Commercial Manager - Airport Infrastructure

Parsons; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 550,000 - 850,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons in Abu Dhabi, UAE seeks a Commercial Manager to lead the commercial function for a major airport infrastructure project. You will oversee contract administration, cost control, forecasting, variations, claims, payments, procurement, commercial reporting, and contractual compliance across complex aviation packages.

The role requires extensive experience with major construction or infrastructure projects and strong capability in negotiations, cash flow, and risk management to support

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and 13+ years of senior commercial experience on major projects.
• Proven ability to lead contracts administration, cost control, variations and claims.
• Strong knowledge of international construction contracts and negotiation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Lead the project commercial function and coordinate the commercial team.
• Develop and implement project commercial management strategies, controls, and reporting.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, and cost reporting; monitor cash flow and financial obligations.
• Oversee main contract and key subcontracts; manage variations, claims and negotiations.
• Coordinate with Planning, Project Controls, Engineering and Legal-Contracts for complex issues.
• Prepare and present commercial performance reports and manage risk mitigation.

Skills

Commercial management

Contract administration

Cost control

Negotiations

Forecasting

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying

Tools

Contract management systems

Job description

Commercial Manager - Airport Infrastructure Job Snapshot Role: Commercial Manager Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Industry: Construction Function: Contracts Administration Experience: Minimum 13 years of relevant commercial experience on major construction, infrastructure, airport, or multidisciplinary projects Job Type: Full Time

Parsons is hiring a Commercial Manager in Abu Dhabi, UAE to lead the commercial function for a major airport infrastructure project. The role will oversee contract administration, cost control, forecasting, variations, claims, payments, procurement, commercial reporting, and contractual compliance across complex aviation and infrastructure packages. The Commercial Manager will provide commercial leadership throughout project delivery, managing the main contract and key subcontracts while advising project management and senior leadership on entitlement, cost exposure, contractual risk, cash flow, and commercial performance. The position requires extensive experience with major construction or infrastructure projects and strong capability in claims, negotiations, cost management, and international construction contracts.

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

Commercial Leadership

• Lead the project commercial function and coordinate the activities of the commercial team.
• Develop and implement project commercial management strategies, procedures, controls, and reporting systems.
• Manage commercial performance against approved budgets, forecasts, contractual obligations, and project requirements.
• Interpret contract conditions, scope requirements, entitlement provisions, and commercial obligations.
• Monitor contractual compliance and ensure commercial commitments are identified and appropriately managed.
• Provide commercial advice and recommendations to project management and senior leadership.
• Prepare and present commercial performance reports, dashboards, and management summaries.
• Provide early warning of significant commercial risks and potential impacts on project performance.

Contracts, Variations and Claims

• Lead administration and commercial management of the main contract and key subcontracts.
• Manage variations, change orders, additional works, claims, and associated commercial assessments.
• Assess contractual entitlement, scope changes, valuation principles, and cost impacts.
• Examine contractor and subcontractor claims and commercial submissions.
• Lead commercial negotiations involving major variations, claims, subcontract matters, and other contractual issues.
• Support preparation and assessment of Extension of Time claims.
• Coordinate with Planning and Project Controls teams to assess time and cost impacts arising from changes and claims.
• Work with Engineering and Legal-Contracts teams on complex contractual matters.
• Review contract provisions covering variations, payment, claims, delay, disruption, acceleration, suspension, termination, and related commercial matters.
• Ensure required contractual notices and submissions are prepared and issued within applicable timeframes.
• Maintain Claims, Variations, Notices, and Commercial Correspondence Registers.
• Develop negotiation strategies for significant commercial matters.
• Identify potential disputes and support early resolution and dispute avoidance.
• Provide commercial input to formal dispute resolution proceedings when required.

Cost Control and Financial Management

• Monitor project costs against approved budgets and control accounts.
• Review project budgets, cost forecasts, commitments, accruals, and projected final costs.
• Assess cost-to-complete and Estimate at Completion forecasts.
• Identify cost trends, potential overruns, savings opportunities, and deviations from approved budgets.
• Coordinate with Cost Engineers and Quantity Surveyors to maintain accurate cost reporting.
• Monitor cash flow, payment applications, invoicing, retention, bonds, guarantees, and other financial obligations.
• Review interim payment applications and payment certifications.
• Monitor accounts receivable and support timely resolution of payment issues.
• Maintain accurate forecasts for project revenue, costs, margin, and cash flow.
• Coordinate with Finance and Project Controls teams on commercial forecasting.
• Ensure appropriate financial provisions are maintained for identified commercial risks.
• Support value engineering initiatives and identify commercial opportunities.

Procurement and Subcontract Management

• Review procurement and subcontracting strategies from a commercial perspective.
• Support tendering, bid evaluations, subcontractor procurement, and commercial negotiations.
• Review subcontract agreements, purchase orders, and associated commercial terms.
• Monitor subcontractor commercial performance and contractual compliance.
• Support commercial management of specialist contractors and suppliers associated with airport systems and infrastructure.

Airport Infrastructure Commercial Management

The Commercial Manager will oversee commercial matters associated with airport terminals, airfield infrastructure, runways, taxiways, aprons, roads, utilities, district cooling, and related infrastructure packages. The role will assess commercial impacts arising from complex airport interfaces, operational constraints, phased construction, restricted work areas, authority requirements, design changes, stakeholder requirements, and interface dependencies. Commercial coordination will extend across major engineering, construction, MEP, infrastructure, and specialist aviation packages.

Commercial Reporting and Risk

• Prepare weekly and monthly commercial management reports.
• Maintain comprehensive commercial records and supporting documentation.
• Review project risks and opportunities from a commercial perspective and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Monitor commercial impacts associated with design development, construction methodology, scope changes, and project delays.
• Present commercial performance, emerging risks, and recommendations to the Project Director and senior management.
• Ensure commercial processes comply with company policies, project procedures, contractual requirements, and applicable laws.

What Required Skills You 'LL Bring

• Bachelor 's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 13 years of relevant commercial experience on major construction, infrastructure, airport, or multidisciplinary projects.
• Proven experience in commercial management, contract administration, cost control, variations, claims, and negotiations.
• Strong knowledge of construction contracts and commercial principles.
• Experience managing major main contracts and multiple subcontract packages.
• Strong experience evaluating variations, claims, Extension of Time submissions, and commercial entitlements.
• Proven experience working with clients, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• Strong understanding of project cost control, forecasting, cash flow, and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC or other international construction contract forms.

Preferred Experience and Qualifications

• Experience on major airport or infrastructure projects is highly desirable.
• Professional qualification such as MRICS, RICS, CIQS, or equivalent is preferred.

About Parsons

Parsons Corporation provides professional services across engineering, infrastructure, design, and project delivery. This Abu Dhabi-based Commercial Manager role leads commercial and contractual management across a major airport infrastructure project, including cost control, claims, variations, procurement, subcontract administration, financial forecasting, commercial risk, and complex aviation infrastructure interfaces.