Position Overview
The Associate Commercial Director will provide strategic commercial leadership and oversight of commercial, procurement, and cost management functions across large-scale, complex mega projects in the GCC region. The role involves managing commercial strategies, contractual obligations, procurement activities, cost control, and financial performance to ensure projects are delivered within approved budgets and contractual requirements.
The successful candidate will have extensive experience working on major developments within either a Project Management Consultancy (PMC), contracting organization, or a combination of both, with a strong understanding of the GCC construction and infrastructure market.
Key Responsibilities
- Commercial Management: Lead and oversee commercial management activities, including contract administration, commercial negotiations, claims management, variations, and contractual risk mitigation across major projects.
- Cost Management and Control: Provide strategic oversight of project cost planning, budgeting, forecasting, cost reporting, financial controls, and expenditure monitoring to ensure effective cost management and budget compliance.
- Procurement Management: Direct procurement strategies, tendering processes, contract negotiations, supplier and subcontractor management, and commercial evaluation to achieve value for money and project objectives.
- Contract Administration: Ensure effective management of contractual obligations, including payment certifications, change management, claims assessment, dispute resolution, and contractual compliance.
- Commercial Strategy: Develop and implement commercial policies, procedures, frameworks, and strategies aligned with organizational objectives and project delivery requirements.
- Financial Performance: Monitor project commercial performance, identify financial and contractual risks, and provide recommendations to senior management on cost optimization and commercial improvements.
- Stakeholder Management: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and other key stakeholders to resolve commercial issues and protect project interests.
- Leadership and Governance: Lead, mentor, and develop commercial, procurement, quantity surveying, and cost management teams, ensuring consistent application of commercial standards and best practices.
- Reporting and Advisory: Provide senior-level commercial advice, management reports, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership on project financial performance, contractual exposure, procurement status, and commercial risks.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
- Minimum 18 years of professional experience in commercial management, procurement, quantity surveying, and cost management within the construction and infrastructure sectors.
- Extensive experience in managing the commercial aspects of large-scale mega projects within the GCC, preferably in Saudi Arabia.
- Proven experience working with Project Management Consultancies (PMC), main contractors, or a combination of both.
- Strong track record in commercial leadership, contract administration, procurement strategy, cost control, claims management, and commercial negotiations.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex contracts, high-value procurement packages, project budgets, and commercial risks.
- Extensive knowledge of international contract forms, particularly FIDIC, and GCC construction contractual practices.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary commercial and procurement teams across complex, multi-package developments.
- Strong understanding of project financial management, cost forecasting, value engineering, and commercial governance.
- Excellent leadership, negotiation, stakeholder management, analytical, and decision-making skills.
- Professional certifications such as MRICS, FRICS, or equivalent commercial or quantity surveying qualifications would be an advantage.