Senior Commercial Manager (Pre-Contract)

About the Role

The Senior Commercial Manager (Pre-Contract) is a key leadership position within our commercial and cost management department, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Supporting a significant KSA Giga program client, this role emphasizes upfront capital cost planning, design stage cost control, preparation of Bills of Quantities (BoQ), and tender assistance. Acting as a trusted client advisor, the position aims to deliver long-term cost assurance and thorough risk mitigation from project initiation up to contract award.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and oversee high-level project budgets, benchmark analyses, detailed cost plans, and cash flow projections from early conceptual phases to final design and tender.
• Manage the accurate development of Bills of Quantities and Pricing Pre-Tender Estimates using recognized measurement standards such as POMI, NRM, and CESMM.
• Drive internal value engineering initiatives and project optimization to ensure cost certainty while maximizing design benefits within the client's financial framework.
• Implement sophisticated cost escalation and indexing mechanisms within pre-contract budgets to safeguard against fluctuations in local material and labor markets.
• Create and maintain detailed commercial risk registers during design stages to identify, quantify, and address volatile market price risks before tender release.
• Respond to tender-related commercial queries concerning the BoQ and, where necessary, provide detailed tender reviews, bid analyses, and scoring models.
• Offer expert commercial and cost advice directly to clients and program directors, justifying allocations and defending cost-to-value decisions.
• Lead presentations to clients showcasing high-value cost plans, area statements, value engineering alternatives, risk assessments, Pricing Pre-Tender Estimates, and BoQs, explaining any deviations from budget or prior estimates.
• Mentor and lead a multidisciplinary team of Quantity Surveyors and Estimators across projects, managing resource distribution and workforce capacity regionally to meet company objectives.

Core Technical Competencies

• Extensive expertise in initial cost forecasting, price benchmarking, design package oversight, and advanced risk allocation frameworks.
• Strong proficiency in measurement standards such as POMI and NRM, complemented by hands-on experience with cost estimation software (e.g., CostX, Candy) and advanced MS Excel skills.
• Excellent command of technical English communication skills, both written and verbal, with an executive presence suited for managing senior client and stakeholder engagements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Civil Engineering, or a related construction discipline.
• Preferably holds a professional chartership from a recognized global institution such as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).
• Between 12 to 15 years of progressive experience in commercial or cost management roles within the construction, infrastructure, or project consultancy sectors.
• A minimum of 3 to 5 years working experience within the GCC region, ideally with in-depth knowledge of Saudi Arabian giga-projects and semi-governmental developer environments.

Additional Information

Candidates are requested to confirm the following details: Iqama status, notice period, current salary, expected salary, nationality, and MRICS membership status.