Sr. Commercial Manager – Construction & Infrastructure

Black & Grey HR; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Sr. Commercial Manager to lead commercial operations across high-value infrastructure projects. This critical role involves managing contracts, overseeing procurement, and ensuring financial performance while driving strategic project outcomes. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in commercial management within the construction sector, particularly with FIDIC contracts, and will possess strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills. Join a growth-focused organization where your contributions will significantly impact project success and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years in commercial management roles within construction or infrastructure.
• Solid command of FIDIC and regional contract forms.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract management and risk control for high-value infrastructure projects.
• Oversee procurement and cost control, ensuring alignment with project budgets.

Skills

Contract Negotiation

Claims Management

Financial Acumen

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying

Civil Engineering

Construction Management

Tools

ERP

Cost Management Platforms

Commercial Reporting Software

Job description

Black & Grey HR is partnering with one of the UAE's top-tier construction and infrastructure companies to recruit a Sr. Commercial Manager. This is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing the full spectrum of commercial operations across high-value infrastructure projects—ensuring profitability, contractual compliance, cost control, and risk mitigation from start to finish. If you have deep experience in managing complex construction contracts (FIDIC-based), leading commercial teams, and driving strategic project outcomes, this role offers the opportunity to make a high-impact contribution within a well-established, growth-focused organization.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Contract Management & Risk Control: Lead the review, negotiation, and administration of contracts including main contracts, subcontracts, guarantees, and commercial terms. Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, while identifying risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
2. Claims & Dispute Resolution: Manage EOT and cost claims, ensuring robust documentation and adherence to contractual timelines. Oversee the claims lifecycle, coordinate with legal teams, and represent the company in dispute resolution processes when needed.
3. Procurement Oversight & Cost Control: Lead the procurement process for subcontractors, materials, and services in alignment with project budgets and timelines. Monitor and control costs through real-time cost tracking, forecasting, and variance analysis. Ensure commercial alignment between procurement and project delivery teams.
4. Project Financial Management: Produce project budgets, cash flows, financial forecasts, and sensitivity analyses. Provide clear reporting on cost performance, profitability, and financial risks to senior leadership. Monitor project KPIs including CTC, CVR, and earned value metrics.
5. Commercial Strategy & Delivery Optimization: Align commercial execution with overall project strategy, design milestones, and risk frameworks. Drive weekly progress reviews focused on commercial health, resourcing, and delivery timelines. Champion commercial excellence through strategic planning and value engineering.
6. Process Improvement & Operational Excellence: Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce commercial risk. Introduce systems for better cost visibility, contract management, and reporting. Support adoption of digital tools like ERP, Candy, CostX, and Oracle.
7. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement: Lead and develop a team of quantity surveyors, procurement specialists, and commercial support staff. Act as the commercial point of contact for internal teams, clients, consultants, and subcontractors. Ensure alignment across departments on commercial goals and deliverables.

Requirements

Candidate Profile:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, or Construction Management.
• Certifications: MRICS, PMP, or FIDIC certification preferred.
• Experience: 10-15 years in commercial management roles within the construction or infrastructure industry.
• Minimum 5 years in the UAE or GCC, with a strong portfolio of delivered mega-projects (AED 300M+).
• Contract Knowledge: Solid command of FIDIC and other regional contract forms.
• Tools: Proficient in ERP, cost management platforms, and commercial reporting software.

What You'll Need to Succeed:

• Strong contract negotiation and claims expertise
• Strategic commercial thinking and financial acumen
• Hands-on leadership style with team development focus
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, high-value project environments