Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Sep 30th 2018, 10:10 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 96
Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Hi all
Warning - here come the traditional newbie questions...
I’ve been offered a Project Manager Role at Atkins in their Dubai office. I have over ten years’ project management experience in construction and now apply my trade as a consultant at one of the Big 4.
I was was hoping to get a guage of the package on offer:
32k pm (all in)
22 days annual leave
Annual flights
In the UK my current package is pretty decent - £80k pa with 25 days leave (which works out to be more or less the same) and I will be bringing my wife (won’t be working) and one year old with me.
I have rejected the offer and would appreciate some guidance of an appropriate figure. I’m keen to request a schooling/nursery allowance, relocation costs covered, 25 days leave.
Any Atkins or Faith and Gould guys out there? Any idea what a person with my spec can command? (research has thrown a wide range from 25-60k).
Thank you for your time and would appreciate any feedback.
Regards,
SandyMcSand
Warning - here come the traditional newbie questions...
I’ve been offered a Project Manager Role at Atkins in their Dubai office. I have over ten years’ project management experience in construction and now apply my trade as a consultant at one of the Big 4.
I was was hoping to get a guage of the package on offer:
32k pm (all in)
22 days annual leave
Annual flights
In the UK my current package is pretty decent - £80k pa with 25 days leave (which works out to be more or less the same) and I will be bringing my wife (won’t be working) and one year old with me.
I have rejected the offer and would appreciate some guidance of an appropriate figure. I’m keen to request a schooling/nursery allowance, relocation costs covered, 25 days leave.
Any Atkins or Faith and Gould guys out there? Any idea what a person with my spec can command? (research has thrown a wide range from 25-60k).
Thank you for your time and would appreciate any feedback.
Regards,
SandyMcSand
Oct 1st 2018, 5:19 am
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2018
Location: Dubai
Posts: 376
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Hi all
Warning - here come the traditional newbie questions...
I’ve been offered a Project Manager Role at Atkins in their Dubai office. I have over ten years’ project management experience in construction and now apply my trade as a consultant at one of the Big 4.
I was was hoping to get a guage of the package on offer:
32k pm (all in)
22 days annual leave
Annual flights
In the UK my current package is pretty decent - £80k pa with 25 days leave (which works out to be more or less the same) and I will be bringing my wife (won’t be working) and one year old with me.
I have rejected the offer and would appreciate some guidance of an appropriate figure. I’m keen to request a schooling/nursery allowance, relocation costs covered, 25 days leave.
Any Atkins or Faith and Gould guys out there? Any idea what a person with my spec can command? (research has thrown a wide range from 25-60k).
Thank you for your time and would appreciate any feedback.
Regards,
SandyMcSand
Warning - here come the traditional newbie questions...
I’ve been offered a Project Manager Role at Atkins in their Dubai office. I have over ten years’ project management experience in construction and now apply my trade as a consultant at one of the Big 4.
I was was hoping to get a guage of the package on offer:
32k pm (all in)
22 days annual leave
Annual flights
In the UK my current package is pretty decent - £80k pa with 25 days leave (which works out to be more or less the same) and I will be bringing my wife (won’t be working) and one year old with me.
I have rejected the offer and would appreciate some guidance of an appropriate figure. I’m keen to request a schooling/nursery allowance, relocation costs covered, 25 days leave.
Any Atkins or Faith and Gould guys out there? Any idea what a person with my spec can command? (research has thrown a wide range from 25-60k).
Thank you for your time and would appreciate any feedback.
Regards,
SandyMcSand
To lead a decent life here I would say closer to 40-45k plus medical and flights for the family. If you can also negotiate some schooling once the little one turns four. You will be very lucky if you get paid nursery fees as companies rarely if ever pay them AED32,000 is very low and the average package for this role based on benchmark is AED40,000 per month. Salaries of late have been flat however companies no longer take into account a non working Spouse
Oct 1st 2018, 9:39 am
#3
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Unfortunately the fact you're married and have a child has no bearing on the offer.
How much experience have you got in consultancies?
What's the 10 years experience made up of?
It sounds a bit low to me, based on what you've said. Can your wife work?
Happy to give you some better pointers, just PM me.
How much experience have you got in consultancies?
What's the 10 years experience made up of?
It sounds a bit low to me, based on what you've said. Can your wife work?
Happy to give you some better pointers, just PM me.
Oct 1st 2018, 9:46 am
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 96
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Hi all.
Thanks for the feedback. I have 8 years in construction infrastructure projects (Rail) and just coming up to 2 years in consulting.
The wife will be working eventually once the little one starts nursery.
Thanks for the feedback. I have 8 years in construction infrastructure projects (Rail) and just coming up to 2 years in consulting.
The wife will be working eventually once the little one starts nursery.
Oct 1st 2018, 9:52 am
#5
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Consulting in rail?
What's the project you're coming to do?
Oct 1st 2018, 10:05 am
#6
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 96
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Hi Scamp
8 years as project manager with a dash of on site works. Worked predominantly on London Underground infrastructure (railway systems, fit out, signalling, civils) and worked on the northern line extension.
Right now Im doing PPM consulting - a mixture of secondment roles and advisory projects (performance improvement, PPM frameworks, PMO setup, earned value etc.). Clients are major infrastructure projects - highways, HS2, network rail, NHS and a few real estate developers.
Joining the consulting arm of Atkins to work on similar projects. I’m not coming over for the money. Just looking for a change and a better environment than the UK.
8 years as project manager with a dash of on site works. Worked predominantly on London Underground infrastructure (railway systems, fit out, signalling, civils) and worked on the northern line extension.
Right now Im doing PPM consulting - a mixture of secondment roles and advisory projects (performance improvement, PPM frameworks, PMO setup, earned value etc.). Clients are major infrastructure projects - highways, HS2, network rail, NHS and a few real estate developers.
Joining the consulting arm of Atkins to work on similar projects. I’m not coming over for the money. Just looking for a change and a better environment than the UK.
Oct 1st 2018, 10:40 am
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
An 80k GBP package in the UK (even in London) grants a much nicer life than a 32k AED one in Dubai.
You's want 45ish to match a similar standard of living. How feasible that is for your industry, I don't know. 45k doesn't seem unreasonable for that job though.
You's want 45ish to match a similar standard of living. How feasible that is for your industry, I don't know. 45k doesn't seem unreasonable for that job though.
Oct 1st 2018, 11:45 am
#8
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Hi Scamp
8 years as project manager with a dash of on site works. Worked predominantly on London Underground infrastructure (railway systems, fit out, signalling, civils) and worked on the northern line extension.
Right now Im doing PPM consulting - a mixture of secondment roles and advisory projects (performance improvement, PPM frameworks, PMO setup, earned value etc.). Clients are major infrastructure projects - highways, HS2, network rail, NHS and a few real estate developers.
Joining the consulting arm of Atkins to work on similar projects. I’m not coming over for the money. Just looking for a change and a better environment than the UK.
8 years as project manager with a dash of on site works. Worked predominantly on London Underground infrastructure (railway systems, fit out, signalling, civils) and worked on the northern line extension.
Right now Im doing PPM consulting - a mixture of secondment roles and advisory projects (performance improvement, PPM frameworks, PMO setup, earned value etc.). Clients are major infrastructure projects - highways, HS2, network rail, NHS and a few real estate developers.
Joining the consulting arm of Atkins to work on similar projects. I’m not coming over for the money. Just looking for a change and a better environment than the UK.
10 year PM is probably low to mid 40's I'd say. Maybe they just don't have the rates on that particular project?
Defo push back, see what they say.
Oct 1st 2018, 12:03 pm
#9
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 96
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Thank you guys. Really appreciate the feedback.
This is looking like a bit of a non-starter. They won’t budge over the 32k mark and I’m keen to ensure I achieve an appropriate figure based on the 40k benchmark.
This is looking like a bit of a non-starter. They won’t budge over the 32k mark and I’m keen to ensure I achieve an appropriate figure based on the 40k benchmark.
Oct 1st 2018, 12:08 pm
#10
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
You'll survive on 32k, it just won't be loads of fun and you, on the face of the information here, are worth more.
Oct 2nd 2018, 8:54 am
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,520
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Hi all
Warning - here come the traditional newbie questions...
I’ve been offered a Project Manager Role at Atkins in their Dubai office. I have over ten years’ project management experience in construction and now apply my trade as a consultant at one of the Big 4.
I was was hoping to get a guage of the package on offer:
32k pm (all in)
22 days annual leave
Annual flights
In the UK my current package is pretty decent - £80k pa with 25 days leave (which works out to be more or less the same) and I will be bringing my wife (won’t be working) and one year old with me.
I have rejected the offer and would appreciate some guidance of an appropriate figure. I’m keen to request a schooling/nursery allowance, relocation costs covered, 25 days leave.
Any Atkins or Faith and Gould guys out there? Any idea what a person with my spec can command? (research has thrown a wide range from 25-60k).
Thank you for your time and would appreciate any feedback.
Regards,
SandyMcSand
Warning - here come the traditional newbie questions...
I’ve been offered a Project Manager Role at Atkins in their Dubai office. I have over ten years’ project management experience in construction and now apply my trade as a consultant at one of the Big 4.
I was was hoping to get a guage of the package on offer:
32k pm (all in)
22 days annual leave
Annual flights
In the UK my current package is pretty decent - £80k pa with 25 days leave (which works out to be more or less the same) and I will be bringing my wife (won’t be working) and one year old with me.
I have rejected the offer and would appreciate some guidance of an appropriate figure. I’m keen to request a schooling/nursery allowance, relocation costs covered, 25 days leave.
Any Atkins or Faith and Gould guys out there? Any idea what a person with my spec can command? (research has thrown a wide range from 25-60k).
Thank you for your time and would appreciate any feedback.
Regards,
SandyMcSand
Separate benefits such as school fees are increasingly rare. They still exist but usually as a calculation of the overall package rather than a meaningful separate benefit.
There's huge pressures to keep costs low and Atkins refusing to budge is confirming this. Clients are very tight with money these days and the consultancies are increasingly bringing in non-western project managers who'd be ecstatic to make 32k a month. That's not to say it's impossible to find your ideal role at preferred salary level, you just need to keep looking and something usually does come along.
Oct 3rd 2018, 8:50 am
#12
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 96
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Thank you all for the advice. It has helped me greatly and I have now turned down the offer.
The search continues. If anything should appear that matches my profile within your respective circles please do reach out to me.
All the best.
The search continues. If anything should appear that matches my profile within your respective circles please do reach out to me.
All the best.
Oct 3rd 2018, 9:05 am
#13
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: Advice needed....Dubai/Atkins
Jacobs seem to have a lot of work on Etihad Rail.
