Director of Operations

About the Role
Reporting to the General Manager, the Director of Operations leads the operational and financial performance of the company's EPC projects and service divisions (Maintenance Contracts and Secondment Services). This role is crucial in owning the Operations P&L, budgets, forecasts, OPEX, gross profit, cash flow, and resources. The Director ensures delivery to contract, schedule, HSE, quality, and profit targets. This position is accountable for protecting and improving margins through robust budgeting, monitoring, corrective action, cost optimization, and variation recovery, with all forecasts validated against progress and risks. The Director will resolve issues within delegated authority and escalate material matters to the General Manager with impact assessments and recommendations.

Leading the Head of Projects, Engineering Manager, and Head of Division—along with their teams—this role enhances leadership, governance, and execution standards. A commercially astute EPC professional with contractor-side experience is required to manage multiple projects across planning, engineering, procurement, construction, subcontracting, and client interactions.

Duties & Responsibilities
Financial, Budget & P&L Management

• Own the financial performance and P&L of the Operations Department, ensuring achievement of approved revenue, gross profit, and profitability targets.
• Lead preparation of the annual Operations Department budget, providing operational inputs to the General Manager and Finance for business planning.
• Challenge individual project budgets post-award to reflect the approved commercial baseline, execution strategy, risks, and expected profitability.
• Regularly review project P&Ls – revenue, actual and committed costs, accruals, cost-to-complete, gross profit, margin, and cash flow, holding team leads accountable for performance.
• Ensure accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasts of financial metrics, supported by validated progress and quantified risks.
• Identify margin erosion and cost overruns early, driving corrective actions.
• Monitor billing, certification, receivables, and cash collection in coordination with Commercial and Finance.
• Hold operational managers accountable for financial assumptions and performance commitments.

Project Delivery & Operational Management

• Lead execution of the company's EPC project portfolio from award through closing, adhering to contractual requirements and quality standards.
• Oversee the Maintenance Contracts and Secondment Services divisions to meet service levels and divisional profitability targets.
• Ensure appropriate execution strategies and mobilization plans for awarded projects.
• Conduct structured performance reviews on project progress, profitability, cash flow, and key risks while maintaining visibility.
• Proactively identify underperforming projects and lead corrective action developments.
• Ensure effective inter-departmental coordination throughout project phases.
• Optimize resources across the project portfolio according to operational priorities.
• Provide visible HSE leadership and ensure compliance with client requirements.
• Deliver timely reporting to the General Manager and escalate material operational risks as necessary.

Planning, Project Controls & EPC Oversight

• Oversee planning and project controls, ensuring consistent application across all projects.
• Review portfolio-level schedule performance and key milestones through operational reviews.
• Endorse and implement recovery strategies for projects at risk.
• Integrate engineering, procurement, and construction across projects and resolve critical interface issues.
• Hold project leadership accountable for construction productivity and effective resource utilization.

Commercial, Client & Stakeholder Management

• Ensure timely identification and substantiation of variations and claims, working closely with the Contracts function.
• Manage major subcontractor, supplier, and commercial matters impacting project performance.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients and represent the company in senior-level meetings.
• Act as escalation point for critical project issues, supporting leadership in operating complexities.

People Leadership, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Lead, coach, and develop senior project personnel, establishing a performance-driven culture.
• Support recruitment and succession planning to enhance project management capability.
• Ensure consistent project management standards and compliance with policies.
• Promote lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or a relevant engineering discipline.
• PMP or equivalent project-management certification preferred.
• Postgraduate qualifications in Project Management, Engineering Management, or Business Administration advantageous.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of EPC project execution experience in oil & gas or related sectors.
• Essential contractor-side EPC experience.
• Proven experience in senior project leadership roles.
• Significant GCC and UAE project experience preferred.
• Previous ADNOC project experience highly preferred.

Skills & Professional Requirements

• Proven responsibilities in project P&L, budgeting, and profitability improvement.
• Strong knowledge of project controls, planning, procurement, and construction.
• Sound commercial experience with contractual risk management.

Attributes and Behaviours

• Coaches and empowers others for decision-making within parameters.
• Upholds ethical behaviour and compliance with laws.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office products.