KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life. We are uniquely resourced with end-to-end services to take clients from inspiration – through conceptualization – to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments. For over 60 years we’ve led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities.

As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms. We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 51st largest global architecture firm and the #1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2024 WA100 Survey.

We invite you to join us. Why?

When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job – you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company-wide health and well-being through on-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun-runs, in-house sports teams and beach clean ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards.

We envision success in this role to involve the following key responsibilities:

• Coordinate with Abu Dhabi authorities, government entities, developers, consultants, and contractors from project initiation through to obtaining all required permits, approvals, and NOCs.
• Manage the full authority approval process, including submission, tracking, follow-up, and close-out of applications.
• Liaise directly with relevant authorities such as municipalities and other regulatory agencies to secure timely approvals and permits.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders and government departments across Abu Dhabi.
• Lead and coordinate stakeholder engagement activities related to authority approvals and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor approval status and proactively identify potential delays, risks, and issues, implementing mitigation measures where required.
• Collect, review, and organize technical and administrative documentation required for authority submissions.
• Coordinate closely with project managers, design teams, consultants, and senior management to ensure submissions are accurate, complete, and compliant with applicable regulations.
• Provide guidance and support to project teams regarding authority requirements, approval procedures, permitting strategies, and regulatory changes.
• Present statutory and authority requirements during project planning stages to ensure they are incorporated into project schedules and delivery plans.
• Prepare, review, and maintain records of all authority correspondence, approvals, permits, and NOCs.
• Represent the organization in meetings with government authorities, municipalities, utility providers, developers, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure all approvals and NOCs are obtained in accordance with project timelines and contractual requirements.

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that your career journey to date will include 5 years work experience partnered with a Bachelors Degree in Engineering.

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in authority coordination, permitting, and NOC management within Abu Dhabi.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with Abu Dhabi government authorities, municipalities, developers, and regulatory agencies.
• Strong knowledge of Abu Dhabi approval processes, permitting requirements, and authority regulations.
• Proven experience obtaining NOCs, permits, and statutory approvals for infrastructure, buildings, or major development projects.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple approvals and submissions simultaneously.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary project teams and external stakeholders.
• Fluency in Arabic and English (written and spoken) is mandatory.
• Native Arabic speaker preferred.

Candidates with experience coordinating approvals and NOCs for major engineering, infrastructure, transportation, utilities, or development projects within Abu Dhabi will be highly preferred.

KEO’s performance is founded upon integrity, results, innovation, safety and our people. We embrace diversity and recognise its’ contribution to client success wherever we work. We are excited to hear how you can partner with our award-winning team and treat all expressions of interest confidentially.