About this role
At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
At HDR, our employee-owners are committed to creating an inclusive, collaborative environment where people are empowered to bring their authentic selves to work and make a meaningful impact. Every role at HDR contributes to shaping communities and solving the world’s greatest challenges.
At HDR, our employee-owners are committed to creating an inclusive, collaborative environment where people are empowered to bring their authentic selves to work and make a meaningful impact. Every role at HDR contributes to shaping communities and solving the world’s greatest challenges.
As part of HDR’s Building Engineering Services (BES) Group, you will help deliver critical infrastructure that supports the digital age — from high-performance data centres and commercial developments to hospitality, leisure, finance, aerospace, and technology facilities. This role is a senior leadership opportunity to drive operational excellence, technical quality, and sustainable growth across the Middle East and UK markets.
Role Overview
HDR has an exceptional opportunity for a Building Engineering Services Business Group Manager to provide leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for the BES portfolio, with a primary operational focus on staff development, project delivery, financial performance, and business growth.
The role is principally based in Dubai, with close collaboration across the UK, EMEA, and global BES leadership. You will lead multidisciplinary engineering teams (MEP and associated disciplines), ensure delivery of technically excellent and commercially successful projects, and play a key role in shaping the future growth of the BES business.
This is a 50/50 operational and business development leadership role, requiring strong people leadership, commercial acumen, and technical credibility.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Provide effective leadership and day-to-day management of the BES team, including utilisation, deployment, performance, and development.
- Lead recruitment, workforce planning, succession planning, and staff retention in line with current and future project demands.
- Conduct performance reviews, personal development plans, mentoring, and APC/chartership support.
Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture aligned with HDR values.
Project & Technical Oversight
- Support and oversee Project Leads to ensure projects are delivered to required technical, quality, programme, and commercial standards.
- Act as Project Lead / HDR Project Manager or Principal-in-Charge on large or complex projects where required.
Ensure compliance with HDR design standards, QA/QC processes, and Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001 / 14001).
- Review and sign off key deliverables, reports, and technical outputs.
Financial & Commercial Management
Maintain accountability for financial performance, including:
- Project job costing reports
- Profit and sales performance
- Resource utilisation
- Fee forecasts and backlog planning
- Debtor management and post-project reviews
- Provide quarterly and annual reporting to senior leadership.
Actively manage risk, claims avoidance, and contract compliance.
Business Development & Sales
- Lead and support bids, proposals, and pursuits, including fee strategies, resourcing plans, and bid approvals.
- Drive growth across CRE, Hotel & Leisure, Finance, Aerospace, TMT and other sectors.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships and external partnerships.
- Represent HDR within industry associations and the wider market.
- Work closely with Market Sector Directors, Business Group leaders, and global BES teams to achieve growth objectives.
Strategic & Operational Planning
- Contribute to annual and long-term strategic planning and budgeting.
- Monitor operational metrics and performance across the region.
- Identify and prioritise strategic hires and capability development.
Support cross-selling and collaboration across disciplines, regions, and business groups.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Planning, or a closely related field.
- 10–20+ years of industry experience, including senior leadership roles.
- Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Strong background in project delivery, commercial management, and business development.
- Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams in complex, matrixed organisations.
Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Commitment to HDR’s employee-owned culture and values.
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional registration / chartered status (or actively pursuing).
- Technical background within Building Engineering Services (MEP).
- Experience working with Middle East clients and projects.
- Experience managing regional or international business group operations.
- Familiarity with project and design analysis software.
- Bachelor's degree in a Professional, Architecture, Engineering or closely related field
- A minimum of 10 years experience
- Demonstrated experience with leading diverse teams
- Committed to quality, improvement and HDR values
- Actively engaged in professional or industry associations to enhance HDR technical expertise and brand
- Ability to work cooperatively with regional and local office managers, other area business group directors, technical directors and marketing managers
- An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must
What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.
Other facts
About HDR
HDR is an employee-owned design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. We’re ranked No. 6 among the world’s design firms and we’re the largest healthcare design firm. Led by the strength of our values and a culture shaped by employee ownership, we network with each other, build on each other’s contributions, and collaborate together to make great things possible.
When you join HDR, we give you license to do the same. We help you take charge of your career, giving you multiple growth opportunities along the way.
So, what are you waiting for? Come grow with us.
What you'll do
- The Building Engineering Services Business Group Manager will provide leadership and strategic direction for the BES portfolio, focusing on staff development, project delivery, financial performance, and business growth. This role involves overseeing multidisciplinary engineering teams and ensuring the delivery of technically excellent and commercially successful projects.
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