Deputy Projects Director - HVAC

Daikin Middle East & Africa is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration technology. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). To date, Daikin EMEA has over 12 000 employees across more than 59 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 12 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria, and the UK. Our aim is to drive sustainable and effective solutions, sparking a good climate for the generations to come. And all this can only be achieved because of our People.

About the Role

The Deputy Projects Director – HVAC is a key leadership role, based in either Jeddah or Riyadh, responsible for driving the strategic direction, governance, and execution excellence of the projects business across KSA. The role oversees a diverse portfolio, including chiller replacement programs, HVAC retrofits, VRV system supply and installation, and turnkey EPC projects.

This position ensures full lifecycle ownership from sales handover through execution to final closeout, while delivering sustainable profitability, operational efficiency, and high levels of client satisfaction. It also plays a critical role in scaling the projects organization, strengthening governance, and embedding best-in-class project management practices aligned with global standards of Daikin.

How You Will Make an Impact

You will lead the transformation and delivery of the projects business across KSA by driving operational excellence, strengthening governance, and ensuring profitable, on-time project execution across the following areas:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Define and drive the national project execution strategy in line with business objectives and profitability targets.
• Establish and enforce standardized project management frameworks, governance models, and operating procedures.
• Ensure alignment with global standards and best practices of Daikin.
• Lead the adoption of digital tools to enhance planning, reporting, and performance visibility.

Portfolio & Program Management

• Lead and optimize the nationwide project portfolio, ensuring effective prioritization and resource allocation.
• Oversee major programs including chiller replacements, HVAC retrofits, VRV systems, and turnkey EPC projects.
• Ensure consistent delivery of projects on time, within budget, and to defined quality standards.
• Identify portfolio risks and implement proactive mitigation and recovery plans.

Financial & Commercial Leadership

• Own full P&L responsibility for the projects division.
• Drive revenue growth, margin improvement, and cost control across all projects.
• Approve and monitor project budgets, forecasts, and financial performance.
• Lead contract management, including variations, claims, and dispute resolution.
• Strengthen cash flow through effective billing, collections, and cost management.

Operational Excellence & Delivery Performance

• Standardize execution methodologies across all regions to ensure consistency and efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement in productivity, cost efficiency, and delivery timelines.
• Implement and track KPIs using real-time performance dashboards.
• Ensure full compliance with quality standards, local regulations, and HSE requirements.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team of project managers, engineers, and support staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and performance excellence.
• Identify capability gaps and implement targeted training and succession planning.
• Strengthen collaboration across sales, engineering, procurement, and service teams.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the executive point of contact for key clients, consultants, and government stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic customers and partners.
• Support pre-award activities, including tenders and technical/commercial alignment.
• Drive client satisfaction to secure repeat business and long-term partnerships.

Risk, Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Establish and implement robust project risk management frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, legal, and regulatory requirements across KSA.
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control throughout all project phases.
• Lead the resolution of critical issues, escalations, and recovery plans.

Project Closeout & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure structured project closeout, including documentation and financial reconciliation.
• Conduct post-project reviews to capture lessons learned and improvement actions.
• Drive continuous improvement and standardization across future project delivery.

What You Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering (master’s degree or MBA is an advantage).
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in HVAC project management, including at least 5 years in senior leadership roles.
• Proven track record in managing large-scale, multi-site turnkey and EPC projects.
• Strong technical expertise in HVAC systems, including chillers, VRV/VRF technologies, and retrofit solutions.
• Deep knowledge of project management methodologies (e.g., PMBOK or equivalent).
• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated P&L ownership and commercial decision-making experience.
• Extensive experience in the KSA market with solid understanding of local regulations, standards, and client expectations.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership & Execution.
• Portfolio & Program Management.
• Financial & Commercial Acumen.
• Operational Excellence.
• Stakeholder & Client Management.
• Risk & Contract Management.
• Team Leadership & Talent Development.

Good climate starts with people 
Our employees are the beating heart of our company. At Daikin, you get to work in a positive environment backed by trust, creativity and continuous improvement. Together, we create our top-quality solutions by empowering talented teams. You will get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. We are deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the communities we serve. Good climate starts with people.