Commercial Director

Job Purpose Summary

The Commercial Director is responsible for leading the commercial and contractual management of the organisation's real estate development portfolio, ensuring projects are delivered in line with approved budgets, commercial strategies, and corporate governance requirements. The role oversees the full commercial lifecycle of developments, including feasibility cost planning, procurement strategy, tendering, contract administration, change management, claims resolution, and final account closure.

Operating across multiple projects within the UAE and, where required, across the wider GCC region, the role supports developments of significant capital value, typically including residential, hospitality, mixed-use, and master-planned projects. The Commercial Director safeguards the company's commercial interests by implementing robust cost control processes, managing financial risk, and driving value engineering initiatives without compromising design intent, quality, or programme delivery.

The role provides strategic commercial input into procurement models, contract selection, and financial forecasting, supporting executive decision-making and investment performance. It also manages and coordinates external consultants, contractors, and internal project teams to ensure consistency in commercial governance, reporting, and contractual compliance.

The position operates with a high degree of autonomy, reporting to senior leadership, and provides oversight and mentorship to commercial team members. The role plays a key part in strengthening commercial governance frameworks and enhancing financial certainty across the organisation's development pipeline.

1. Role Overview

The Commercial Director is responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining commercial management strategies across assigned development projects. The role ensures that projects are commercially viable, contractually compliant, and financially controlled throughout the development lifecycle, from project inception to final handover and close-out.

2. Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy & Governance

• Develop and implement project commercial strategies aligned with corporate development objectives.
• Establish cost management and commercial governance frameworks across projects.
• Provide commercial advice to senior management during investment and project approval stages.
• Ensure compliance with Delegation of Authority (DOA) and internal financial governance procedures.
• Support development of standard commercial procedures, templates, and best-practice guidelines.

Cost Planning & Budget Management

• Oversee preparation and validation of feasibility cost plans and development budgets.
• Monitor project financial performance against approved budgets and cost targets.
• Lead cost reporting, forecasting, and financial risk analysis.
• Ensure early identification and mitigation of cost overruns and financial exposure.
• Manage value engineering initiatives to enhance project profitability and cost efficiency.

Procurement & Contract Management

• Lead procurement strategy development including contract packaging and tender methodologies.
• Manage tender processes including prequalification, tender evaluation, and award recommendations.
• Negotiate commercial and contractual terms with consultants, contractors, and suppliers.
• Oversee preparation and execution of development, construction, and consultancy agreements.
• Provide commercial input into procurement decisions to balance cost, programme, and quality outcomes.

Contract Administration & Change Control

• Oversee administration of construction and consultancy contracts.
• Review and approve variations, claims, and commercial submissions.
• Ensure robust change management processes are implemented and maintained.
• Lead commercial negotiations and dispute resolution where required.
• Monitor contractual compliance and manage contractual risk exposure.

Project Delivery Commercial Oversight

• Support project teams during construction to ensure commercial performance and cost control.
• Review contractor payment applications, valuations, and financial submissions.
• Monitor contractor performance against commercial obligations.
• Oversee final account negotiations and settlement processes.
• Ensure effective commercial close-out and defects liability management.

Stakeholder & Consultant Management

• Manage and supervise cost consultants, commercial advisors, and claims specialists.
• Liaise with project delivery, design, finance, legal, and development teams.
• Support collaboration between internal and external stakeholders to achieve commercial objectives.
• Provide commercial reporting to senior leadership and investment committees.

Risk Management

• Identify and manage commercial and contractual risks across projects.
• Develop mitigation strategies to protect company financial interests.
• Maintain commercial risk registers and escalation processes.
• Provide strategic advice on risk allocation within contract structures.

3. Leadership & Team Management

• Provide leadership, mentoring, and professional development to commercial team members.
• Support recruitment, performance management, and succession planning within the commercial function.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and commercial discipline.

4. Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, or related discipline.
• Professional accreditation such as MRICS or equivalent preferred.
• Typically 1218 years experience in commercial management within real estate or construction.
• Experience working on UAE or GCC real estate developments strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of UAE construction contracts, procurement practices, and regulatory environment.

5. Competencies & Skills

• Strong commercial acumen and financial management capability.
• Advanced contract negotiation and dispute resolution skills.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capability.
• Leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical, reporting, and presentation capability.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.