Commercial Manager

Confidential Careers; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 42,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers seeks an experienced Commercial Manager to lead post-contract delivery of major development projects from a client perspective in Abu Dhabi. This role focuses on commercial oversight, cost validation, and protecting the client’s interests through the project lifecycle.

You will manage external consultants, ensure robust governance and reporting, and provide strategic advice on cost, risk, and contracts to support decision-making and value realization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• 8–15 years of relevant experience with developers, client-side organizations, consultancies, or leading contractors.
• Strong experience in post-contract commercial management of large-scale developments.
• Extensive knowledge of FIDIC contracts and commercial administration.
• Strong background in claims management, variations, change control, and final account negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary client-side commercial lead across assigned projects and packages.
• Establish and maintain commercial governance processes, controls, and reporting frameworks.
• Provide strategic commercial advice on cost, risk, contractual matters, and project performance.
• Ensure alignment of commercial activities with project objectives and financial targets.
• Lead and manage external consultants, including cost consultants and specialist advisors.
• Review and validate cost reports, payment certifications, variations, and final account assessments.
• Monitor consultant performance against contractual obligations, reporting requirements, and KPIs.
• Monitor project costs against approved budgets and business plans.
• Review and consolidate forecasts, cash flows, and financial reports.

Skills

Commercial leadership

Cost governance

Contractual expertise

Risk management

Consultant management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying / Commercial Management / Engineering / Construction Management

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to act as the client-side commercial lead for the post-contract delivery of major development projects.

This is a strategic commercial leadership role responsible for overseeing all commercial and cost-related matters from contract award through to project close-out. The successful candidate will ensure robust cost control, commercial governance, risk management, and contractual compliance while managing external consultants and supporting key business decisions.

This role is not a traditional Quantity Surveying position. It is focused on commercial oversight, due diligence, consultant management, cost validation, and protecting the client's commercial interests throughout the project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as the primary client-side commercial lead across assigned projects and packages.
• Establish and maintain commercial governance processes, controls, and reporting frameworks.
• Provide strategic commercial advice on cost, risk, contractual matters, and project performance.
• Ensure alignment of commercial activities with project objectives and financial targets.
• Lead and manage external consultants, including cost consultants and specialist advisors.
• Review and validate cost reports, payment certifications, variations, and final account assessments.
• Challenge assumptions and ensure accuracy, consistency, and value in consultant deliverables.
• Monitor consultant performance against contractual obligations, reporting requirements, and KPIs.

Post-Contract Cost Control

• Monitor project costs against approved budgets and business plans.
• Review and consolidate forecasts, cash flows, and financial reports.
• Identify commercial risks and opportunities, implementing proactive mitigation strategies.
• Maintain oversight of commitments, expenditures, and cost-to-complete forecasts.

Contract Administration & Claims Management

• Support the administration of FIDIC-based contracts.
• Oversee commercial aspects relating to:
• Variations and change control
• Payment certifications
• Claims and extensions of time
• Provide commercial input on contractual correspondence and key notices.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution strategies.
• Lead the evaluation and negotiation of variations and contractor claims.
• Ensure all changes are commercially justified, documented, and appropriately managed.
• Review entitlement, quantum, and contractual compliance of claims.
• Assess the cost implications of design changes, value engineering initiatives, and scope adjustments.
• Identify and mitigate commercial risks throughout project delivery.

Financial Reporting & Stakeholder Management

• Prepare and present commercial and financial reports to senior management.
• Provide insight into project financial performance, risks, and forecasts.
• Collaborate with development, design, finance, legal, procurement, and project management teams.
• Manage relationships with consultants, contractors, authorities, and external stakeholders.

Final Accounts & Project Close-Out

• Oversee the preparation and agreement of final accounts.
• Ensure timely and efficient commercial close-out of contracts.
• Capture lessons learned and cost benchmarks to support future projects.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• 8-15 years of relevant experience with developers, client-side organizations, consultancies, or leading contractors.
• Strong experience in post-contract commercial management of large-scale residential, mixed-use, infrastructure, hospitality, or master-planned developments.
• Proven experience managing external cost consultants and commercial advisors.
• Extensive knowledge of FIDIC contracts and commercial administration.
• Strong background in claims management, variations, change control, and final account negotiations.
• Experience within European construction environments is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with EU procurement and regulatory requirements is an advantage.
• Strong commercial leadership and strategic thinking.
• Excellent understanding of commercial processes and contract mechanisms.
• Strong financial and analytical skills.
• Ability to challenge consultants and contractors constructively.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to operate effectively at both strategic and detailed levels.
• Strong communication, reporting, and presentation skills.
• Experience engaging with regulatory authorities and overseeing commercial aspects of approvals and compliance requirements.

What We're Looking For:

We are seeking a professional who can combine: Commercial Leadership + Cost Governance + Contractual Expertise + Risk Management + Consultant Management

This role is ideal for a commercially astute professional who can provide strategic oversight, drive value, manage risk, and ensure successful commercial outcomes across complex development projects.