Dry Utilities Manager

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.

Our newest opportunity is for a talented Dry Utilities Manager to join our award winning team in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This critical role will be responsible for maintaining communication with clients Pm team as well as their procurement department.

We envisage success in this role to include:

• Review dry utility designs including electrical networks, substations, telecom systems, district cooling networks, and gas infrastructure to ensure compliance with AD Ports standards and authority requirements.
• Evaluate load demand calculations, capacity assessments, equipment layouts, and network configurations.
• Verify integration of proposed dry utility systems with existing and planned infrastructure to ensure connectivity, redundancy, and operational efficiency.
• Issue Master Developer / Owner NOCs for authority submissions after consolidating internal and technical comments.
• Coordinate with authorities such as Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company, Etisalat, du, and gas authorities regarding power loads, substations, routing corridors, and approvals.
• Assess the impact of new developments on existing networks and recommend upgrades, diversions, or system reinforcements.
• Review utility corridors, clearances, and cross-utility interfaces to prevent conflicts with other infrastructure systems.
• Support plot-level applications including new power connections, telecom routing, gas supply, and district cooling load modifications.
• Participate in coordination meetings with developers, consultants, and authorities to resolve technical issues and streamline approvals.
• Ensure all designs consider operations, maintenance access, safety standards, and future expansion requirements.
• Maintain updated records of load allocations, approvals, and infrastructure capacities.
• Prepare technical review reports, design comments, and authority submission documentation.
• Stay updated with UAE regulations, international standards, and emerging smart infrastructure technologies.

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envisage that you will bring a minimum of 10 years' experience in Dry Utilities

• Proficient in AutoCAD, GIS platforms (e.g., ArcGIS), and electrical network design tools.
• Ability to interpret load calculations, substation layouts, protection schemes, and telecom network diagrams.
• Skilled in preparing design mark-ups, corridor layouts, and coordination sketches.
• Familiarity with tools such as ArcGIS, SketchUp, and Test Fit is preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Utility Engineering, or related field.
• Master’s Degree in Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in dry utilities within infrastructure, ports, or large-scale developments.
• At least 5 years of UAE/local experience, with strong exposure to authority processes.
• Proven experience in:
  • Power distribution and substations
  • Telecom networks
  • District cooling systems
  • Gas infrastructure
  • Load calculations and utility corridor coordination
• Strong experience coordinating with authorities such as ADDC, Transco, Etisalat, and du.
• Dry utilities technical expertise
• Authority coordination & approvals (NOCs)
• Infrastructure planning & integration
• Multi-disciplinary coordination
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Stakeholder management

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.