Job Overview
We are looking for an experienced Commercial Manager to support real estate development and asset development projects in Dubai, UAE. The role is responsible for managing the complete commercial lifecycle of assigned projects, from early-stage feasibility and cost planning through procurement, tendering, contract administration, change management, and final account settlement.
The Commercial Manager will work closely with development, design, project management, finance, procurement, consultants, and contractors to maintain strong commercial control and deliver value-for-money solutions while protecting the company’s financial and commercial interests.
This position is ideal for professionals with experience in real estate development, construction commercial management, quantity surveying, procurement, and contract management.
Key Responsibilities
Pre-Contract Commercial Management
- Prepare feasibility-stage cost estimates, preliminary budgets, and cost plans for real estate development projects.
- Review and challenge cost estimates, budgets, and cost plans prepared by external consultants.
- Develop project cost benchmarks using market intelligence, historical project data, and industry information.
- Provide commercial advice during concept, design, and development stages.
- Identify potential cost risks, savings opportunities, and budget implications.
- Lead value engineering exercises to identify cost-effective design, specification, procurement, and construction solutions.
- Develop project-specific procurement strategies, including contract packaging, procurement routes, tender sequencing, and market engagement.
- Provide commercial input for business cases, investment decisions, and project stage-gate approvals.
Procurement and Tender Management
- Lead the procurement of professional consultancy services, including design, project management, cost consultancy, supervision, and specialist advisory services.
- Manage the tendering process for construction, infrastructure, fit-out, enabling works, and specialist packages.
- Prepare tender documentation, commercial schedules, pricing requirements, bid instructions, and evaluation criteria.
- Review and commercially evaluate contractor and consultant bids.
- Conduct bid normalization, clarification meetings, commercial negotiations, and tender assessments.
- Prepare tender evaluation reports, award recommendations, approval papers, and contract documentation.
- Ensure procurement activities are competitive, transparent, properly documented, and compliant with company governance requirements.
- Improve procurement workflows, templates, tender planning, and accountability.
- Monitor procurement schedules and proactively resolve issues that could affect project delivery milestones.
Post-Contract Commercial Management
- Maintain effective commercial and contractual control throughout project execution.
- Review interim payment applications and support timely payment certification and processing.
- Monitor project budgets, commitments, expenditure, forecasts, contingencies, and projected final costs.
- Manage variations and change control from initial assessment through approval and incorporation into project forecasts.
- Review contractual notices, extension-of-time claims, prolongation costs, disruption claims, and other commercial submissions.
- Assess contractor and consultant claims and develop appropriate negotiation strategies.
- Lead final account negotiations and ensure timely commercial close-out of contracts.
- Maintain accurate commercial records to support audits, governance reviews, and dispute avoidance.
Commercial Reporting and Governance
- Prepare executive-level commercial reports, approval memoranda, and management recommendations.
- Produce monthly reports covering project budgets, commitments, forecasts, changes, claims, procurement progress, risks, and opportunities.
- Prepare and maintain project cash-flow forecasts and funding projections.
- Present commercial performance and recommendations to senior management and key project stakeholders.
- Identify significant commercial risks and recommend practical mitigation measures.
- Ensure all commercial information is accurate, traceable, and suitable for senior-level decision-making.
Required Skills
Successful candidates should demonstrate:
- Strong cost estimation, cost planning, and benchmarking capabilities.
- Extensive knowledge of procurement strategy and tender management.
- Strong understanding of construction contracts and commercial administration.
- Experience managing variations, claims, and change control.
- Excellent financial analysis and commercial reporting skills.
- Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.
- Excellent report-writing and presentation skills.
- Strong understanding of real estate development and construction commercial practices.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline.
- MRICS qualification is preferred; equivalent internationally recognized professional qualifications may also be considered.
- Significant experience in commercial management or quantity surveying within real estate development or construction.
- Proven experience in pre-contract estimating, procurement, tender evaluation, and post-contract commercial management.
- Experience managing consultant appointments and construction tenders from market engagement through contract award.
- Experience working on high-end residential developments, private developments, luxury hotels, or major mixed-use projects is highly desirable.
- Previous experience with a property developer, major cost consultancy, or leading construction contractor is advantageous.
- Strong analytical, commercial, negotiation, and communication skills.
About Al-Futtaim Real Estate
Al-Futtaim Real Estate, part of the Al-Futtaim Group, has more than six decades of experience in real estate development and asset management. The business develops and manages large-scale communities and assets across the MENA region, with a diversified portfolio spanning residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, healthcare, infrastructure, and education.
Its flagship developments include Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City. Al-Futtaim Real Estate also operates Al-Futtaim Contracting, an integrated construction, engineering, technology, and facilities management business with operations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt.
Job Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job Category: Commercial Management / Real Estate / Asset Development