Senior Project Manager (retail)
WSPJobsCloseBy Editorial Insights
Senior Project Manager, retail, in Dubai, leads the strategic delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary retail and mixed-use developments from concept to completion. You’ll work autonomously, guiding cross-functional teams and stakeholders to align client objectives, brand standards and fast-track programmes. The role covers contract setup and management, scope definition and changes, sub-consultant coordination, and programme leadership in P6, plus QA/QC, risk registers and commercial oversight from budgeting to handover. To apply, showcase 10+ years in retail/mixed-use delivery, a proven record of leading large teams and tenant coordination, and concrete examples of client-facing leadership and on-time handovers. Highlight anchor tenants, tenant fit-out integration, and experience with major developers. Apply today.
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As a Senior Project Manager, you are responsible for the strategic leadership and successful delivery of complex, multi-disciplinary projects, with a focus on retail and mixed-use developments, from early concept through to completion.
The role requires a highly proactive and commercially astute approach, ensuring delivery aligns with client objectives, brand requirements, operational constraints, and fast-track retail programmes. You will lead project teams, drive decision-making, and manage key stakeholder relationships, ensuring high-quality outcomes across all stages of design and delivery.
You are expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, provide leadership across multiple workstreams, and act as a trusted advisor to clients.
Contract & Scope
- Lead project set-up, including contract finalisation, internal alignment and mobilisation of the team
- Fully understand and manage the contract, ensuring compliance with key obligations and deliverables
- Define, agree and manage scope across all disciplines, ensuring clarity of responsibilities
- Lead the appointment and coordination of sub-consultants, including scope, fees and agreements
- Identify and manage changes to scope, leading variation preparation, negotiation and agreement with the client
- Ensure all deliverables meet WSP quality standards and client expectations
Communication & Team Leadership
- Act as the primary interface with the client, operators, tenants, and key stakeholders
- Provide clear leadership, establishing a high-performing “one team” culture
- Lead client engagement, workshops and presentations, including executive-level reporting
- Manage complex stakeholder environments, including retail tenants, landlords, operators and authorities
- Support clients with strategic decision-making, balancing commercial, operational and design priorities
- Proactively manage expectations, risks and issues to maintain trust and project momentum
Programme - Lead development of detailed, realistic programmes aligned with retail delivery and tenant fit-out requirements
- Manage programmes proactively, identifying and mitigating risks to delivery
- Coordinate with design teams to ensure alignment with anchor tenant, F&B and retail unit handover milestones
- Oversee integration of base build, shell & core, and tenant fit-out packages
- Ensure programme reflects authority approvals, procurement strategies and phased handovers
- Work with Planning & Controls to maintain robust P6 programmes and client reporting
Design & Technical Coordination
- Lead multidisciplinary design coordination through all stages (Concept to IFC and construction support)
- Ensure alignment between brand standards, operational requirements and technical design solutions
- Oversee design reviews, ensuring buildability, compliance and coordination across disciplines
- Drive high-quality outputs through structured QA/QC processes
- Ensure coordination between landlord criteria and tenant requirements
Risk Management
- Establish and lead the project Risk Register, ensuring regular review and active management
- Identify key risks associated with retail phasing, tenant changes, authority approvals and programme constraints
- Develop and implement mitigation strategies
- Escalate critical risks to senior leadership and clients as required
Commercial Management
- Lead all project commercial aspects, including budget management and financial reporting
Manage project invoicing, cost tracking and financial performance - Lead preparation, negotiation and agreement of variations
- Provide commercial advice to clients, particularly relating to programme impacts and tenant-driven changes
Delivery & Handover
- Oversee project delivery through to completion, ensuring alignment with client and operational objectives
- Coordinate phased handovers, including base build and tenant fit-out interfaces
- Ensure smooth transition to supervision / construction teams
- Lead project close-out, ensuring all deliverables, approvals and documentation are complete
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture or related field
- 10+ years professional experience, with a strong focus on retail, mixed-use or commercial developments
- Proven track record delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects from Concept through to IFC and construction
- Demonstrable experience in retail delivery, including tenant coordination and fit-out integration
- Experience working with major developers, operators or retail brands preferred
- Experience managing large, multidisciplinary teams and multiple stakeholders
Core Competencies
- Strong leadership and ability to operate at a senior, client-facing level
- Strategic thinking with ability to manage competing priorities
- Excellent stakeholder management, particularly within complex retail environments
- Commercial acumen and contractual awareness
- Strong programme and risk management capability
- Ability to drive quality, coordination and technical excellence
- Collaborative and proactive communication style
- Ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary teams
- Strong understanding of health and safety in design
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