Muhammad Talha

My working day

This is a description of my day when I worked for Riyadh Metro as a design manager.

My day starts at 8am and finishes around 6.30pm.

I start with checking my workflows on a data portal which is used by the contractor. This is where all design submissions are shared with all stakeholders.

I check what design submissions have been made and then review these with comments. I usually spend the early hours of the day reviewing these and issuing my comments on the same data portal.

Around midday I spend time with my team members and discuss daily progress and issues.

After midday, I report to my managers and highlight to them daily progress on the project.

I attend numerous design meetings in the remaining part of the day and liaise with multi-disciplinary teams of engineering managers to ensure all design synergies are captured and addressed.

I supervise a multi-disciplinary team of engineers to lead the management of the design which includes the thorough review of contractor’s design for a complex rail project.

The work includes reviewing the basis of design, geotechnical information, permitting procedures, drawings, reports, specifications and all other work necessary in assuring a fully operational rail system that meets all clients and project requirements including schedule, quality and safety standards.

Another career defining project was working on the Birmingham PFI project which covers a huge variety of work to improve and maintain Birmingham’s roads and public infrastructure.