Commercial Manager

About the Role

Kent is looking for a highly experienced Senior Commercial Manager to take end-to-end commercial ownership of a newly awarded EPC project in Saudi Arabia. The position reports to the Project Director and functionally to the Commercial Director KSA. It requires a leader who can build strong commercial controls from the outset, manage contractual exposure, and guide a multidisciplinary team through the full project lifecycle.

The role is based in the Eastern Province, with regular travel for client meetings, project discussions, and site visits. The successful candidate must also be prepared to travel internationally at short notice and operate across multiple time zones, including periods of deployment in the UK when required.

Who Kent Is Looking For

The company seeks a commercially strong professional who is ambitious, adaptable, and comfortable working on large-scale energy projects. Kent values people who can contribute to a collaborative environment, work across cultures, and help drive performance while supporting an inclusive and diverse workplace. The organization also states that it is an equal opportunities employer and can provide reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities during recruitment.

Its guiding principles emphasize strong performance, emotional agility, broad thinking, and a focus on responsible energy delivery. The company also highlights its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging across many nationalities and geographies.

Systems and Commercial Procedures

• Create, roll out, and continuously improve commercial governance, contract administration systems, and related procedures that align with both Kent standards and project-specific client requirements.
• Build contract management structures, change control processes, claims logs, and reporting formats from the start of the project.
• Apply these controls consistently across all project disciplines, work packages, and operating locations.
• Spot inconsistencies between internal procedures and client expectations, then propose practical solutions for leadership approval.
• Keep clear, current commercial records to support entitlement, reduce disputes, and protect project interests.

Commercial Strategy and Contract Management

• Develop and secure approval for the project’s commercial and subcontracting strategy, including contract structures and risk-sharing approaches.
• Assess contract wording, commercial risk, and mitigation options, then advise the Project Director and senior leaders.
• Support decision-making by explaining the commercial impact of changes to scope, schedule, or execution methods.
• Lead the drafting and negotiation of subcontracts, consultant agreements, and supply contracts in line with procurement plans and governance rules.
• Track contract performance against milestones and key commercial indicators, and share regular updates with internal and client stakeholders.

Protecting Contractual Position

• Identify, calculate, and issue formal notices for all contractual rights such as variations, compensation events, time extensions, and loss and expense claims within required deadlines.
• Maintain a live entitlement tracker and ensure all notice periods and time-bar conditions are met.
• Prepare and defend claims and counterclaims, working closely with project controls, engineering, and legal teams where needed.
• Support dispute prevention and resolution by presenting well-supported commercial positions during negotiations and formal proceedings if necessary.
• Review and manage all commercial correspondence between Kent, the client, and the supply chain to ensure responses are timely and protect the company’s position.

Compliance and Governance

• Work in line with Kent’s governance framework, delegated authority rules, and ethics and compliance standards.
• Follow client procedures related to reporting, change control, and invoicing.
• Support audits by providing commercial records, explanations, and process details when requested.
• Keep up to date with Saudi regulatory expectations and in-Kingdom content requirements, and ensure commercial arrangements reflect them.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the main commercial contact for the client’s commercial and contracts team while maintaining a professional and constructive relationship.
• Coordinate closely with internal teams such as project leadership, engineering, project controls, procurement, commercial, finance, legal, and senior management.
• Prepare and present reports, risk registers, and strategic recommendations to leadership and, where needed, client representatives.
• Represent Kent in commercial meetings, negotiations, and workshops with the client, subcontractors, and other project parties.
• Manage subcontractor and supplier relationships from a commercial perspective to support fair and workable contract outcomes.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary commercial team made up of contract engineers and quantity surveyors.
• Support performance management, coaching, and professional development for direct reports.
• Define responsibilities and workload distribution so the team is covered across all project stages.
• Promote knowledge sharing and best-practice transfer across dispersed teams, including commercial awareness training for relevant staff.
• Help identify staffing needs and support recruitment as project requirements change.

General Expectations

• Follow project and company procedures at all times.
• Take part in HSSE reporting activities, including hazard observations, safety interventions, and HSSE inspections.
• Provide bid support when needed.
• Work cooperatively with the wider team and contribute to shared results.
• Be prepared to take on additional reasonable tasks assigned by management that fit the role and current workload.

Qualifications and Experience

A degree in Quantity Surveying, Law, Engineering, Business, or a related field is required. A postgraduate qualification or professional membership such as MRICS, MCIArb, or an equivalent credential is considered a strong advantage. Ongoing professional development in commercial, contracts, or project management disciplines is also expected.

The role calls for at least 15 years of progressive commercial management experience in the oil and gas sector, with a strong track record on major EPC projects. Candidates should have substantial experience in Saudi Arabia, a clear understanding of the local operating environment, Aramco experience, and familiarity with IKTVA requirements. Experience with large multi-disciplinary EPC contracts valued above USD 500 million is required, along with knowledge of FIDIC, NEC, or bespoke lump-sum and reimbursable EPC contract forms used in upstream and downstream oil and gas projects.

Core Skills and Competencies

The successful candidate should be able to interpret and enforce complex commercial contracts across every project phase, set up commercial systems on brownfield EPC projects, and manage major claims, variations, and compensation events. Strong analytical ability is needed to assess cost, risk, and schedule data and turn it into practical management advice. Proficiency with commercial management tools and advanced Excel is also important.

Leadership capability is essential, including the ability to manage dispersed teams across cultures and time zones, influence senior stakeholders, and communicate clearly in writing and verbally. The role also requires strong commercial judgement, personal integrity, attention to detail, and the confidence to make decisions under pressure.

Communication and Behaviour

Excellent spoken and written English is required. The company also expects a proactive attitude, a strong focus on detail, and a commitment to continuous learning.

Health, Safety, Sustainability, Environment and Quality

The employee must comply with all company, client, and host-country HSSEQ requirements and demonstrate exemplary HSSE behaviour at all times.

Additional Information

This opportunity involves working on a major energy-sector EPC project with international travel and cross-functional coordination. The company emphasizes inclusion, flexibility, and support for employees from different backgrounds.