Commercial Manager

About This Role

Overview

KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life. We are uniquely resourced with end-to-end services to take clients from inspiration – through conceptualization – to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments. For over 60 years we’ve led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities.

As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms. We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 51st largest global architecture firm and the #1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2024 WA100 Survey.

We invite you to join us. Why?

When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job – you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company-wide health and well-being through on-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun-runs, in-house sports teams and beach clean ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards.

Responsibilities

Our newest opportunity is for a highly experienced Contracts / Commercial Manager to join our site supervision team in Dubai, UAE.

The Contracts / Commercial Manager shall lead and manage all commercial, contractual, and financial aspects of the enabling and early works packages, acting on behalf of the Client as part of the Site Supervision Consultant team. The role is responsible for contract administration, commercial governance, cost control, change management, and claims management, ensuring the Client’s commercial position is protected while supporting timely and compliant delivery of the Works.

The position requires close coordination with the Engineer, Client representatives, project management teams, contractors, cost consultants, and legal advisors, with a strong focus on early works risk, productivity control, and dispute avoidance.

The Contracts / Commercial Manager shall be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Lead contract administration for enabling and early works packages including mass earthworks, stockpile removal, construction haul roads, utilities, and temporary works.
• Administer the Contract in accordance with the Conditions of Contract (including FIDIC-based forms), ensuring compliance with notice provisions, procedures, and time bars.
• Manage all contractual correspondence, notices, early warnings, claims, and determinations in coordination with the Engineer.
• Provide contractual and commercial advice to the Client and supervision team on entitlements, risks, mitigation strategies, and commercial exposure.
• Support procurement strategies, tender evaluations, commercial comparisons, and recommendations for contract award or amendment.
• Monitor, control, and report project budgets, cost forecasts, commitments, and cash flow for early works packages.
• Review, assess, and recommend certification of interim payment applications, dayworks, and final accounts.
• Manage change control processes including valuation of variations, compensation events, and instructed changes.
• Lead the assessment and management of contractor claims including extensions of time, prolongation, disruption, and acceleration claims.
• Maintain and update contract risk registers, proactively identifying and managing commercial and contractual risks.
• Support dispute avoidance strategies through timely administration, accurate records, and commercial negotiation.
• Coordinate with legal advisors and external consultants as required on contractual or dispute-related matters.
• Act as the primary commercial interface between the Client, Engineer, contractors, and other consultants.
• Lead, manage, and mentor commercial and quantity surveying team members within the supervision team.
• Participate in commercial meetings, negotiations, and high-level project reviews with the Client and contractors.
• Ensure compliance with governance procedures, audit requirements, and best-practice commercial controls.
• Prepare commercial reports, recommendations, determinations, and contractual correspondence for Client approval.
• Maintain accurate and auditable records of contracts, variations, claims, payments, and financial status.
• Support audits, reviews, and compliance checks undertaken by the Client or regulatory bodies.

Qualifications

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that you will bring a minimum of 15 years’ experience in Contracts and Commercial management on large-scale construction or infrastructure projects partnered with a Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Law, or a related discipline.

• Proven experience managing enabling works, early works, or infrastructure-led developments.
• Extensive experience administering FIDIC-based contracts on behalf of a Client or Engineer.
• Demonstrated capability managing contractor claims, variations, and commercial risk on fast-track programs.
• Strong understanding of contract administration, commercial governance, and cost control systems.
• High level of competence in claims assessment, entitlement analysis, and commercial negotiations.
• Ability to manage complex interfaces and commercial risk across multiple work fronts.
• Clear, structured communicator with strong written contractual drafting skills.

Professional membership with a recognized commercial or quantity surveying institution is preferred.

Experience operating within a supervision consultant or Engineer-led environment is advantageous.

KEO’s performance is founded upon integrity, results, innovation, safety, and our people. We embrace diversity and recognise its’ contribution to client success wherever we work.

We are excited to hear how you can partner with our award-winning team and treat all expressions of interest confidentially.