Commercial Director - Infrastructure Programme

AECOM Corporation; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 918,000 - 1,285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

AECOM is seeking an experienced Commercial Director to lead the commercial and contracts management for a major infrastructure programme in the United Arab Emirates. You will direct multiple packages, oversee cost control, procurement support, and reporting to senior client representatives.

The role requires over 20 years in commercial or contracts management on large infrastructure projects, with at least five years in the UAE or GCC, and MRICS/FRICS membership or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• Chartered MRICS/FRICS membership or equivalent qualification.
• 20+ years in commercial or contracts management on major infrastructure projects.
• Minimum 5 years in UAE or GCC markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial and contracts management across all infrastructure packages.
• Set and implement the programme's commercial strategy and controls framework.
• Provide senior client advice on contractual, financial and delivery matters.
• Direct commercial activities across multiple contracts and packages.
• Maintain consistent commercial governance and risk management across the programme.

Skills

Commercial leadership

Contract management

FIDIC contracts

Financial acumen

Stakeholder management

Dispute resolution

Education

MRICS/FRICS chartered

Job description

Commercial Director - Infrastructure Programme Job Snapshot - Role: Commercial Director - Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Industry: Civil Engineering - Function: Contracts Administration - Experience: 20 years in commercial or contracts management on major infrastructure projects, including 5 years in the UAE or GCC - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

Job Overview

AECOM is seeking an experienced Commercial Director to provide senior commercial and contract management leadership for a major infrastructure programme in the United Arab Emirates. Working as part of AECOM's Project Management Consultancy (PMC) team on behalf of the client, the Commercial Director will oversee the programme's commercial strategy, construction contract administration, cost control, financial reporting, procurement support, and commercial risk management. The role involves leading commercial and contracts teams across multiple construction packages, advising senior client representatives, and ensuring contractual and financial matters are managed effectively throughout programme delivery. The successful candidate will bring extensive experience in major infrastructure programmes, strong knowledge of FIDIC contracts and UAE contractual practices, and a proven ability to manage contractor claims, variations, extensions of time, payment certification, and commercial disputes. Applicants must have more than 20 years of relevant commercial or contracts management experience, including at least five years in the UAE or other GCC countries. Chartered membership of RICS (MRICS or FRICS), or an equivalent professional qualification, is required.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy and Programme Leadership

• Lead the commercial and contracts management function across all infrastructure programme packages.
• Establish and implement the programme's commercial strategy and controls framework.
• Provide senior commercial advice to the client on contractual, financial, and project delivery matters.
• Direct commercial activities across multiple construction contracts and work packages.
• Ensure consistent commercial management practices throughout the programme.
• Monitor commercial performance and identify matters requiring senior management attention.
• Support informed client decision-making through accurate commercial assessments and recommendations.
• Lead the commercial team in maintaining effective contractual and financial oversight.

Construction Contract Administration

• Oversee contract administration for construction contracts across the programme.
• Ensure contractual obligations and procedures are managed in accordance with relevant agreements.
• Provide guidance on contract interpretation and administration.
• Manage contractual matters involving variations, extensions of time, and contractor claims.
• Review contract-related submissions and recommend appropriate actions.
• Coordinate with project delivery teams to address contractual issues.
• Promote effective contract management and dispute avoidance.
• Ensure commercial processes remain consistent with client requirements and AECOM governance standards.

Claims, Variations and Dispute Management

• Review and assess contractor claims and variation submissions.
• Evaluate contractual entitlement and supporting documentation.
• Assess extension-of-time submissions and related contractual implications.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based recommendations for the client.
• Identify potential contractual disputes and support early resolution.
• Provide commercial advice on claims management and dispute avoidance.
• Coordinate with relevant technical, project controls, and legal specialists.
• Maintain appropriate records of contractual assessments and recommendations.

Cost Control and Financial Management

• Oversee programme cost control activities.
• Monitor approved budgets and financial performance across construction packages.
• Review cost forecasts and identify emerging financial risks.
• Assess programme cash flow requirements and trends.
• Evaluate cost movements and their potential impact on programme budgets.
• Ensure accurate and timely commercial reporting.
• Provide financial assessments to support client decision‑making.
• Maintain effective oversight of commercial and financial performance.

Payment Certification and Final Accounts

• Manage payment certification processes for construction contracts.
• Review contractor valuations and payment applications.
• Verify that payment recommendations comply with contractual requirements.
• Support accurate and timely processing of contractual payments.
• Oversee the preparation and review of final accounts.
• Coordinate resolution of outstanding commercial matters affecting account closure.
• Ensure appropriate supporting documentation is maintained.
• Provide recommendations to the client regarding payment and final account matters.

Procurement and Tendering Support

• Lead commercial input into procurement and tendering activities.
• Advise on tender strategies for infrastructure construction packages.
• Support the evaluation of tender submissions.
• Participate in commercial negotiations with prospective contractors.
• Review commercial aspects of procurement recommendations.
• Prepare contract award recommendations for client consideration.
• Coordinate procurement-related commercial matters with relevant project stakeholders.
• Ensure procurement support activities align with programme requirements.

Commercial Risk and Change Management

• Identify and assess commercial risks across the infrastructure programme.
• Develop recommendations for mitigating contractual and financial risks.
• Provide commercial input into programme change control processes.
• Evaluate the financial and contractual implications of design changes.
• Assess the commercial impact of scope modifications.
• Support value engineering initiatives through appropriate commercial analysis.
• Monitor changes affecting programme costs and contractual obligations.
• Communicate significant commercial risks and recommended actions to senior stakeholders.

Commercial Reporting and Client Advisory

• Prepare comprehensive commercial performance reports.
• Present cost, contract, and risk information to senior client representatives.
• Provide commercial updates to programme steering committees.
• Highlight financial trends, contractual concerns, and emerging risks.
• Explain the implications of contractor claims, variations, and other commercial matters.
• Develop clear recommendations supported by relevant contractual and financial information.
• Support senior management discussions and programme‑level decision‑making.
• Maintain effective communication with client representatives and key stakeholders.

Governance and Contractual Compliance

• Ensure commercial activities comply with applicable construction contracts.
• Maintain alignment with client commercial procedures and requirements.
• Apply AECOM's internal governance standards to programme commercial processes.
• Promote consistent contract administration and financial controls.
• Identify potential compliance issues and coordinate appropriate corrective actions.
• Support transparent and well‑documented commercial decision‑making.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of contractual and commercial records.

Multidisciplinary Coordination

• Coordinate with design teams on the commercial implications of technical changes.
• Work closely with construction supervision teams on contract administration matters.
• Collaborate with project controls specialists on budgets, forecasts, and programme performance.
• Engage legal specialists when addressing complex contractual issues and disputes.
• Maintain effective communication between commercial teams and other programme disciplines.
• Support coordinated responses to contractor submissions and client requirements.
• Ensure commercial considerations are appropriately reflected in programme decisions.

Commercial Team Leadership and Development

• Lead and manage the commercial and contracts team across programme packages.
• Establish clear responsibilities and expectations for commercial team members.
• Provide professional guidance on contract administration and commercial management.
• Mentor and develop commercial professionals.
• Encourage consistent application of contractual and financial management practices.
• Support effective collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Promote high standards of commercial judgment, reporting, and professional conduct.

Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Master's degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.
• Chartered membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS or FRICS), or an equivalent professional qualification, is required.

Professional Experience

• More than 20 years of experience in commercial or contracts management on major infrastructure projects.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience in the UAE or other GCC countries.
• Proven experience working in a Project Management Consultancy (PMC), client‑side, or construction supervision consultancy role.
• Demonstrated experience managing commercial activities on large, multi‑package infrastructure programmes.
• Extensive experience in construction contract administration.
• Strong background in assessing contractor claims and extensions of time.
• Demonstrated experience managing contractual disputes and supporting dispute avoidance.
• Experience reviewing variations, valuations, payment certifications, and final accounts.
• Proven ability to manage programme cost control, financial forecasting, and commercial reporting.
• Experience supporting procurement, tender evaluation, negotiations, and contract award recommendations.
• Demonstrated leadership of commercial and contracts management teams.
• Experience advising senior clients and programme stakeholders on complex commercial matters.

Contractual and Commercial Knowledge

• Strong working knowledge of FIDIC construction contracts.
• Comprehensive understanding of UAE contractual practices and requirements.
• Expertise in construction contract administration.
• Knowledge of claims assessment and extension‑of‑time evaluation.
• Understanding of contractual variations and change management.
• Experience in dispute management and dispute avoidance.
• Strong understanding of construction payment certification and valuation procedures.
• Knowledge of final account preparation and settlement.
• Expertise in commercial risk identification and mitigation.
• Understanding of procurement and tendering processes for major infrastructure programmes.
• Ability to evaluate the contractual and financial implications of design and scope changes.
• Strong financial acumen in cost control, forecasting, cash flow, and commercial performance reporting.

Leadership and Professional Competencies

• Excellent commercial leadership and team management capabilities.
• Strong contractual judgment and analytical skills.
• Advanced negotiation and stakeholder management abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to present complex commercial matters to senior client representatives and steering committees.
• Strong financial analysis and commercial reporting capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple construction packages.
• Effective collaboration with design, construction supervision, project controls, and legal teams.
• Strong problem‑solving and dispute resolution skills.
• Ability to mentor and develop commercial professionals.
• Commitment to contractual compliance, professional integrity, and effective programme governance.

Recruitment and Onboarding

AECOM is committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and takes fraudulent hiring activities seriously. All newly hired employees are required to attend an in‑person Day 1 onboarding session at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

Working at AECOM

AECOM offers opportunities to contribute to major infrastructure programmes and collaborate with experienced engineering, project management, construction, and commercial professionals. The company supports professional growth through training and development programmes, access to technical expertise, and opportunities to work on significant infrastructure projects.

AECOM Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life, accidental death and dismemberment, and disability benefits.
• Paid time off and leaves of absence.
• Voluntary benefits and employee perks.
• Flexible work options.
• Well‑being resources and employee assistance programmes.
• Business travel insurance.
• Service recognition awards.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Employee stock purchase plans.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AECOM promotes a collaborative and inclusive workplace based on respect, professional development, and teamwork. AECOM supports fair employment practices and handles candidate information confidentially in accordance with applicable equal employment opportunity guidelines.

About AECOM

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm providing professional services across transportation, water, environment, energy, and buildings. The company partners with public‑and private‑sector clients to address complex infrastructure challenges and develop innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions. Its services span the project lifecycle, including advisory, planning, design, engineering, programme management, and construction management. AECOM employs more than 50,000 professionals worldwide, including engineers, planners, designers, scientists, digital innovators, and construction management specialists. A Fortune 500 company, AECOM reported revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Official Website: aecom.com