Senior Commercial & Planning Manager
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
About the Role
The Senior Commercial & Planning Manager is responsible for leading all commercial, contractual, cost management, planning, and project controls activities across multiple projects.
The role ensures that projects are delivered in accordance with contractual obligations, approved budgets, and established schedules, while providing strategic commercial and planning advice to both the consultancy team and the client.
The successful candidate will work closely with clients, contractors, designers, authorities, and other stakeholders to manage project performance, assess risks, evaluate claims, monitor progress, and implement recovery strategies where required.
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Management
- Lead all commercial management activities throughout the project lifecycle.
- Review and administer consultancy and construction contracts.
- Evaluate contractors payment applications and recommend certifications.
- Review and assess variation orders, change requests, and commercial proposals.
- Evaluate Extension of Time (EOT) submissions and associated cost impacts.
- Review contractual correspondence and provide commercial advice to senior management.
- Monitor project budgets, commitments, forecasts, and cash flow.
- Identify commercial risks and propose mitigation strategies.
- Support procurement activities, tender evaluations, and contract negotiations.
- Ensure contractual compliance across all project parties.
Planning & Project Controls
- Review, analyze, and approve baseline project schedules.
- Assess contractors detailed programmes, recovery schedules, and revised submissions.
- Monitor project progress against approved baselines.
- Conduct schedule analysis using Primavera P6 and critical path methodology (CPM).
- Identify delays, risks, and schedule impacts.
- Prepare progress reports, executive dashboards, and KPI reports.
- Review look-ahead programmes and short-term planning outputs.
- Participate in schedule risk assessments and mitigation planning.
- Verify progress measurements for payment certification.
- Develop and maintain project control systems and reporting frameworks.
Claims & Contract Administration
- Review contractual notices and claims submitted by contractors.
- Analyze entitlement related to delays, disruptions, prolongation, and variations.
- Prepare technical and contractual assessments of claims.
- Support dispute avoidance and resolution processes.
- Assist in negotiations related to commercial and contractual matters.
Project Management Support
- Coordinate with design, supervision, and construction teams.
- Attend commercial, planning, and progress meetings.
- Provide strategic advice to senior management on project performance.
- Monitor deliverables against contractual milestones.
- Ensure accurate documentation and reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, or related discipline.
- Master's Degree is an advantage.
- Professional certifications such as MRICS, CCP, PMP, PSP, or equivalent are preferred.
Experience
- Minimum 15+ years of relevant experience in commercial management and project planning.
- At least 7 years in a senior managerial role within consultancy or project management consultancy (PMC).
- Extensive experience in large-scale developments including mixed-use, master planning, luxury residential, hotels, infrastructure, and public realm projects.
- Strong experience with FIDIC contracts (Red, Yellow, White Book and Design & Build forms).
- Proven experience in claims management, contract administration, and delay analysis.
- Experience working with developers, government authorities, and international consultants is highly desirable.
- GCC/UAE experience is essential.
Technical Skills
- Advanced Primavera P6 scheduling and planning.
- Microsoft Project.
- Project controls and cost management.
- Delay analysis techniques and methodologies.
- Earned Value Management (EVM).
- Contract administration and commercial management.
- Quantity surveying principles.
- Risk management.
- Budgeting, forecasting, and cost reporting.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel and Power BI.
- BIM-based project controls (advantage).
