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Project Manager
Early Learning Centre ME
Dubai, UAE
Full-time
Mid-Senior
Onsite
Discovered 6 days ago
Retail fit-out project managementProject scheduling and critical path managementProject budgeting and cost controlTendering and contractor appointmentConstruction drawings and design coordinationMall and authority approvals
Key Skills for This Role
Retail fit-out project managementProject scheduling and critical path managementProject budgeting and cost controlTendering and contractor appointmentConstruction drawings and design coordinationMall and authority approvals
Full Job Posting
Concept, design, and tender
- Translate approved site and lease terms into a project brief with scope, budget, key dates, and landlord fit-out conditions.
- Brief and manage designers or architects through concept and construction drawings; check brand guidelines and category layouts and coordinate required UK approvals.
- Review construction documents before tender and plan fixture, fitting, and equipment requirements and orders.
- Prepare tender packs, obtain competitive quotes, recommend contractors based on relevant track record, and document award decisions and declared interests.
- Define specialist work clearly in contracts, maintain a standard rate card, and appoint and manage shopfitting, MEP, signage, flooring, IT cabling, security, and fire-system suppliers.
Approvals and site delivery
- Manage mall submissions, design approvals, fit-out permits and renewals, contractor all-risks insurance, pre-trade checks, and permission to trade.
- Coordinate authority requirements in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Qatar, including relevant tenancy registration, municipalities, civil defence, utilities, and safety systems.
- Obtain landlord approvals, site possession, and access; manage landlord issues, handover, snagging, and return of deposits or fit-out contributions.
- Run the project programme and critical path from site possession to opening, report progress weekly, manage budgets and variations, and conduct regular site visits.
- Communicate design changes in writing and complete final inspections, snagging, fixture checks, and collection of completion paperwork, certificates, warranties, and as-built drawings.
Opening and handover
- Coordinate HR, buying and planning, IT, finance, and marketing workstreams against the store opening date.
- Run weekly opening meetings and maintain a shared opening checklist; coordinate fixture installation, opening stock, and merchandising with store teams.
- Hand over stores to operations complete, clean, stocked, licensed, and trading, with a written handover record.
- Conduct post-opening reviews and update standard programmes based on lessons learned.
Refits, relocations, and reporting
- Plan refits to minimize trading downtime, including phased or out-of-hours work where possible; agree trading plans with the Area Manager.
- Sequence relocation projects to open the new unit before the old one closes where the lease allows, and maintain a rolling estate refit programme.
- Manage minor works and pop-up builds to appropriate project standards and documentation.
- Maintain an evidence-backed tracker for each project, updating the critical path and escalating slippage as soon as it is known.
- Maintain a consolidated view of live and planned projects, with status, next milestones, and risks; report weekly to the General Manager and present at monthly management reviews.
- Keep complete store project files and contribute accurate capital costs and programme assumptions to the standard new-store P&L template.
Role expectations
- The source description does not state formal education, years of experience, or required certifications.
- The role covers retail store development projects, including new stores, refits, relocations, and minor works.
- The role requires regular site visits and coordination with contractors, suppliers, malls, landlords, authorities, and internal teams.
- Project status must be supported by evidence such as reference numbers, certificates, written approvals, or witnessed tests.
Work setting
- The role includes regular project site visits and in-person coordination during fit-out and construction work.
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