Senior Commercial Manger (Group Level)

Guildhall is delighted to be representing a major UAE-based specialist contracting group in the search for an experienced Senior Commercial Manager – Group.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for providing group-wide oversight of commercial, contracts, cost control and quantity surveying functions across multiple companies and projects in the UAE. The role requires a highly experienced commercial leader who can manage and guide existing Commercial Managers, drive strong financial performance, implement disciplined commercial governance, reduce risk, and ensure best practice across all projects.

The successful candidate will be a senior commercial leader with the experience and confidence to operate above existing Commercial Managers. They will have a strong contracting background, a clear understanding of commercial risk, and the ability to manage complex commercial matters across multiple projects and business units.

Key Responsibilities
Commercial & Team Leadership:

• Lead, manage and support Commercial teams across the group.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to Commercial Managers and senior team members.
• Establish commercial KPIs and ensure compliance with internal processes.
• Build a high-performance commercial culture across all business units.
• Provide guidance and training in contracts, cost control, claims and commercial best practice.

Cost Management & Financial Control:

• Oversee cost estimates, cost-to-complete reports, budgets, forecasts and financial reporting across all projects.
• Monitor project expenditure, identify variances and implement corrective actions.
• Drive cost efficiency, value engineering, margin protection and cash-flow optimisation.
• Implement effective procedures for payment certification, invoicing and collections.

Contract & Risk Management:

• Review and approve tenders, contracts, subcontracts and procurement agreements.
• Ensure strong knowledge and application of FIDIC and bespoke contract standards.
• Maintain full visibility on project contracts, obligations and commercial risks.
• Identify and mitigate contractual, financial and commercial risks at both project and group level.

Pre-Tender & Post-Tender:

• Review and approve the commercial aspects of bids, including cost build-ups, risk allowances, pricing strategies and margin targets.
• Guide estimation teams on BOQ preparation, subcontractor pricing and post-tender variations.
• Support bid strategy, commercial clarifications and internal approvals.

Pre-Contract & Post-Contract:

• Review and approve contract documents to ensure alignment with tender submissions and agreed clarifications.
• Oversee and guide procurement across all projects, ensuring best value and contractual compliance.
• Participate in executive meetings and approve final contract documentation.

Claims, Variations & EOTs:

• Lead the management of claims, variations and extension of time submissions.
• Protect the group’s contractual and commercial entitlements.
• Assess entitlement, cause and effect, delay impact and responsibility.
• Oversee dispute avoidance, negotiation and resolution strategies.

Project Control, Procurement & Cash Flow:

• Monitor payment certificates, approvals and receipts with clients and consultants.
• Ensure timely certification, invoicing, collections and approval of subcontractor payments.
• Work closely with Finance to improve credit control and collection procedures.
• Define procurement scope, strategies and operating plans across all companies.

Project Close-Out:

• Coordinate with Commercial Managers on contract close-out requirements, including Taking-Over Certificates, Final Accounts, discharge letters, bonds, insurances and collateral warranties.
• Ensure timely project handover and commercial close-out.
• Oversee the preparation, submission and agreement of final accounts.
• Support Commercial Managers and General Managers in resolving disputes and final commercial settlements.

Disputes & Negotiations:

• Lead and oversee all commercial disputes and negotiations.
• Protect the group’s contractual, financial and commercial interests.
• Coordinate with legal teams by providing commercial strategy, entitlement assessments and negotiation direction.
• Drive timely, commercially favourable dispute resolutions while minimising risk, cost and escalation.

Executive Reporting:

• Prepare and present regular commercial and financial performance reports to the CEO and CFO.
• Act as a key commercial interface between clients, consultants, legal advisors and internal executive leadership.
• Provide clear commercial advice and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Commercial Management, Finance or a related field.
• MRICS, MCIArb or similar professional qualification preferred.
• 20+ years’ experience in construction commercial leadership, ideally within the UAE or wider GCC.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC and bespoke contracts.
• Proven experience overseeing multiple projects, divisions or company portfolios.
• Strong background in claims, variations, EOTs, final accounts, procurement and cost control.
• Experience managing senior commercial teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and leadership skills.
• Confident, commercially strong personality with the ability to work closely with fast-paced executive leadership.

This role would suit someone who has operated as a Senior Commercial Manager, Group Commercial Manager, Head of Commercial, Commercial Director or Contracts & Commercial Director within a construction, infrastructure, landscaping, public realm or specialist contracting environment.

To Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to apply with an updated CV. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a confidential discussion.