Description

Job Summary

The Associate Project Manager is a senior member of the building design services team in the design center. S/He is responsible for the management of non-complex building design projects, including team management, schedule and cost control, quality management, risk management, and client management throughout the design project lifecycle. He is accountable for the delivery of non-complex building design projects in accordance with project budgets and schedules while satisfying all technical and quality requirements. While doing so, the jobholder is the main client counterpart and ensures client requirements are handled professionally, while maintaining a positive and reputable company image in all interactions. The jobholder will also be expected to progressively support and work on more complex projects, as needed. He shall stay abreast of the latest trends and developments in the project management space and adopt best project management practices, where applicable.

Key Responsibilities (Financial)

• Develop detailed project budgets for non-complex building design projects
• Manage project budgets and resource allocation, ensuring adherence to allocated budgets

Key Responsibilities (Customer Focus)

• Collect and analyze client requirements for mon-complex building design projects
• Manage client relations, including managing project expectations and sharing project progress and issues/risks
• Ensure client satisfaction with building design deliverables

Key Responsibilities (Internal Business Process)

• Manage non-complex building design projects, including schedule and cost control, team management, client management, and risk management, and support Project Managers on more complex projects, as needed
• Develop project management plans, including schedule baselines, project scope baselines, man-hour estimates, quality plans, budgets, and risk plans for non-complex building design projects
• Develop scope baseline, detailed work breakdown structures, project activities, and critical path charts for non-complex building design projects
• Provide input on project procurement needs, including external specialty suppliers, as needed
• Lead internal and external project kick-off meetings and ensure stakeholders are aligned
• Manage the design teams during the execution of non-complex design projects across all design stages, including concept design, schematic design, draft final design, and construction documents
• Coordinate with technical design team leaders for addressing clients' technical issues, reviewing designs, obtaining approvals, etc., for non-complex building design projects
• Lead the coordination with other design departments to integrate designs at all stages (e.g., Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Transportation, etc.) for non-complex building design projects
• Support QS with preparation of tender documents, such as BOQs, specifications, Conditions of Contract, etc.
• Manage sub-consultants and ensure deliverables are in accordance with scope, schedule, and budget
• Make sure that the quality assurance procedure is applied promptly for all deliverables, and make sure that the quality of design deliverables is consistent with K&A standards
• Manage design verification, peer reviews, and other quality control activities
• Lead design validation and reviews with client counterparts and authorities, as needed
• Provide support during the tender process, including managing bid queries, supporting in evaluation of bids, and supporting clients during the negotiation and award process, as needed
• Support during the supervision stage, as needed, including responding to contractors' RFIs and solving design conflicts, in coordination with local design support teams
• Work with design support in Geographies to support projects, such as client coordination, authorities approvals
• Liaise with the Contracts Department to resolve any contractual issues for non-complex projects, as needed
• Manage changes in project scope, potential risks, and contingency plans, as needed
• Guide the preparation of invoices for K&A's deliverables, in coordination with Resident Managers and local Finance teams
• Prepare periodic project progress reports, raising major issues to the Director / Senior Manager - Project Management and the Architecture & Planning Project Control Unit

Qualification, Technical Skills and Competencies

• Bachelor's Degree in Architecture or Engineering
• Master's Degree in Architecture, Engineering, or Business Administration is preferred
• PMP certification

• Knowledge of building and architectural design
• Solid knowledge in all aspects of project management
• Excellent knowledge of project management software
• Strong budget management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
• Good understanding of quality control and risk management
• Good communication skills
• Good interpersonal and leadership skills
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of stakeholders, including senior management, clients, and various departments
• Proficiency in spoken and written English; Arabic and/or French are an advantage

Overall Experience Required to Execute this Role

8+ years of industry experience in building and architectural design, of which at least 5 years are in a leadership position

Specific Experience Required to Execute this Role

• 8+ years of experience in the Building & Architectural Design Industry in a top-tier regional/multinational engineering consultancy firm
• Strong experience and track record with building design projects within one or more specializations (residential, hospitality, retail, commercial, healthcare, specialty facilities, education, sports, and recreation)
• Experience within the Middle East