Project Director (Hospitality & Theme Park)

Job Description/Specification:

AtkinsRéalis is seeking an experienced Project Director to lead the Project Management Consultancy (PMCM) team for a major theme park, waterpark, and destination development. This senior leadership position carries overall responsibility for project delivery across design management, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning, opening, handover, and the defects liability period.

The Project Director will act as the primary point of accountability to the Client, ensuring that project objectives related to schedule, cost, quality, safety, sustainability, and stakeholder management are achieved. The role involves leading multidisciplinary project controls, commercial, planning, design, HSE, QA/QC, and construction management teams while coordinating with operators, ride and attraction vendors, specialist contractors, consultants, and authorities.

This opportunity is intended for a senior project leader with extensive experience in major developments, strong commercial and contractual expertise, and a proven record of delivering large-scale entertainment or destination projects through to opening.

About AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis is an engineering services and nuclear organization that works with clients and industry partners to transform infrastructure and energy systems. Its multidisciplinary teams include consultants, designers, engineers, and project managers working across different end markets.

For this position, the company is seeking leadership capable of managing the complexity of a major entertainment destination while maintaining alignment between the Client's vision, technical requirements, commercial objectives, and operational readiness.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Leadership and Client Representation

• Represent the Client across project matters and lead the PMC and Supervision team throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain alignment with the Client's vision, governance framework, and development objectives.
• Provide executive-level advice and recommendations to support informed decisions.
• Build relationships with senior stakeholders, authorities, operators, consultants, vendors, and contractors.
• Chair executive project meetings and governance forums.

2. Project Delivery and Governance

• Lead delivery against approved project scope, budget, schedule, and quality objectives.
• Establish and maintain project governance, reporting, and control processes.
• Drive implementation of the Project Action Plan (PAP).
• Identify and resolve issues that could affect project delivery.
• Oversee project management systems, dashboards, and performance metrics.

3. Design and Technical Management

• Manage design development from concept and schematic stages through Issued for Construction (IFC) design and construction.
• Coordinate design across disciplines, incorporating creative, attraction, and operator requirements.
• Direct constructability reviews, value engineering, and design optimization.
• Ensure compliance with project standards, applicable regulations, and Client and operator requirements.

4. Theme Park and Waterpark Development

• Oversee procurement and delivery of rides, show systems, and attraction packages.
• Manage specialist vendors responsible for waterpark attractions, slides, wave and river systems, water treatment, and life safety systems.
• Coordinate the integration of attraction systems with civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), and control systems.
• Oversee themeing, scenic, and rockwork packages in line with the approved creative intent.
• Manage interfaces between the Client, operator, intellectual property or brand partners, specialist vendors, and contractors.
• Ensure compliance with international ride and attraction safety standards.

5. Programme, Commercial, and Financial Management

• Oversee the Integrated Master Programme, including phased openings and critical project milestones.
• Lead schedule recovery and mitigation planning when required.
• Review project controls, reporting, and forecasting outputs.
• Monitor budgets, cash flow, contingencies, commitments, variations, claims, and commercial risks.
• Support procurement, tender evaluations, and award recommendations.
• Apply commercial judgment to protect the Client's interests.

6. Construction, Risk, Quality, and HSE

• Direct construction management activities across project work packages.
• Monitor contractor and consultant performance against contractual obligations.
• Oversee quality, safety, construction progress, and productivity.
• Resolve complex technical and commercial issues during execution.
• Maintain the project-wide risk management framework and lead risk workshops.
• Promote safety, quality, continuous improvement, and zero-harm objectives.
• Ensure compliance with ISO-based quality management principles and HSE requirements.

7. Testing, Commissioning, Opening, and Handover

• Oversee testing and commissioning, including ride and attraction testing and certification.
• Lead project readiness planning and operational transition.
• Coordinate trial operations and soft opening with the operator.
• Ensure handover includes operations and maintenance (O&M) documentation, warranties, spare parts, training, and as-built records.
• Manage defects liability obligations through completion.

Qualifications and Experience

The position requires substantial senior-level experience in complex project delivery. Candidates should meet the following stated requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 20 years of major project delivery experience.
• At least 10 years in Project Director, Programme Director, or equivalent leadership roles.
• Proven experience delivering large-scale mixed-use developments, hospitality destinations, mega entertainment projects, resorts, theme parks, or waterparks.
• Successful delivery of at least one major theme park and/or waterpark through to opening.
• Experience managing ride, show, waterpark system vendors, and specialist attraction contractors.
• Demonstrated experience managing projects valued at more than USD 1 billion.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC contracts and international project management best practices.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary consultant and contractor teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Strong commercial, contractual, and risk management expertise.

Essential Skills for Success

A Project Director in this environment must combine strategic leadership with detailed oversight of complex project interfaces. Strong programme management skills are essential for coordinating design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and phased opening requirements.

Commercial expertise is equally important when reviewing claims, variations, commitments, and contract obligations. Candidates should also be able to manage specialist attraction vendors, resolve technical issues, maintain executive-level communication, and ensure that safety and quality remain priorities throughout delivery.

Experience taking a major theme park or waterpark from development through opening is a specifically stated requirement and should be clearly demonstrated in a candidate's professional background.

Rewards and Benefits

The job description lists the following rewards and benefits:

• Tax-free salary.
• Life insurance coverage.
• Medical insurance.
• Annual leave balance.
• Company gratuity scheme.
• Discretionary bonus programme.
• Annual flight contribution.
• Transportation and housing allowances.
• Employee Wellbeing Program offering 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition.

The description does not specify the salary amount or the value of individual allowances.

Interview Preparation Tips

Candidates preparing for a Project Director interview should develop clear examples of major projects they have led, especially developments involving complex design, specialist systems, multiple contractors, and operational handover.

Be prepared to discuss:

• A theme park or waterpark project delivered through to opening.
• How you controlled scope, schedule, cost, quality, and safety on a major development.
• Your experience managing projects exceeding USD 1 billion.
• How you resolved commercial disputes, variations, or contractor performance issues.
• Your approach to managing ride vendors, attraction systems, operators, and specialist contractors.
• How you led commissioning, trial operations, opening readiness, and final handover.

Use specific project examples to demonstrate leadership, decision-making, stakeholder management, and measurable delivery outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the main responsibility of the Project Director?

The Project Director leads the PMCM team and holds overall responsibility for project delivery from design and procurement through construction, commissioning, opening, handover, and defects liability.

2. How much experience is required?

The stated requirement is at least 20 years of major project delivery experience, including a minimum of 10 years in a Project Director, Programme Director, or equivalent leadership position.

3. Is theme park or waterpark experience mandatory?

The description requires proven delivery of at least one major theme park and/or waterpark through to opening.

4. What project value experience is required?

Candidates must demonstrate experience managing projects valued at more than USD 1 billion.

5. Which contract knowledge is important?

Strong knowledge of FIDIC contracts and international project management best practices is required.

6. What benefits are listed?

The advertised benefits include a tax-free salary, medical and life insurance, annual leave, gratuity, a discretionary bonus programme, annual flight contribution, housing and transportation allowances, and an employee wellbeing programme.

Senior Project Leadership Opportunity

The Project Director position at AtkinsRéalis is suited to experienced leaders with a strong record of delivering complex, high-value developments and managing multidisciplinary teams. Candidates who meet the specific requirements for major project delivery, theme park or waterpark opening, commercial management, and executive stakeholder leadership will be best aligned with the responsibilities described.