Stakeholder Manager

About the Company and Department

DAR AL OMRAN's Project Delivery / Design Management department is seeking a Stakeholder Manager who will report directly to the Director of Design.

Role Overview

The Stakeholder Manager is responsible for crafting and implementing strategies to engage with government bodies, municipalities, utilities, infrastructure agencies, developers, and other external parties. This role ensures obtaining approvals and permits promptly throughout project phases. Acting as the main point of contact for stakeholders and authorities, the Manager will govern approvals and compliance with all regulations, reduce approval risks, and support smooth project execution. Establishing processes for stakeholder management, preparing plans, and maintaining trackers while enhancing coordination approaches across projects are key aspects of the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute stakeholder engagement plans tailored to various projects.
• Identify and evaluate stakeholders by their influence, interest, authority, and approval needs.
• Create detailed Stakeholder Management Plans (SMP) and define communication strategies accordingly.
• Implement protocols for communicating with stakeholders.
• Foster enduring professional relationships with government entities and utility providers.
• Represent the company in meetings with authorities, developers, and clients.
• Anticipate and proactively resolve issues affecting project outcomes.
• Lead coordination efforts with municipalities, MOMRA, HR, Royal Commissions, National Housing Company, PIF entities, MODON, special economic zones, Riyadh Development Authority, civil defense, transport authorities, and any other relevant approval authorities.
• Oversee approvals and coordination with utility providers such as National Water Company, Saudi Electricity Company, Itisalat, irrigation authorities, gas providers, and others as required.
• Design and manage project-specific Approval Strategies, Management Plans, and submission schedules.
• Develop Approval Matrices clarifying responsibilities and required permits.
• Coordinate documentation preparation and submission; manage responses to comments and design modifications.
• Monitor approval progress and escalate any risks that may affect project timelines.
• Maintain standardized tracking tools including SMPs, stakeholder registers, communication matrices, authority registers, approval and NOC trackers, utility coordination trackers, regulatory compliance trackers, risk registers, and monthly status reports.
• Review project designs for compliance before submission, coordinate with multiple engineering and design disciplines, and manage incorporation of authority feedback.
• Provide guidance to client teams on stakeholder strategies, communicate approval progress in meetings, suggest remedies to approval challenges, and generate executive reports for management and clients.
• Drive continuous improvements in stakeholder management procedures, approval workflows, cycle times, and implementation of digital tracking dashboards to mitigate risks and increase first-pass approvals.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, Infrastructure Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or its equivalent is preferred.
• At least 8 years of experience in stakeholder management, authority coordination, or regulatory affairs within engineering or design consultancies or major developers, specifically in Saudi Arabia.
• Proven capability managing approvals for sizeable building and infrastructure projects.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary design groups.
• Direct experience liaising with government entities and utility providers across Saudi Arabia.
• Track record of fast-tracking approvals through strategic planning, relationship management, and strict compliance.
• Preferred knowledge includes the Saudi Building Code and MOMRAH regulations.