and teams.

9. Stakeholder & Authority Management

• Act as the senior interface with developers, consultants, subcontractors, and authorities.
• Maintain effective coordination with design, commercial, and operations stakeholders.
• Present project progress, risks, and mitigation plans to senior management and executives.
• Protect the developer’s brand through professional site representation and delivery excellence.

10. Leadership, Team Development & Culture

• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams across project management, engineering, commercial, procurement, and site operations.
• Build a performance-driven, accountable, and collaborative culture.
• Develop succession planning and capability building within the contracting organization.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Construction Management, or related field; Master’s degree preferred;
• Professional certifications (PMP, RICS, ICE, CIOB) are an advantage.
• 15 years of construction leadership experience, with at least 7-10 years of experience in the UAE market.
• Proven leadership role experience in contracting companies
• Proven track record overseeing high-rise buildings and complex mixed-use developments.
• In-depth knowledge of UAE construction regulations, authority processes, and strong relationships with top developers and contractors.
• Demonstrated experience in setting up or scaling construction operations and governance

Salary