Senior Director – Development & Delivery

Cygnify is recruiting on behalf of a premier publicly listed real estate developer in the GCC for a Senior Director – Development & Delivery. The role is based in Dubai, UAE, and work is onsite as a full-time, permanent appointment. The Senior Director will lead a diverse portfolio of large-scale residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments across the UAE, reporting directly to executive leadership (CEO/COO). This is a high-level opportunity for a seasoned construction executive who thrives when delivering complex programs on time, within budget, and to world-class standards.

The successful candidate will oversee delivery from early concept through to commissioning and handover, steering strategic execution across multi-billion AED portfolios. It's a role for someone who can shape delivery processes, enforce QA/QC and EHS standards, and maximize commercial returns while guiding a leadership team and cross-functional partners. If you enjoy translating strategy into practical, site-ready plans and you have a track record of leading large, high-stakes projects, this could be the right fit.

Reporting to the executive leadership team, the Senior Director – Development & Delivery will drive organizational change, standardize project management approaches, and ensure performance visibility across the portfolio. They will also partner with commercial, estimating and design teams to set realistic budgets and optimize value across the delivery lifecycle.

Steering multi-project delivery in the UAE

In this role you’ll define delivery strategies that align with growth and profitability targets, then guide the live project portfolio to hit milestones on time, on budget, and to high quality. You’ll keep a close watch on performance, sharing regular updates and risk profiles with the CEO/COO, and you’ll push for improvements that streamline workflows and raise overall efficiency.

You’ll standardize methodologies, policies, and SOPs across active project teams while implementing in-house tracking and dashboards to keep milestones, cost variations, and scheduling baselines in view. Systematic audits will help surface bottlenecks, with corrective actions and field solutions driving ongoing productivity. You’ll also own claims management and impact analyses to protect the company’s interests in contract disputes and variations.

On the commercial side, collaboration with the Commercial, Estimating, and Design teams during pre-construction phases will help establish realistic execution budgets. You’ll manage budgets across multiple projects, oversee capital allocation and forecasting, and ensure the performance of tier-one main contractors, external design consultants, and specialist advisers. Operational responsibility for contract administration and supply-chain performance will sit at your level, with a focus on maintaining high standards throughout the delivery cycle.

People leadership will be central to success: you’ll mentor Project Directors, Construction Managers, and site teams, directing strategic manpower planning and resource allocation to balance requirements across the enterprise. Establishing clear KPI structures and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement will be part of building a high-performing delivery organization.

Finally, you’ll champion zero-harm Health, Safety, and Environmental practices across all sites, ensuring compliance with local regulations and company policies, while enforcing QA/QC across design and construction activities.

Must-haves and nice-to-haves

To be in the running, the role requires a strong foundation in design and delivery of major developments, plus leadership experience at the senior level. The must-have qualifications and experiences include:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited institution (required)
• Twenty years or more of post-qualification experience in real estate development, master planning, or major construction delivery
• Eight to ten years in a senior executive management role (Director, VP, or Senior Director) within a leading property developer or main contractor in the UAE or GCC
• A proven track record of overseeing multiple mega-projects from early concept through execution to close-out and handover
• In-depth knowledge of international contract forms (such as FIDIC), contract administration, value engineering, and high-value claim resolution
• Professional fluency in English; bilingual proficiency in Arabic and English is highly advantageous

Nice-to-haves that could strengthen a candidacy include the following:

• A Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Construction Management, or Project Management (highly preferred)
• Professional certifications such as PMP, MRICS, or equivalent chartered status (desirable)

Pay, perks and practical details

The role is a full-time, permanent position based onsite in Dubai, UAE. It sits within a high-level leadership team responsible for a broad, multi-project delivery portfolio and the associated governance, budgeting, and procurement cycles. The description notes the need to lead, mentor, and align Project Directors, Construction Managers, and site teams, while driving resource planning and KPI-driven performance.

Tips to stand out for this Senior Director role

Highlight your most relevant leadership experience up front, with a strong emphasis on 20+ years of real estate development or major construction delivery and eight to ten years in a senior leadership post.

Demonstrate how you’ve successfully managed multiple mega-projects from concept to handover, including how you handled schedule pressure, cost variation, and QA/QC/EHS compliance across sites.

Show evidence of your contractual and commercial acumen, particularly with FIDIC forms, contract administration, value engineering, and handling high-value claims.

Prepare to discuss how you’ve built and scaled delivery organizations, including KPI structures, performance reviews, and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Also be ready to explain your approach to leading diverse, senior technical teams and managing key stakeholder relationships across the enterprise.