Head of Construction /Construction Director

About This Role

The Head of Construction/Construction Director oversees the full execution of the high-rise development projects in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, from pre-construction through to handover, acting as the key link between the project site, consultants, contractors, and internal stakeholders. In addition to technical and construction oversight, the role assumes broad project management responsibilities to ensure timely delivery, budget control, quality assurance, and alignment with MERED’s ultra-luxury standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Client’s Point of contact on-site, representing the company in all day-to-day project operations, stakeholder communications, technical decisions, and program management—ensuring seamless execution of the company’s development vision.
• Take responsibility for the execution and monitoring of the project master schedule, overseeing critical path activities and proactively resolving bottlenecks across all trades and work fronts.
• Lead all site-level decision-making, interfacing daily with the Consultant and Contractor, while aligning with the strategic objectives of the Executive Management team.
• Coordinate and chair all weekly progress meetings, technical coordination meetings, and task force sessions with internal and external parties; follow preparation of comprehensive MOMs, trackers, and follow-ups to ensure accountability and implementation.
• Ensure that all procurement, long lead items, shop drawings, and authority approvals are aligned with the schedule and proactively track their timelines with the planning department to avoid execution delays.
• Review and assess contractor’s programs, lookahead plans, recovery schedules, and mitigation plans; reject or revise plans that do not meet MERED's standards or fail to support critical milestones.
• Monitor and supervise site works for full scope disciplines including:

• Soil Investigation.
• Enabling Works.
• Structural: Sequencing, rebar installation, slab formwork, PT works, cast-in items.
• Architectural: Blockworks, waterproofing, screeding, ceiling frameworks, partitions, stone and tile installations.
• Façade: System panels, brackets, brackets coordination with MEP penetrations and PT zones, balcony closures.
• ID: Joinery, veneer mockups, lighting details, finishing tolerances, and detail verifications.
• MEP: Shaft coordination, riser alignment, containment readiness, T&C planning and authority inspections.

• Take charge of all government authority coordination (DDA, DEWA, Civil Defense, DM, RTA), ensuring that submissions, site inspections, approvals, and NOCs are prepared and executed on time.
• Maintain direct oversight of design coordination activities, ensuring all site conditions, RFI responses, and consultant instructions are technically reviewed, confirmed, and closed in collaboration with design managers and consultants.
• Represent the Developer in all commercial and contractual coordination together with commercial team by:

• Evaluating technical claims, cost implications, and time extension requests.
• Providing technical input to Contracts/Legal for variation orders, claims rebuttals, and scope clarifications.
• Assessing additional work justifications and holding the Contractor accountable for scope performance.

• Take full leadership of QA/QC implementation:

• Approve method statements and ITPs.
• Review NCRs and ensure rectification with zero recurrence.
• Verify material submittals, shop drawing accuracy, and as-built records.

• Manage construction digital tools and systems, ensuring workflows, WIRs, MIRs, and document reviews are completed accurately, with continuous system training and performance follow-up.
• Support planning department for internal weekly reporting to Executive Management:

• Progress dashboards, milestone tracking, risk registers, productivity comparisons, and KPI compliance reviews.

• Oversee cost control interfaces with the commercial team by tracking site quantities, abortive works, unexecuted scope, and opportunities for value engineering or savings through optimization.
• Support the tendering process by preparing and coordinating technical evaluations, organizing site visits for bidders, reviewing PTC’s, technical submissions and providing input on contractor selection in coordination with the Commercial and Design teams.
• Support the Marketing team by preparing monthly construction progress updates, facilitating site readiness for content creation activities (photoshoots, videography, walkthroughs), and coordinating materials that reflect the company’s culture, particularly in health, safety, and environmental standards.
• Drive logistics and construction phasing strategies including crane operations, platform reconfigurations, hoist planning, material laydown, storage areas, and emergency access.
• Coordinate with the Contractor and Engineer to uphold a high standard of HSE culture across the project by leading weekly HSE-focused site walks, enforcing compliance with UAE regulations and MERED’s internal safety policies, and ensuring that all activities reflect a clean, safe, and well-managed construction environment.
• Spearhead initiatives to elevate site culture:

• Ensure strict housekeeping compliance.
• Maintain site readiness for walkthroughs.

• Facilitate pre-handover activities including testing and commissioning, authority handover, DLP coordination, and unit inspections aligned with project branding and customer satisfaction goals.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or architecture.
• 15–20 years of experience in high-rise construction, including luxury residential towers (experience with offices and hotels is a plus).
• Relevant experience in high-rise construction projects in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
• Verifiable experience working for Tier 1 contractors or developers.
• Understanding of FIDIC contracts and construction contract administration.
• Knowledge of construction planning and phasing.
• Appreciation for customer care and commitment to handing over projects with a customer-centric approach.
• Understanding of RERA inspections and approvals for Dubai projects, and relevant authority regulations for Abu Dhabi projects.
• Strong technical knowledge in structural, MEP, façade, ID, and authority regulations.
• Proficient in project management tools (Primavera, MS Project), AutoCAD, and document control systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certification if applicable, PMP certification or equivalent project management training.
• Experience with Dubai development regulations and authorities (DDA, DEWA, RTA, etc.).
• Exposure to design management or contractor-side execution is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of sustainability certifications (LEED) in construction execution, if applicable.
• Industry-recognized professional whose expertise and reputation are valued by contractors.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong leadership and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent coordination and conflict resolution skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail and organizational discipline.
• Proactive problem-solver with a results-oriented mindset.
• Comfortable managing complex teams and high-pressure timelines.
• Fluent in English; knowledge of Russian or Arabic is an asset.

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Benefits

• Competitive salary package.
• Annual flight ticket allowance.
• Performance discretionary bonus.
• Comprehensive health insurance.
• Employment visa.