Service Lead - Maritime Planning

The role covers project delivery from feasibility and master planning through concept design, procurement support, and tender stages. This leadership position is key to the continued growth of WSP’s Maritime business in the Middle East, ensuring technical excellence, client satisfaction, and alignment with WSP’s strategic goals.
The ideal candidate is a qualified maritime engineer with 10+ years of experience delivering maritime planning projects across the GCC and a strong passion for the sector. The position is based in either the UAE or KSA.
This opportunity arises as the current Service Lead – Maritime Planning transitions to a new role within WSP.

• Member of the Maritime Senior Management Team, driving business unit initiatives and contributing to strategic growth. 

• Lead and manage a team of 5–10 maritime planning professionals, overseeing workload allocation, capacity planning, and team development. 

• Identify skill gaps and hiring needs, support workforce planning, and manage recruitment for junior team members. 

• Lead maritime planning projects and opportunities from pursuit through delivery, including scope development, risk management, contract negotiations, resourcing, and commercial oversight. 

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, understanding needs and delivering tailored solutions. 

• Drive business development initiatives within the Maritime Planning sector in collaboration with senior leadership. 

• Forecast project workload, monitor performance against budgets, and identify resource requirements. 

• Serve as a subject matter expert in maritime planning for coastal developments, marinas, and port facilities. 

• Stay abreast of industry trends, innovations, and best practices in maritime planning and development. 

• Lead research and innovation initiatives, support team upskilling, and identify opportunities to improve and standardize project delivery. 

• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate maritime infrastructure requirements into project designs. 

• Review and approve technical reports, studies, and presentations to ensure quality and consistency. 

• Present project outcomes and recommendations to executive-level client stakeholders. 

• Engage with maritime industry suppliers and stakeholders to assess planning, operational, and system considerations.

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field (preferred). 

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in maritime engineering, with a proven track record of successfully leading project delivery. 

• Professional registration or certification in Civil Engineering or a related discipline is advantageous. 

• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, mentor, and develop high-performing teams. 

• Extensive technical expertise in maritime planning, particularly for industrial ports, dry ports, and marinas. 

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong client relationships. 

• Established network of clients and industry contacts across the Middle East (preferred). 

• Proactive, commercially aware, and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving. 

• Commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and professional development.