Project Manager - Industrial Automation Projects

Job Description

Job Purpose:

he Project Manager is responsible for leading the full lifecycle of internal / external industrial automation projects, from initiation and planning through execution, commissioning, and closeout—ensuring safe, timely, and cost-effective delivery in alignment with client and business objectives. This role serves as the central point of accountability for project performance, overseeing scope, schedule, cost, risk, resources, and quality while maintaining a strong focus on client satisfaction and delivery excellence.

The Project Manager leads cross-functional project teams and coordinates closely with clients, contractors, and internal stakeholders to manage all technical, commercial, and contractual aspects of the project. The role carries full P&L accountability and ensures compliance with HSSE standards, quality systems, and change management processes.

Success in this role is measured by the ability to deliver projects within budget and schedule, uphold safety and quality standards, manage client relationships, and drive continuous improvement in execution performance, financial results, and team capability.

Overall responsibilities:

• Formulate the project team and participate in project kick-off meetings, understand scope of work, estimation basis, execution and subcontracting strategy and execute the project.
• Coordinate with client Project Manager and project management team and set up project information system and communications.
• At contract award, review the contract terms, notice requirements, liquidated damages and payment conditions with the Contracts Department and brief the project team accordingly.
• Get quotations and negotiate prices with OEM’s for products, equipment, solutions etc., maintain prices / commercial register and contribute to estimation efforts.
• Maintain relationships with OEM’s, learn about new / upcoming technology and solutions in the market and provide technical awareness to sales team of market know-how of Industrial Automation and stay updated on new technologies and solutions relevant to Industrial Automation projects.

Day-to-day responsibilities:

• As per project scope, in collaboration with the planning team establish work procedures, sequences, and develop schedules, budgets, staffing requirements, vendor lists and progress milestones.
• Manage technical issues with team and client. Regularly reports project progress to senior management and/or the client.
• Manage a project team to ensure project safety, scope, schedule, and budgets are being tracked and implemented.
• Establishes project procedures and leads production of project execution plan including the scope of work, deliverables list, master schedule, budget, org charts, risk register.
• Facilitates the setup of information management systems / applications as applicable to suit various life phases of projects and manage information management project team.
• Reviews and analyses cost and cost-control progress, financial and other site-generated data to evaluate job status and progress.
• Act as a focal point of contact with OEM’s for technical and commercial matters related to Projects, Work Orders and Solutions.
• Collaborate with Head of Projects and act as a Projects ManagerProject Manager for customers and assign Lead Engineer for day-to-day coordination and execution / supervision to customers.
• Ensure the supply of required material through procurement is available for manufacturingLead procurement planning, vendor selection, long lead item tracking, expediting and logistics coordination to ensure required material is available for manufacturing and manage and supervise manufacturing and visit client / customers sites for execution, installation, and commissioning.
• Provide technical oversight on automation projects, including review of designs, PLC / DCS / SCADA programming and test procedures, and witness FAT and SAT to ensure systems meet the project specifications.
• Manage subcontractors from pre award through to close out, including evaluation, negotiation, scope and interface control, performance monitoring and settlement of subcontract final accounts.
• P & L responsibility with associated commercial and financial accountability including revenue delivery, margin and overhead management, budget and forecast determination and attainment, risk and opportunity reviews, cost controls, accounts payable/billing and cash collection timely invoicing and certification, cash collection and reduction of aged receivables.
• Negotiates changes to project scope or specification with the client. Follows Change Management process to identify and approve modifications to scope, cost, schedule and quality.
• Responsible for delivery of agreed schedule and financial performance, proactively intervening to avoid slippage. Where a project falls behind on time or cost, develop and implement a recovery plan and report it to the Head of Projects.
• Ensures project team members are competent to carry out their assigned work and duties.
• Prepare manpower loading plans and resource forecasts for the project and ensure the best use of project personnel and equipment.
• Leads ongoing focus on risk identification and mitigation during project execution. Maintain the project risk and opportunity register and review it with the project team at regular intervals.
• Responsible for the project HSSE leadership, ensures a program of initiatives and auditing schedule are established and that HSSE and quality management issues are proactively addressed.
• Interact with clients to proactively resolve issues and at project’s completion to obtain final client approvals. At completion, close out all punch list items, agree the final account with the client, secure completion certificates and the release of retention and bonds where applicable, and manage warranty / defects liability obligations.
• Maintains a continuing business relationship with all clients as part of ongoing business development efforts.
• Support Head of Projects/Planning and work closely with Project Managers, Leads / Focal Persons in identifying the EOT (Time / Cost) and provide guidance and leadership in development of claim / variation and escalate with client with help of Contract Department. Identify, prepare and submit variations and change orders on external projects in coordination with the Head of Projects and the Contracts Department, ensuring notices are issued on time and supporting records are maintained.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Mechatronics) or other relevant fields of study
• Master Degree and/or PMP is desired. 

Additional Information

Experience Requirements:

• Experience level: 12+ years
• 05+ years or more experience in UAE or Middle East in Industrial Automation Projects
• HSE leadership compliance and ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.

Skills & Professional Requirements:

• Proven project management experience as well as a good understanding of business issues.
• Good level of experience in the related field, industry, and locations of the work in UAE.
• Have worked as a Project Manager on the electrical projects.
• Experience working on brownfield projects is preferred.
• Brownfield experience in oil and gas industry, power and DCP's
• Knowledge of commercial and contract conditions applicable to the procurement of various types of goods and services.
• Good knowledge and experience in project monitoring and forecasting
• Ability to manage change control process on project with subcontractors and interfaces (if any).
• In-depth knowledge of all types of project information (deliverables) and its uses and capable of managing information management project team
• Good knowledge of all handover and close-out activities required for client, and suppliers.
• Understanding of Cash Flow management as well as projection/forecast of cost at completion.

Attributes and Behaviours:

• Coaches, mentors and empowers others to make decisions within established parameters.
• Is a champion and role model for ethical behaviour and compliance with applicable laws and policies.
• Excellent personality with strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft office products, specifically Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word