PMC Procurement & Contracts Lead

Decima International; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 350,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

Decima International is seeking a Senior Procurement & Contracts Lead to guide strategy, governance and execution across major project packages in Saudi Arabia. You will manage RFQs, tenders, bid evaluations and award decisions with a focus on value, risk, and compliance.

You will lead contract administration for EPC projects, oversee long‑lead equipment, and ensure timely milestones and final accounts while mentoring a growing procurement team. Fluency in English is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Law, or a related discipline.
• 12–15 years of procurement and contracts experience on major construction or infrastructure projects.
• Minimum 5 years of experience leading a procurement, contracts, or commercial function.
• Strong experience with the full procurement lifecycle from strategy to close-out.
• Strong contract administration experience with EPC and FIDIC or equivalent forms.
• Strong contract interpretation skills, including risk allocation, liabilities, indemnities, warranties, and termination provisions.
• Experience managing OFCI/CFCI arrangements and long‑lead equipment.
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Develop procurement strategies and lead their implementation across project packages.
• Lead tendering activities including RFQs, RFPs, bid evaluations and award recommendations.
• Maintain contract registers; manage notices, variations, claims and final accounts.
• Coordinate with cost teams to benchmark pricing and validate budgets.
• Lead contract close-out, warranties, and performance reviews; support dispute avoidance.
• Coach and develop the procurement and contracts team and ensure governance compliance.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Contract management

Bid evaluation

Risk management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Fluent English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction Management/Law

Master's degree in a relevant discipline

CIPS MRICS PMP AACE CIArb (certifications)

Tools

SAP

Oracle

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

MS Outlook

Job description

RESPONSIBILITIES

Support the Client in developing procurement and contracting strategies and lead their implementation across project packages Develop procurement package plans tender schedules bidder lists and procurement governance processes Lead contractor and supplier prequalification capability assessments RFQs RFPs and tendering activities Prepare and coordinate scopes of work pricing schedules contract exhibits clarification logs and tender addenda Lead technical and commercial bid evaluations including review of bidder qualifications assumptions exclusions pricing schedules delivery methodology and contractual deviations Prepare bid comparison sheets evaluation reports negotiation strategies and award recommendations for Client approval Lead tender clarification meetings bidder interviews commercial alignment discussions and negotiations Coordinate with cost teams to benchmark pricing and validate project budgets Lead post-award administration of EPC and major project contracts Review and interpret contractual terms scope provisions payment mechanisms warranties liabilities indemnities and termination provisions Refer matters requiring formal legal interpretation to the Client s legal function Own and maintain contract registers for notices bonds guarantees insurance payments variations claims and contractual key dates Ensure contractual notices and responses are issued accurately and within required timeframes Lead variation change order and change-control processes Review contractor claims including extension-of-time and cost claims and prepare recommended Owner positions Support assessment and certification of interim payments milestone payments retention provisional sums and final accounts Monitor contractor contractual performance and compliance Support dispute avoidance and development of contractual and commercial positions Own OFCI CFCI and long-lead equipment tracking including responsibility splits between the Client and contractor Chair periodic long-lead equipment and procurement coordination meetings Identify and escalation delivery or procurement risks that could affect the project program Lead contract and commercial close-out including final account settlement warranties securities outstanding claims and completion documentation Maintain warranty and defects registers throughout the applicable defects liability period Identify procurement contractual commercial technical and schedule risks and ensure appropriate mitigation actions are assigned and tracked Prepare procurement and contracts dashboards claims reports variation reports risk reports and executive updates for the Client s PMO Provide guidance to project teams on tender governance contract interpretation change management claims avoidance and commercial risk Lead and develop the procurement and contracts team including contract administrators procurement engineers and tendering support staff Manage team resourcing package allocation quality review and technical development Coordinate closely with project management engineering cost planning commercial commissioning document control and Client teams Escalate matters outside the PMC s delegated authority to the Project Site Director for referral to the Client Maintain confidentiality of contractual commercial pricing and tender information and ensure integrity of the procurement process

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Law, or a related discipline.
• 12 15 years of procurement and contracts experience** on major construction or infrastructure projects.
• Minimum **5 years of experience leading a procurement, contracts, or commercial function**.
• Strong experience managing the full procurement lifecycle from strategy and tendering through award, administration, and close-out.
• Strong contractor prequalification and tender management experience.
• Extensive experience with technical and commercial bid evaluation.
• Strong knowledge of EPC contract administration under FIDIC or equivalent contract forms.
• Experience administering EPC lump-sum contracts.
• Strong contract interpretation skills, including risk allocation, liabilities, indemnities, warranties, and termination provisions.
• Strong commercial management and change-control experience.
• Experience managing variations, change orders, claims, and extension-of-time assessments.
• Experience supporting payment certification against contractual payment mechanisms.
• Strong final account management and contract close-out experience.
• Experience managing contractors and suppliers.
• Experience administering bonds, guarantees, insurance, and contractual securities.
• Strong procurement and contractual risk-management capabilities.
• Experience managing long-lead equipment and OFCI / CFCI arrangements.
• Experience preparing procurement and contracts reports for executive and Client audiences.
• Proven team leadership experience, including resourcing, package allocation, and review of team output.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong skills in Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience with SAP, Oracle, or equivalent ERP / procurement / contract management systems.
• Fluent written and spoken English, with the ability to prepare, communicate, and defend contractual positions clearly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on data center or mission-critical projects.
• Experience on at least two data center or comparable projects with individual project values exceeding **USD 500 million**.
• Strong PMC or Owner s Representative experience.
• Experience working with major hyperscale, government-linked, or PIF-affiliated clients.
• Strong knowledge of the KSA procurement market, including regional contractors, vendors, local content requirements, and procurement regulations.
• Professional accreditation such as **CIPS, MRICS / RICS, PMP, AACE, CIArb**, or equivalent.
• Master s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Arabic language capability.
• Experience with both single-EPC and multi-package project delivery models.
• Experience managing OFCI / CFCI arrangements where the Owner directly procured major equipment.
• Exposure to dispute resolution processes, including DAB / DAAB, adjudication, or arbitration support.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP, procurement, and contract management platforms.