Commercial and Contracts Lead - Infrastructure

Parsons; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons in Abu Dhabi, UAE seeks a Commercial and Contracts Lead to oversee governance, procurement, cost control, variations, and final accounts for major infrastructure programs. You will coordinate with clients, contractors, consultants, and project teams to deliver commercial excellence across the project lifecycle.

Role requires extensive contract management expertise, familiarity with FIDIC, and strong negotiation and leadership capabilities to guide procurement through closeout in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of commercial and contract management experience delivering major infrastructure projects.
• Experience with utility or infrastructure programs; water/wastewater preferred; UAE experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial and contractual management of major infrastructure projects from procurement through project closeout.
• Establish and maintain effective commercial governance and control processes.
• Implement contract administration procedures across project activities.
• Monitor commercial performance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide commercial guidance to project leadership and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Identify emerging commercial issues and recommend actions.

Skills

Contract management

Cost management

Procurement

FIDIC contracts

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Change management

Project governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related discipline

Job description

Commercial and Contracts Lead - Infrastructure Job Snapshot Role: Commercial and Contracts Lead Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Industry: Construction Function: Contracts Administration Experience: Minimum 15 years Job Type: Full Time Position Overview Parsons is seeking a Commercial and Contracts Lead in Abu Dhabi, UAE to lead commercial and contractual management for major infrastructure projects. The role will oversee commercial governance, procurement, contract administration, cost management, claims, variations, and commercial risk throughout the project lifecycle. The position requires extensive infrastructure delivery experience and strong practical knowledge of contract management, with particular relevance to large-scale utility, water, and wastewater programs. The Commercial and Contracts Lead will work closely with clients, contractors, consultants, and multidisciplinary project teams while providing commercial leadership from procurement through final account and project closeout.

Commercial and Contract Leadership

• Lead commercial and contractual management of major infrastructure projects from procurement through project closeout.
• Establish and maintain effective commercial governance and control processes.
• Implement appropriate contract administration procedures across project activities.
• Monitor commercial performance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide commercial guidance to project leadership and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Identify emerging commercial issues and recommend appropriate actions.
• Maintain effective coordination between contractual, cost, procurement, and project delivery activities.

Procurement and Tender Management

• Manage procurement activities for major infrastructure packages.
• Prepare and review tender documentation.
• Develop contract documentation in accordance with project requirements.
• Prepare and review Bills of Quantities.
• Coordinate commercial aspects of tender evaluations.
• Participate in contract negotiations.
• Prepare contract award recommendations supported by appropriate commercial analysis.
• Maintain commercial controls throughout procurement and contract award activities.

Cost Management and Commercial Assurance

• Support the development and review of project cost estimates.
• Provide commercial assurance for estimates targeting AACE Class 3 cost estimate accuracy.
• Develop appropriate project cost structures.
• Monitor approved budgets and expenditure.
• Review cost forecasts and emerging financial trends.
• Track commercial performance against established project requirements.
• Provide cost and commercial information to support management decisions.
• Identify potential cost exposure and opportunities at an early stage.

Variations, Claims and Payments

• Administer variations in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Review and manage contractor payment applications.
• Support payment certification processes.
• Assess contractual and commercial implications of project changes.
• Manage claims and associated supporting documentation.
• Coordinate commercial evaluation of variations and claims.
• Support negotiation and resolution of commercial matters.
• Manage final account activities through project completion.
• Maintain clear records supporting commercial and contractual decisions.

Commercial Risk Management

• Identify commercial and contractual risks throughout project delivery.
• Evaluate potential commercial impacts and recommend mitigation measures.
• Identify opportunities that could improve project commercial outcomes.
• Monitor risk exposure as projects progress.
• Prepare commercial reports, forecasts, and recommendations.
• Provide reliable information to support informed decision-making.
• Maintain appropriate commercial documentation and governance records.

Client and Stakeholder Coordination

• Work closely with clients, contractors, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Coordinate commercial matters with project management and technical disciplines.
• Communicate contractual requirements clearly to relevant stakeholders.
• Support resolution of commercial and contractual issues.
• Participate in negotiations and commercial discussions.
• Maintain effective relationships with utility and infrastructure stakeholders.

Team Leadership

• Lead commercial team members supporting project delivery.
• Provide technical and professional guidance on commercial matters.
• Mentor and develop team members.
• Promote consistent contract administration and commercial management practices.
• Review commercial outputs for accuracy and completeness.
• Encourage effective coordination across the commercial function.
• Promote best-practice commercial management throughout project activities.

What Required Skills You 'LL Bring

• Bachelor 's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of commercial and contract management experience delivering major infrastructure projects.
• Experience delivering large-scale infrastructure or utility projects and programs.
• Water and wastewater sector experience is preferred.
• Experience working with utility clients such as TAQA-WS or similar organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in procurement and contract administration.
• Strong cost management experience.
• Experience with payment certification.
• Practical knowledge of change management and claims management.
• Strong working knowledge and practical application of FIDIC contracts.
• Familiarity with other relevant standard forms of contract.
• Strong commercial judgment and negotiation capability.
• Effective analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

What Desired Skills You 'LL Bring

• Professional membership such as MRICS, MCIArb, or equivalent.
• Experience working within a Programme Management Consultant environment.
• Engineering consultancy or client-side project experience.
• Experience delivering major infrastructure or utility programs.
• Experience within the UAE or wider GCC region.

Commercial Impact The Commercial and Contracts Lead will provide commercial oversight across procurement, contract administration, cost control, variations, claims, and final account activities. By maintaining effective governance and identifying commercial risks early, the role will support controlled infrastructure delivery and reliable commercial decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

Job Details Country: UAE City: Abu Dhabi Industry: Construction Function: Contracts Administration Salary: Not disclosed Gender: No Preference Candidate Nationality: Not specified Job Type: Full Time Work Arrangement: On-site

About Parsons

Parsons brings multidisciplinary expertise to major infrastructure, engineering, construction, water, wastewater, and utility programs. Its teams combine technical delivery with project, contract, and commercial management capabilities to support complex infrastructure projects from procurement and design through construction and closeout.