Local Content Expert

Overview

This role is responsible for managing the entire local content agenda across the organization's legal entities and projects. It spans activities from tender-stage local content calculations and certification assistance to conducting annual audits and ongoing project performance reviews. The position reports to Commercial with a functional line to Finance and collaborates closely with Procurement, Legal, Operations Program Management Office (O-PMO), and HR. The primary goal is to safeguard and enhance the group's local content score aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and LCGPA regulations.

Key Duties

• Coordinate and support yearly local content certification audits, acting as the main contact with approved certification bodies and external auditors.
• Conduct contract-level local content audits validating spend categories, supplier statements, and evidence per LCGPA methodology.
• Prepare, review, and maintain detailed local content calculation documentation ensuring auditability and alignment with source data such as SAP and financial ledgers.
• Gather and organize all relevant documentation and proof necessary for local content certification at both company and project levels.
• Develop local content calculations and forecast projections for bids and new project tenders.
• Provide comprehensive support for local content certification throughout bidding processes, including implications for price-preference weightings and adherence to mandatory listings.
• Verify accuracy and consistency of local content pricing and reports submitted to authorities.
• Establish and maintain governance, reporting routines, and coordination frameworks with O-PMO for local content.
• Monitor ongoing project local content performance against targets, identify risks or deviations promptly, and escalate as needed.
• Analyze key metrics such as score contributions, supplier localization, spending breakdown, and cost impacts, maintaining dashboards and KPIs for management visibility.
• Produce periodic reports for senior management, O-PMO, and regulatory agencies documenting progress and achievements.
• Manage action logs and follow through on improvement initiatives ensuring timely completion and accountability.
• Lead standardization and ongoing enhancement of local content processes, controls, templates, and reporting methods.
• Serve as liaison with the local content authority (LCGPA) and its representatives within client agencies linked to the entities.
• Keep abreast of changes in regulations, update local content files, assumptions, and methodologies accordingly, and ensure communication of impacts internally.
• Stay informed about evolving local content laws, mechanisms, and sector programs such as iktva to proactively meet or surpass requirements.
• Collaborate with Procurement to identify and onboard qualified local suppliers to improve local content mix.
• Partner with HR and Procurement to recommend strategies like role localization and sourcing adjustments to boost local content adherence on live projects.
• Work with Legal and Compliance teams to ensure sourcing and contracts comply with local content mandates.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with internal departments, industry groups, and government agencies to support partnerships.
• Enhance internal local content awareness by organizing workshops and training sessions for relevant teams.
• When relevant, lead supplier capability-building and knowledge transfer efforts.

Candidate Profile

• Saudi national.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5 to 8 years of experience in local content, audit, compliance, or finance-related analytical functions within Saudi Arabia.
• Profound understanding of local content compliance including LCGPA regulations, certification methodologies, scoring calculations, mandatory lists, and price-preference systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and broader MS Office applications.
• Fluency in both Arabic and English, both written and spoken.
• Comfortable working with data-intensive, calculation-driven tasks with a technical mindset.
• Strong stakeholder management skills across finance, operations, and external authorities.
• Ability to function efficiently within a dual/matrix reporting structure linking Operations and Finance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Big Four firms or in international/multinational organizations.
• Prior exposure to local content certification audits from the perspective of auditors or certification bodies.
• Experience within construction or testing, inspection & certification (TIC) or engineering services sectors.