Project Manager – Rail & Transit Projects

Job Description

Overview

The Project Manager will lead the delivery of the Makkah Metro Support Consultancy Services, managing multidisciplinary teams responsible for planning, engineering, systems, commercial, PPP, stakeholder management, governance, and tender preparation activities.

The role will act as the primary interface with the client, ensuring successful delivery of all consultancy services associated with the development of Phase 1 of the Makkah Metro project, including Package A (EPC+F Civil Works) and Package B (PPP Systems, Rolling Stock, Operations & Maintenance), while ensuring alignment with future expansion phases and stakeholder requirements.

Your role

Project Leadership & Delivery

· Lead and manage the overall delivery of the Makkah Metro Support Consultancy Services.

· Serve as the primary point of contact between the Client, stakeholders, and the Consultant team.

· Direct multidisciplinary teams comprising rail engineers, systems specialists, planners, commercial experts, PPP advisors, environmental specialists, and project controls professionals.

· Develop and maintain the overall project execution strategy, governance framework, and delivery plans.

· Ensure all project deliverables are completed within agreed quality, budget, and programme requirements.

· Establish project controls, reporting structures, risk management processes, and decision-making frameworks.

· Drive collaboration and integration across civil, systems, operations, commercial, and procurement workstreams.

· Manage project resources, budgets, schedules, and stakeholder expectations.

Programme & Project Management

· Develop and manage the overall project programme using Primavera P6 and/or equivalent planning tools.

· Oversee preparation and monitoring of project schedules, milestones, and critical path activities.

· Lead programme governance meetings and executive reporting.

· Monitor project performance against programme, budget, quality, and risk objectives.

· Review and challenge project assumptions, delivery strategies, and recovery plans.

· Ensure compliance with client requirements, Saudi regulations, and international best practices.

· Lead project risk workshops and mitigation planning activities.

Technical Coordination

Oversee delivery of:

· Metro planning studies

· Preliminary engineering design

· Systems integration strategies

· Tender documentation

Functional requirements

· Business cases

· Land acquisition assessments

· Governance and PPP frameworks

· Coordinate interfaces between civil works, rail systems, rolling stock, operations, and future expansion phases.

· Ensure integration of BIM, digital engineering, sustainability, RAMS, safety, and operational requirements.

· Manage technical reviews and approvals with stakeholders and authorities.

· Procurement, Commercial & PPP Leadership

· Lead development of procurement strategies for EPC+F and PPP packages.

· Oversee preparation of tender documents, evaluation methodologies, and contract packaging strategies.

· Support prequalification, market sounding, tender clarification, bidder engagement, and contract award activities.

· Manage interfaces with PPP advisors, financial consultants, commercial teams, and legal advisors.

· Support Value-for-Money assessments, business cases, risk allocation strategies, and concession structures.

· Lead commercial negotiations and tender evaluation activities.

Stakeholder Management

· Build and maintain strong relationships with:

· Royal Commission for Makkah City (RCMC)

· NCP

· EXPRO

· Government Procurement Authority

· Saudi Geological Survey

· Municipal authorities

· Utility providers

· Metro operators and transport stakeholders

· Facilitate executive steering committee meetings and governance forums.

· Ensure alignment across stakeholders with competing priorities and technical requirements.

· Present project status, risks, recommendations, and strategic decisions to executive leadership.

Governance & Quality Management

· Establish project governance frameworks and reporting structures.

· Ensure compliance with Government Procurement Authority requirements and local content regulations.

· Implement quality assurance and quality control procedures.

· Maintain project documentation and approvals.

· Lead lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives.

· Ensure compliance with ISO 19650, BIM requirements, and project governance standards.

People Leadership

· Lead and mentor multidisciplinary delivery teams.

· Drive a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, and excellence.

· Support recruitment, succession planning, and staff development initiatives.

· Conduct performance reviews and resource planning.

About you

Essential Qualifications

· Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, Transportation Engineering, or related discipline.

· Professional Project Management Certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent).

· Minimum 15 years of project management experience in major infrastructure, transportation, rail, or metro projects.

· Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary consultancy teams on large-scale rail or public transport programmes.

· Proven experience leading tender support, procurement, and project delivery activities.

· Strong understanding of EPC, Design & Build, PPP, and EPC+F delivery models.

· Experience managing clients, government entities, and senior stakeholders.

· Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

· Experience in programme management, risk management, and governance.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience on Metro, MRT, LRT, High-Speed Rail, or Urban Transit projects.

· Experience in Saudi Arabia and GCC infrastructure programmes.

· Knowledge of Saudi public procurement regulations and NCP requirements.

· Familiarity with BIM, ISO 19650, systems integration, and rail operations.

· Master's Degree in Project Management, Engineering, Transportation Planning, or related discipline.

· Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional accreditation.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive - at every stage of your life and your career.

This includes:

· Comprehensive life insurance coverage

· Medical insurance for you and your dependents

· Annual leave balance in accordance with local labour law

· Flexible and hybrid work solutions

· Opportunity for local and global internal transfers

· Company gratuity scheme

· Discretionary bonus program

· Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition

Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make.

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis,a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Worker Type

Job Type

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.