Project Director - MENA

The TAIT Group is the World Market Leader in designing, constructing, and delivering the finest live event equipment in the world.

Whether it is creating awe-inspiring spectaculars, complex touring stages, theatre engineering solutions, brand activations or cruise ship installations, TAIT delivers world-class solutions for live experiences. With its proprietary entertainment automation platform, custom-made products, and creative engineering, TAIT’s innovative offerings continue to advance industry standards and exceed client expectations. As a global network of over 1,200 employees in 20 office locations, TAIT has worked on projects in over 30 countries, all 7 continents and even outer space.

Position Purpose:

TAIT provides end-to-end solutions for our Clients, from blue-sky ideation to production realisation to operational staffing to ongoing support. To deliver this best-in-class experience, the Project Director advocates for the Client’s vision, and deploys a strategy that leverages TAIT’s global resources and relationships. The position leads supporting teams across the TAIT group, along with third party vendors, to provide account level decision making in service of a fully integrated client experience. The Project Director holds fiscal responsibility for the overall project, with consideration for each supporting TAIT office, and leads Client and Vendor contracting. With a constant eye on the project’s horizon, leadership, delegation, mentorship, and communication are essential to long-term success.

This role can be based in Dubai or Riyadh.

Responsibilities:

Effectively navigate and appropriately prioritise both creative and technical project demands.

Maintain and report accurate, real-time project financial information per TAIT standards.

Represent project realities, most notably financial, internally in TAIT executive reviews.

Lead contract negotiations with clients and third-party vendors.

Manage geographically and vocationally disparate teams.

Lead internal intercompany costing efforts and external pricing discussions.

Identify and advocate for appropriate project staffing levels by phase.

Lead make/buy decisions on scope choices throughout project lifecycle.

Train and mentor junior project team members across TAIT divisions

Oversee day-to-day of global project team, planning, directing, and organising.

Effectively lead both TAIT staff and contractors during all project phases including onsite/install.

Leverage TAIT shared services to ensure project success (Legal, HR, Global Mobility, etc).

Perform assigned duties according to the policies and expectations prescribed by the company.

Effectively navigate and appropriately prioritize both creative and technical project demands.

Other duties may be assigned as necessary to meet business needs.

Competencies:

Strong leadership skills with an ability to lead without physical presence.

Comfort with delegation of important tasks and whole project phases.

Creative Problem Solving – Solving for the “why,” not just the “what”.

Balancing prioritisation, on time completion of tasks, and ability to change course.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Self-disciplined personal management – High ownership / personal accountability.

Comfortable in tense negotiations.

Working knowledge of common contracting terms – IP ownership, indemnity, confidentiality, paid-when-paid.

Above average knowledge of corporate and project financial mechanisms – EBITA, margin, absorption, revenue recognition.

Desire and proven ability to mentor and develop younger team members.

Strong emotional Intelligence.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in architecture, Engineering, Construction Management or Similar

Extensive experience managing complex, and ideally global, projects in multiple countries.

Minimum 10 years of experience in managing projects in the Middle East.

Extensive experience negotiating contracts.

Extensive in-field experience managing subcontractors.

Ability and willingness to travel internationally.

Familiarity with MS Office Suite

Familiarity with MS Project

PMP Certification preferred.