Senior Operations Manager - Airports

Confidential; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 280,000 - 560,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is seeking a seasoned Contracts & Operations Manager to lead the KSA portfolio, ensure budget discipline, and optimize asset performance. You will supervise the operations team, manage subcontractors, monitor SLAs, and coordinate with legal for contract terms, variations, and close-out, with a priority on aviation-related projects.

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering and 14+ years in contracts and operations,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering and relevant professional qualifications.
• 14+ years in contracts and operations management, including aviation sector exposure.

Responsibilities

• Help develop division strategy and participate in the KSA business unit strategy.
• Lead commercial and contractual administration, evaluate claims and variations.
• Deliver operations management strategy and ensure contractual commitments are met.
• Manage the operations team in KSA, set objectives, and drive performance.
• Advise on contractual/commercial aspects and optimize structure for efficiency.
• Monitor budgets, cost control, and financial performance against plans.
• Lead resource planning and ensure quality service delivery to assets.
• Oversee subcontracting, vendor management, and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor SLAs and supplier performance to ensure value and quality.
• Coordinate with Legal on T&Cs and contract changes; prepare final documentation.

Skills

Contract management

Operations management

Vendor relations

Client relations

HSEEQ

Maintenance planning

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Master’s in Management or Facilities Management

Job description

Candidates with Airport experience will be prioritized!

Key Accountabilities

• Provide inputs to the development of the overall division strategy and participate in developing the KSA business unit strategy in line with the vision, mission, and business objectives of the company.


• Posts award, assists project teams by providing specialist input for the day to day commercial and contractual administration for both the evaluation of claims and/or requests for contract variations and the commercial close-out of contracts.


• Deliver the Operations Management strategy for the portfolio of assets while ensuring contractual commitments are successfully met.


• Manage the effective achievement of the business unit’s objectives through leading the Operations team in the KSA, by setting individual objectives, managing performance, developing and motivating staff, and providing formal and informal feedback and appraisals in order to maximize the subordinates’ and the business unit’s performance.


• Assists project team with the technical evaluation of engineer’s requirements advising, in particular, upon any contractual / commercial aspects rose therein.


• Contribute and assist the Director of Operations in defining an optimum structure for the division so that resources are optimally utilized and communication takes place in an efficient manner.


• Ensures that all project’s activities are controlled within the approved budget, identifies any deficiencies and conducts proper analysis and recommend solutions to the board of directors.


• Recommend and oversee the budget for the Operations business unit and monitor financial performance versus the budget so that the business is aware of anticipated costs/ revenues, areas of unsatisfactory performance and potential areas of cost reduction are identified, and performance improvement opportunities are realized.


• Lead and manage the portfolio while ensuring the planning and allocation of all resources, and the implementation of the appropriate standards and controls to ensure that all activities are carried out in an efficient and effective manner to meet and exceed objectives.


• Discuss “Side-Specific-Budgets” with customers including CAPEX for example, advise the customers on expenditures, opportunities for cost reductions, and the viability/ feasibility of changing/ buying assets (such as changing a chiller for example) to ensure customers’ budgeting is as appropriate and as accurate as possible.


• Manage the implementation and improvement of policies, guidelines, and processes for contract management and administration to ensure standards are set so that all business requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality service to customers in line with the corporate strategy.


• Manage the process of revising contracts’ scope of work, renewing the contract while recommending changes, conducting pricing, and negotiating the contract with the customer while coordinating the Terms & Conditions of the contract with the Legal department to ensure alignment with internal policies and any external laws and regulations.


• Manage and monitor the subcontracting of works (such as fire systems, gas, emergency lighting, vertical transportation, water treatment, tank cleaning, etc.), ensure that subcontractors fulfil their duties in an accurate manner and as per the agreed upon contractual clauses, and manage subcontractors’ evaluations and negotiations while ensuring that chosen subcontractors are approved by the relevant authorities to guarantee compliance with the regulatory framework (such as any approvals needed from the Civil Defense Department for fire-fighting systems).


• Monitor SLAs for the portfolio of assets, and ensure that they are aligned to service delivery, customer expectations, and expectations from suppliers / service partners in order to achieve quality service delivery, effective supplier relationship management, and profitability.


• Monitor service delivery performance and lead the evaluation of suppliers’ performance within the portfolio to ensure the selection of appropriately qualified service providers/ contractors at the optimum price in order to deliver the expected quality of service.


• Receives and analyzes scopes and specifications for works and services to be performed by the contract and agree with client and team members the basis for the execution and sub contracting strategy / documentation to optimize a cost effective basis for project.


• Attends negotiation meetings, summarizes results and obtains appropriate confirmations.


• Prepares and coordinates the execution of the final contract agreement documentation in an expeditious manner.


• Reviews all project documentation / correspondence to identify any contractual or commercial implications which may impact adversely upon the company’s interests.


• Monitors and processes commercial and contractual aspects pertaining to variations / change orders required by the consultant and prepares appropriate submissions for engineer’s approval.


• Studies and evaluates site instructions in the light of contractual obligations and, in conjunction with the technical input from the team. Prepares an appropriate strategy for justifications of the cost / schedule impact of such claims for approval by engineer.


• Implements the approved claim strategy and assists with the negotiation of an optimized settlement to the Company’s benefit and prepares recommendations for management approval and finalizes the issue as appropriate. In the event of no agreement being reached with the client, prepares / assembles appropriate documentation for arbitration if necessary.


• Monitors the performance of sub contractors and prepares routine management reports on same and follows up with team on the evaluation of sub contractor’s performance and completes contractual commitments.


• Ensures that all project’s activities are controlled within the approved budget, identifies any deficiencies and conducts proper analysis and recommend solutions to the Company senior executives.


• Monitor resource utilization within the portfolio to ensure that the right number and talent is available for running operations (projects, civil works, mechanical works, electrical works, landscaping, building inspections, etc.), accomplishing targets, improving customer satisfaction, and achieving business objectives.


• Monitor and control the execution of maintenance contracts, review the preventive and corrective maintenance programmes, and supervise the implementation by employees or assigned contractor(s) through reviewing reports and spot-checking as appropriate to ensure the provision of quality maintenance works to the assets/ facilities (including maintenance to audio visual equipment, BMS, chillers, generators, AC, IT, etc.).


• Attend all coordination meetings with the tenants and contractors to discuss the progress of the fit out works and collect the required documentation, carry out an overall inspection after the completion of the fit out works, prepare the snag lists, and follow up on all rectification works needed.


• Monitor the process of quotation requests, and the preparation of Purchase Orders and Vendor Contracts, approve same, and ensure that the purchasing process is optimized to guarantee the provision of products/ services to the company/ customer on time and avoid any operational delays.


• Ensure that the Annual Leave Planer is completed to have a holistic view on forecasted leaves and employees’ availabilities throughout the year so as to guarantee that the appropriate resourcing is done and that business operations do not get interrupted.


• Manage customers’ expectations through clear communication and transparent work attitude in order to be consistent and to develop strong customer relationships.


• Receive escalated problems and complaints from the Call Centre and ensure that the necessary support and maintenance work is provided to customers in a timely fashion in order to resolve customers’ issues (pertaining to cooling, power, ventilation, plumbing, etc.) and maintain their high levels of satisfaction.


• Provide technical advice to customers and represent customers in technical interfaces with third parties (such as dealing with contractors conducting any construction work on premises while ensuring that they are delivering according to the agreement) as well as furnish customers with technical advice on improvement opportunities (such as reducing utility consumption and bills) in order to increase CSR awareness and contribute in achieving a greener environment.


• Ensure effective planning and implementation of HSEEQ inspections and audits in order to meet regulatory requirements and company standards.


• Develop and ensure the implementation of division policies, procedures, and controls covering all areas of activity so that all relevant procedural / legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality and cost-effective service.


• Ensure compliance to all relevant quality, health, safety, and environmental management policies, procedures, and controls across the department to guarantee employee safety, legislative compliance, delivery of high quality products/ service and a responsible environmental attitude.


• Perform other related duties or assignments as directed.

Qualifications, Experiences, & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, preferably with a Master’s degree in Management or Facilities Management


• 14+ Years’ experience in contracts & operations management including aviation sector; exposure to Maintenance and Facilities Management especially in the areas of operations planning, HSEEQ, supplier relations management, client relations management, maintenance, and contract management