Ala Hachem, Senior Project Manager

Ala Hachem

Senior Project Manager

KEO International Consultants

Location
United Arab Emirates
Education
Master's degree, MArch, Masters degree in Architecture and Urban Design
Experience
22 years, 3 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :22 years, 3 Months

Senior Project Manager at KEO International Consultants
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • My current job since December 2015

As Senior Project Manager within the Project Management International department, responsible of managing Meydan residential development on the new Dubai Water Canal and the new head quarter of Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) in Lusail city (Qatar).

Key Deliverables

- Responsible for establishing project management system, procedure and deliverables on projects.

- Managing design & design review process of master plans, building and infrastructure design developments and building typology concept designs.

- Verifying and certifying consultants’ payments and variation claims.

- Monitoring performance and facilitating compliance by all project participants with their obligations and otherwise.

- Liaison with clients, prime design consultants and contractors.

- Facilitating in obtaining local authorities approvals.

Director - Projects at Roxania Management Group Pty. Ltd
  • Australia
  • April 2011 to November 2015

This role is autonomy as Department Head, accountable for profit center, operates and develops the consultancy services of the organization. This encompasses a multi-faceted role of the organization from start up through to completion of current projects under design and construction, including handover of post completion through to operations within the portfolio.

Key Deliverables

- Manage with emphasis ROXANIA’s complete portfolio, for efficiency and profitability.
- Responsible for Projects division in the company nationally and globally.
- Develop and maintain client relationships enhancing opportunities and business initiatives.
- Develop business acquiring new and repeat clients, monitor performance enhancing service delivery.
- Negotiation and coordination with all stakeholders to finalize projects packages, requirements, and allotment of available resources to various phases of project.
- Review of projects’ proposals and plans to determine time frames, staffing plans, finding limitations and establishing procedures needed to accomplish the projects.
- Fully involved in preparing and studying designs, tenders and contract documents, provide Value Engineering recommendations.
- Monitor projects’ budgets utilizing discipline cost plan teams within clients, consultants, specialists’ contractors and 3rd parties.

Projects

- Wentworth Point Marinas: (Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, Australia, Value: $237m) The projects is a mixed used development developed by Billbergia and divided into 3 stages, Stage 1 was completed in December 2012, Stage 2 was completed in December 2014 and stage 3 is due late 2016. Approximate GFA is 63, 000 sqm.
- Nova Cidade de Kilamba: (Luanda, Angola, Value: $3.5 billion) The Project was built by CITIC (China) and was completed late 2013. The projects consists of 750 residential buildings (8 story each), 12 public schools and more than 100 retail units.

Key Achievement

- Empowering and enhancing the position of ROXANIA Management Group entity in the Australian Market.
- Completion of stage 1 and 2 of Wentworth Point Marina projects.
- Completion of Nova Cidade de Kilamba project.

Project Manager at DAMAC Properties
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • September 2007 to March 2011

I was head hunted by DAMAC Properties to take over high-rise residential, retail and office tower projects. I played significant role in the development of the company projects and had deep involvement across numerous projects, running project teams with strategic and hands on approach from concept throughout to final approval, providing design management, adding value and maintaining commercial control, value engineering, procurement and construction delivery, to occupation of DAMAC Properties.

Key Deliverables

- Establish and progress projects’ performance status for numerous landmark large scale developments within my portfolio.
- Fully involved in preparing and studying designs, tenders and contract documents, provide Value Engineering recommendations leading to $5 M costs savings in different areas.
- Fully involved in the approval of Projects’ Baseline Programs, materials and method Statement, ensuring effective progress of all projects with accordance to the baseline programs.
- Manage tenders process including documents set up, risk analysis and risk profiling, and negotiations.
- Prepare, implement and manage sustainable initiatives in Design & Construction.
- Manage and lead project teams, project managers, engineers, consultants, specialist contractors and cost planners in expediting the projects’ requirements.
- Monitor projects’ budgets utilizing discipline cost plan. Implement integrated strategies for the entire projects’ and designs coordination throughout the entire projects’ phases.
- Prioritize and strategize high-level deliverables, whilst enhancing service and managing stakeholders expectations.
- Prioritize current portfolio requirements for each project separately and manage according to the construction program/project plan.
- Provide coherent presentations to shareholders and board members, on arising situations, progress status.
- Create updated pipeline forecasts and broad-based financial picture that exceeded budgeted financial objectives.
- Construction management, technical and operational support to all facets of the business in managing projects.
- Chair Progress Meetings with contractors, consultants and different stakeholders, review and approve Site Progress with the Consultant, along with the daily work schedule, guiding my teams and the consultants’ teams to achieve proper review and implementation of all variations and change processes.
- Discuss and innovate methods of boasting projects’ progress.

Projects

- Park Towers: (International Financial Centre, Dubai, UAE, Value: $170M) twin tower project consists of three Basement floors, Ground floor entirely retail shops, 6 Podium floors and 40 floors for each tower. Project is complete.
- Suburbia: (Down Town Jebel Ali, Value: $45M) twin tower mixes-use project.
- The Cosmopolitan: (Business Bay, Dubai, UAE, Value: $40M) mixed-use high raised development.
- Park Central: (Business Bay, Dubai, UAE, Value: $15M) mixed-use high raised development.
- Flamingo Heights: (The Lagoons, Dubai, UAE, Value: $15M), one Basements, Ground Floor, 3 Podiums, 11 Typical office floors. Managed the entire design work from inception to completion, then the Excavation and Piling work (enabling work) and the entire construction.
- Suburbia 2: (Down Town Jebel Ali, UAE, Value: $30M), 3Basements, Ground Floor, 3 Podiums, 14 typical apartment floors.

Key Achievements

- Full completion of three major high-rise projects: Park Central, The Cosmopolitan and Park Towers.
- Brought $1.5 M of saving to The Cosmopolitan project by reviewing and enhancing the layouts design.
- Increased the sellable area of Park Central project, by reviewing the full offices layout design.
- Brought value engineering to most of the projects resulting in $10M saving overall projects, through reviewing internal design, finishing materials, usage of common areas, façade systems and materials, converting dead areas to sellable areas…etc.

Project Manager at Emaar Properties PJSC
  • United Arab Emirates - Dubai
  • April 2005 to August 2007

Emaar Properties PJSC is an International Master Developer and global prime mover of the UAE real estate and construction sector. Developing new competencies in hospitality & leisure, malls, education, healthcare and financial services, with six business segments and more than 60 active companies.

Worked very closely with the Project Directors on day-to-day project management tasks, communications with all stakeholders on projects’ progress, providing accurate, timely and detailed project information as needed.

- Clients’ project representative on behalf of EMAAR, pivotal role and main contact for all stakeholders.
- Implement and expedite capital project program for ARABIAN RANCHES Master Plan Development Infrastructure and other various capital development projects’ programs.
- Direct and lead multi-disciplined teams from different cultures in a multi-disciplined environment, Architectural, Civil, MEP, Structural, Facilities Management and Government.
- Manage teams throughout the project stages and coordinate all building services ensuring design meets compliance and clients’ requirements in accordance with the budget and scope.
- Lead multi-disciplined teams of project phases as indicated. Developed team disciplines enhancing quality and meeting client’s expectation.
- Implement construction management, technical and operational support to all facets of the business in managing the project.
- Review credits and associated design cost in accordance with client’s budget.
- Conduct Progress Meetings with contractors, consultants and different stakeholders, tracked status of execution, coordinate material / drawing submittals and design issues, review and approve Site Progress with the Consultant, along with the daily work schedule, guiding my teams and the consultants’ teams to achieve proper review and implementation of all variations and change processes.
- Property condition inspection after consultant’s approval and follow up with the contractor to clear out all snag lists, and upgrade the properties condition to the company standards and meet customers’ satisfaction.
- Handled all Quality Assurance tasks; before and after Customer Home Orientation (Snagging / De-snagging and customer remarks Clearance) and attend customer service requests during 12 months defect liability period.

Projects

Arabian Ranches Master Development - Dubai, UAE
This project consists of more than 4000 villas divided into 9 major phases with different architectural types for each phase, including full infrastructure work and community services (School, Retail Center, Medical Center, Sewage Plant, Health Clubs, Landscaping…etc)

Key Achievements

- The entire project was completed successfully and handed over to the end users on time.
- Construction of 1, 000 villa was delivered ahead of schedule and under the assigned budget.

Project Engineer at Construcciones Allhambra
  • Spain
  • February 2003 to February 2005

Alhambra Granada SL is one of the oldest construction companies in Spain, with the largest portfolio of Construction Projects and Refurbishment Work.

My role was preparing and expediting strategies, providing value during all stages of construction. Ensuring to meet the clients’ expectations within project constraints whilst managing and working with the consultants’ teams.

Key Deliverables

- Managing design process acting as client representative for the project development.
- Completed design review of all design disciplines, provide phase completion report to the client with recommendation on design and cost saving initiative.
- Reporting on the project status, control time frames to finish the project on schedule.
- Coordination with the consultant and the client to ensure the project is on time and within the assigned budget.
- Attend progress weekly meetings with the client, consultant, subcontractors and suppliers, and generate full project status report.
- Manage site supervision services, report to clients of design review status, whilst enhancing designs where applicable.

Projects

- Las Villas Del Campo del Golf
A compound of 28 town houses facing the golf course in Las Gabias suburb in the city of Granada. Each town house is 2 story contemporary house of 150 m² approximate build-up area.

Key Achievements

- Handover of the entire project successfully to the end users who expressed maximum satisfaction of the project quality and the overall deliverables

Architect, 3D designer at University of Granada
  • Spain
  • January 2002 to January 2003

University of Granada, founded in 1531, continues a long teaching tradition with Over 80, 000 students. The University employs 5000 staff.

I was responsible for the full Design Management - 3D design of the Entire Green Building - Nazari Culture Center, in Albayzin - Granada, Spain; along with but not limited to:

Key Deliverables

- Modelling the entire project virtually using 3D Max.
- Using textures similar to the materials to be used in the project create realistic view of the final project implementation (Marble, Joinery, Paint, Tiling...etc.).
- Interior & Exterior Decoration of the entire project using 3D Max and AutoCAD.
- Managing design process acting as university representative for the project development, comprising of three-story building (Museum of the Original Hospital, Conference Rooms, Libraries).
- Complete design review of all design disciplines, Provide phase completion report to the university with recommendation on design with cost saving initiative.
- Directing and leading multi-disciplined teams from all cultures in a multi-disciplined environment.

Education

Master's degree, MArch, Masters degree in Architecture and Urban Design
  • at University of Granada
  • October 2004
Higher diploma, Advanced Diploma of Management
  • at South Western Sydney Institute, Sydney, Australia
  • June 2002
Bachelor's degree, Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)
  • at University of Damascus
  • September 2000

Specialties & Skills

Portfolio Management
Design Management
Change Management
Cost Saving Initiatives
Planning
MS office
3D Studio Max
AutoCad
Primavera 6
MS Projects

Languages

Arabic
Expert
English
Expert
Spanish
Expert

Training and Certifications

Project Management Professional (Certificate)
Date Attended:
October 2007
Professional Project Management Program (Certificate)
Date Attended:
May 2010
Senior Executive H.S.E Awareness (Certificate)
Date Attended:
August 2008
PMP Project Management Professional Certificate (Certificate)
Date Attended:
June 2010
Valid Until:
October 2010
MCTS Microsoft® Certified Technology Specialist (Certificate)
Date Attended:
April 2012
Valid Until:
July 2012