Senior Commercial Manager

Massar Business Solutions; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 500,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Massar Business Solutions seeks a Senior Commercial Manager for construction projects in the UAE. The role focuses on governance, performance, and contract management across the project lifecycle, delivering KPIs and ensuring client value.

You will lead commercial teams, coordinate procurement, and supervise financial reporting and risk management. Ideal candidates have extensive UAE experience, graduate qualification in Quantity Surveying or related fields, and a proven track record in complex

Qualifications

• UAE experience preferred.
• Relevant projects of an appropriate scale.
• Active membership of a relevant professional institution such as RICS is desirable.
• Tertiary qualification in Quantity Surveying or similar plus a minimum of 10 years relevant experience in a project / commercial management role; or tertiary qualification in Project Management, Building Management, Engineering or Architecture with extensive Middle East experience (7+ years).

Responsibilities

• Keep abreast of business and technical developments in the construction industry as a basis for planning and managing change.
• Monitor market conditions and changes to advise on development plans.
• Advise the Development Director on operating risks, remedial actions, claims and variation orders.
• With finance, develop cost control systems and financial reporting aligned to the project budget.
• Monitor performance of commercial staff and provide mentoring and training as needed.
• Establish internal administration procedures for development, commercial, planning and procurement.
• Ensure decisions follow established commercial procedures and advocate best client solutions.
• Coordinate, manage and control the contract, procurement and commercial functions across the project.

Skills

Contract management

Budgeting & cost control

Leadership & team management

Stakeholder management

Risk analysis

Negotiation

Project governance

Education

Quantity Surveying degree

Tools

Aconex

Microsoft Project

Cost management software

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Commercial Manager in the construction industry with a strong track record in Project Management, Building Management, Engineering, Architecture with extensive experiential learning in UAE

The Senior Commercial Manager is responsible for the commercial governance and performance of projects, overseeing day-to-day Commercial and Contract Management activities throughout the project lifecycle. The role provides leadership to ensure integrity, strong stakeholder support, delivery of KPIs and contractual commitments, and overall programme success, while promoting teamwork, productivity, and adherence to procedures and core values. The position requires strong management, communication, problem-solving, organisational, and commercial skills, with full accountability for project and portfolio commercial performance.

General

What you’ll be doing

• Keep abreast of business and technical developments in the construction industry as a basis for planning and managing change, and ensuring the Company’s success and business viability against competition.
• Monitor market conditions and changes in the business environment to assist in making recommendations about changes or adaptations to development plans.
• Advise the Development Director with regards to identified operating risks, poor performance, required remedial actions, claims, and variation orders issues for further action
• With the finance / controls department, develop and implement cost control systems and financial reporting that can be correlated to the project budget, revenue and costs.
• Monitor performance of commercial staff and give the necessary directives, mentoring and training and assign / coordinate subordinate resources as and when required.
• Establish internal project administration procedures for development management, commercial, planning, procurement and financial integration.
• Ensure decisions are made in accordance with established commercial procedures whilst ensuring the best solution is advocated for the Client and project.
• Other commercial management duties as assigned by the Project Director / Manager.

Procurement

• Develop a procurement strategy with the appointed consultants and assist in the preparation of generic contracts and documentation for the project.
• Investigate alternative procurement options for the main contract, e.g., cost plus fixed margin, target cost with profit share, GMP, etc.
• Review tender documents submitted by the Consultants prior to release to third parties.
• Participate in negotiations with selected Tenderers, review cost engineering for budget compliance.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policy

Pre-Contract / Design Commercial Management

• Coordinate, manage and control the contract, procurement, commercial functions throughout the project, to ensure the overall programme, budget and development concept are all achieved.
• Participate and lead Bids and enquiries for Consultancy work.
• Negotiate and convert contracts.
• Contribute to objective Selection Criteria and Terms of Reference documents in the appointment of Consultants.
• Draft consultants' agreements, contracts, sub-contracts and all legal agreements before release or its consultants to a third party and prior to issuance to authorised signatories.
• Assist in presenting design developments to Stakeholders for final decisions pertaining to design, quality, price, market profile and commercial structure.
• Assist in the preparation of the Development's approved project brief and budget.
• Assist in managing design development to ensure agreement with approved development brief, concept design and project budgets.
• Assist in preparing the Project procurement strategy in coordination with the development team.
• Prepare Construction Works Tender Documents in coordination with Project Team.
• Support in Tender Management Process of Procurement of Contractors.
• Attend design and development meetings as necessary.
• Review designs and propose changes to reduce cost, increase saleable / rentable space to maximize revenue and creditability.
• Assist with design variation reports to address commercial and time implications.
• Commercially review, analyse, defend and/or submit Extensions of Time and Claims received from Consultants.
• Receive and review where internal procedures require, all project variations / claims.
• Manage project expenditure against agreed project budget to achieve the approved project budget.
• Commercially manage, with technical review from the Project Managers, the performance and compliance of the Consultants according to the Scope of Services and their contractual obligations.

Post Contract / Supervision Commercial Management

• Commercially manage, with technical review from the Project Managers, the performance and compliance of the Consultants and Contractors according to the Scope of Services and their contractual obligations.
• Assist the Project Management team to acquaint themselves with the contract documents for all Consultants and Contractors.
• Review the generic agreements and bond formats for the appointment of Consultants and Contractors and amend these to be regionally and project specific.
• Receive, assess and process interim and final payments to Consultants/Contractors.
• Liaise with and manage site project cost consultants and offer advice on all aspects of contractual claims, progress, payments and variations related to Subconsultant cost
• Review Consultant and Contractor reports and ensure timely completion for monthly management reporting.
• Ensure the Consultants timely notification of delaying events likely to cause Extensions of Time and / or Claims by Contractors.
• Monitor all submittals, variation requests and site instructions and recommend suitable amendments to ensure budget(s) are maintained and risks are mitigated.
• Manage and assist in the preparation of contract documentation for Consultants and Contractors
• Commercially review, analyse and defend impact of Extensions of Time and Claims received from Contractors on Contracts/Subcontracts.

What You Need

Progressively increased responsibility over career duration.

• UAE experience preferred.
• Relevant projects of an appropriate scale.
• Active membership of a relevant professional institution such as RICS is desirable.

Tertiary qualification (University Graduate) in Quantity Surveying or similar plus a minimum of 10 years relevant experience in a project / commercial management role / or / Tertiary qualification in Project Management, Building Management, Engineering, Architecture with extensive experiential learning in the construction industry (7 years plus middle east experience).

Core Competencies And Skills

• Computer competency in Microsoft Office, project collaboration software such as Aconex as well as cost management software.
• Sound knowledge of contracts such as International Federation of Consulting Engineers Fédération Internationale Des Ingénieurs-Conseils (FIDIC).
• Excellent commercial and numeracy capabilities
• Excellent analytical, problem solving and, organisational skills.
• Highly flexible with excellent decision-making skills.
• Well-developed communication (written and verbal) skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Client service oriented and inspires confidence and trust with a Client.
• Good understanding of the procurement process, cost management and budgets.
• Good understanding of design, co-ordination, project management and technical issues.
• Active role in strategic orientation to identify opportunities for improvement and influence the need for change.
• High attention to detail, self-starter and able to work unsupervised.
• Ability to remain focussed and work effectively under pressure.
• Excellent leadership and management skills with the ability to motivate people.
• Team working and interpersonal skills with the ability to convey knowledge to colleagues.
• Mature personality, highly flexible with a positive and constructive attitude.
• Demonstrate diplomacy and respect of cultural sensitivities.