Programme Commercial Director

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Commercial Leadership

• Commercial strategy alignment with the Client's funding model.

• Lead and direct all commercial functions of the PMC across the programme, covering multiple major infrastructure contracts and consultancy agreements.

• Establish and implement the overall commercial strategy, policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.

• Drive a value-focused culture incorporating value engineering, cost optimisation, and lifecycle cost considerations across the programme.

• Provide strategic commercial advice to the Programme Director andEmployer's senior leadership team.

Contract Management, Commercial Governance & Assurance

• Providingcommercial and contractual interpretation, liaising with legal counsel where appropriate.

• Maintain oversight of the contractual framework across the programme portfolio, providing assurance that all contracts are being administered by the Engineers in accordance with their terms and conditions.

• Manage the PMC's own contractual obligations,maintaining compliance with the terms of the PMC commission agreement throughout the programme.

• Oversee the administration of consultancy agreements within the PMC's scope, including performance monitoring, fee management, and scope change.

• Provide authoritative contractual interpretation and advice to the Programme Director,Employer, and Engineers on complex or escalated contractual matters, including notices, entitlements, and obligations.

• Review and provide commercial input on key contractual correspondence, notices, and determinations issued by the Engineers where these carry significant programme-level implications.

• Review and challenge commercial outputs produced by the Engineers, including valuations, variation assessments, cost reports, and claims determinations, to satisfy theEmployerthat its interests are being properly protected.

• Maintain a programme-level register of contractual risks, obligations, and key dates across all contracts, providing assurance that critical contractual milestones and deadlines are being actively managed.

• Advise theEmployeron contractual positions in respect of underperforming Consultants or Contractors, including options available under the contract and recommended courses of action.

• Maintain oversight of all contractual securities, warranties, bonds, and insurances across the portfolio, providing assurance that these remain in place and are updated in accordance with contractual requirements.

• Provide oversight of contract close-out procedures across the programme, satisfying theEmployerthat all contractual obligations have been discharged prior to final payment and release of securities.

• Identify and escalate commercial governance issues to the Programme Director where required.

Procurement & Contract Strategy

• Develop and lead the procurement strategy for theProgramme on behalf of theEmployer, covering both construction contracts and consultancy appointments.

• Direct pre-contract activities including procurement planning, RFP preparation, tender evaluation frameworks, and award recommendations.

• Drive rigorous contractor and consultant evaluation processes to support efficient and high-quality programme delivery.

• Oversee the preparation and alignment of contract documentation, providing commercial input to minimise ambiguity.

• Advise on appropriate contract formsand appropriateamendments to standard forms of contractto reflect therisk allocation, and commercial structures for new appointments.

Cost Management & Budget Control

• Maintain programme-level cost control on behalf of theEmployer, providing assurance that expenditure remains aligned with approved budgets and financial objectives.

• Oversee and challenge cost reporting and forecasting produced by the Engineers, providing consolidated commercial reporting to theEmployer.

• Monitor cost performance across the programme, identifying variances and working with the Engineers to drive corrective actions where required.

• Contribute to value and cost engineering initiatives and advise on lifecycle costing considerations at programme level.

• Lead commercial input into risk reporting, contingency management, and financial reviews.

Claims & Dispute Oversight

• Maintain programme-level awareness of all significant claims and potential disputes across the contract portfolio.

• Promote early resolution strategies and dispute avoidance mechanisms across the programme.

• Review and provide assurance on the Engineers assessments and determinations of Contractor claims, satisfying theEmployerthat its contractual position is being properly protected.

• Advise theEmployeron significant claim positions, escalated disputes, and situations requiringEmployer-level decisions or legal engagement.

• Engage legal advisors on behalf of theEmployerwhere disputes escalate beyond the Engineers authority to resolve.

Reporting & Transparency

• Drive consistent use of programme-wide commercial and cost management systems.

• Provide assurance over the accuracy, timeliness, and transparency of commercial reporting across the programme.

• Lead the preparation of consolidated commercial reports for theEmployer, covering cost performance, procurement status, claims exposure, and risk.

• Lead commercial input into programme reviews, audits, and executive-level reporting.

Team Leadership

• Lead, manage, and develop a high-performing commercial team within the PMC structure.

• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and KPIs for the commercial function aligned with programme objectives.

• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the commercial team.

• Mentor and support the professional development of commercial staff at all levels.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• BSc Quantity Surveying, construction management, engineering, architecture or equivalent

• Minimum 20 years overall experience

• Minimum 10 years of experience in a similar role

• Minimum of 5 years working experience in Middle East

• Sound knowledge of cost control, estimating and commercial aspects of major civil & infrastructure projects including roads, bridges and utilities with significant experience in procurement and contract management of such projects.

• Extensive experience managing multiple concurrent contracts and stakeholders within a programme environment.

• Experience in managing direct reports with overall responsibility for teamsin excess of20 people

• Experienced user of MS Office and understanding of project management software

• Membership of a recognised International Professional Body e.g. MRICS or FRICS (preferred)

• Experience in international contracting mechanisms including FIDIC, NCE

• Fluent in written and spoken English Arabic language skills advantageous.

COMPETENCIES

• Leadership

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• StrongCommercialacumenand sound judgement

• Strongstakeholderfocusand management

• Commercial ethics and probitywith theability to operate in a senior client-facing leadership role.

• Ability to operate effectively and decisively within a complex, multi-stakeholder programme environment.

• HSE Awareness.