Mission
The Project Commercial Manager is responsible for the overall commercial management of the project(s) throughout the pre-contract and post-contract phases, ensuring that all commercial, quantity surveying and cost management services are delivered in accordance with the Contract, recognised international best practice and the Employer's requirements.
The role provides strategic commercial leadership to the Project Director and acts as the commercial lead in all dealings with the Employer, the Contractor and other stakeholders. The Project Commercial Manager is responsible for cost planning, cost estimating, Bills of Quantities, procurement, tendering, contract administration, measurement, valuations, variations, claims, commercial reporting and final account settlement under the FIDIC Red Book and Yellow Book Conditions of Contract.
Line and Staff Relations
This role reports directly to the Project Director and manages the project commercial and quantity surveying team. The Project Commercial Manager maintains working relationships with:
- The Employer and its authorised representatives.
- The Contractor, subcontractors and suppliers.
- The Project Director and project management team.
- Design, procurement, construction, project controls and finance teams.
- External advisers, authorities and other stakeholders necessary for the performance of the role.
Key Responsibilities
Pre-Contract Cost Management and Estimating
- Lead the preparation, review and quality assurance of Bills of Quantities in accordance with the applicable Method of Measurement.
- Prepare, review and validate order of cost estimates, elemental cost plans and detailed construction cost estimates throughout all project lifecycle stages.
- Prepare detailed first-principles cost estimates and rate build-ups.
- Review quantities, measurements and pricing documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Undertake quantity take-offs from design documentation.
- Prepare benchmark cost analyses and value engineering studies.
- Ensure that the design remains within the approved project budget.
- Perform IFT-to-IFC commercial reconciliations.
Procurement and Tendering
- Prepare the commercial sections of tender documentation.
- Prepare procurement cost estimates and tender pricing documentation.
- Review and evaluate tender submissions.
- Prepare commercial tender evaluation reports and recommendations.
- Advise on procurement strategy, contract packaging and commercial risk allocation.
- Identify and manage commercial risks during the procurement phase.
Post-Contract Commercial and Contract Administration
- Administer the commercial provisions of the FIDIC Red Book and Yellow Book Conditions of Contract.
- Measure completed Works in accordance with the Contract.
- Review and assess the Contractor's Statements and applications for Interim Payment Certificates.
- Prepare commercial recommendations in respect of Interim Payment Certificates.
- Assess the commercial implications of Engineer's Instructions.
- Measure and value Variations.
- Review and prepare new rates and prices where required under the Contract.
- Assess Contractor claims for additional payment and advise on contractual entitlement and quantum.
- Assess the commercial aspects of Extension of Time and quantum claims.
- Assist in the preparation of contractual determinations under the Contract.
- Review and value Daywork records.
- Administer Provisional Sums and adjustments to the Contract Price.
- Monitor the Contract Price against the approved budget and forecast final cost.
- Prepare monthly commercial reports, cost reports and cash flow forecasts.
- Maintain the Variation/change register and complete commercial records.
- Monitor commercial risks and recommend mitigation measures.
- Lead commercial negotiations with the Contractor.
- Prepare, negotiate and agree the Final Account.
- Support the resolution of commercial and contractual disputes, including preparation of commercial submissions for dispute resolution proceedings where required.
- Lead weekly commercial meetings with the Employer and the Contractor.
Commercial Leadership and Governance
- Establish and implement project commercial management procedures.
- Manage and supervise the commercial and quantity surveying team.
- Review and approve commercial deliverables.
- Monitor project budgets, commitments and expenditure.
- Manage project cash flow forecasts.
- Prepare commercial dashboards and Key Performance Indicators.
- Advise the Project Director on commercial strategy and project financial performance.
- Manage interfaces between design, procurement, construction and commercial disciplines.
- Ensure compliance with the Contract, project procedures and commercial governance requirements.
- Promote the effective use of digital commercial management systems, cost databases, BIM-based quantity extraction, ERP platforms, reporting dashboards and approved AI-assisted productivity tools, where applicable.
Profile Specifications - Minimum Requirements
Education and Professional Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Economics or an equivalent discipline from a recognised university.
- Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).
- Additional professional qualifications in commercial management, procurement, contract administration, claims or dispute resolution are advantageous.
Professional Experience
- Minimum fifteen (15) years' post-graduation experience in quantity surveying or commercial management.
- Minimum three (3) years' experience on major airport projects, including terminal buildings, maintenance facilities, hangars, airside infrastructure or other aviation-related projects.
- Demonstrable experience on major building and infrastructure projects with a construction value exceeding USD 500 million.
- Extensive experience in administering the commercial provisions of FIDIC Red Book and Yellow Book contracts.
- Proven experience in cost planning, procurement, tender evaluation, contract administration, claims assessment and final account settlement.
Technical and Personal Competencies
- Strong knowledge of recognised international methods of measurement, quantity surveying practice and first-principles estimating.
- Advanced capability in cost planning, cost control, forecasting, commercial reporting and value engineering.
- Strong contractual, claims assessment, negotiation and dispute avoidance capabilities.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant cost management, project controls, ERP, reporting and digital quantity take-off tools.
- Ability to use approved AI-assisted tools responsibly to support commercial analysis, document review, benchmarking and reporting, with appropriate validation and confidentiality controls.
- Strong leadership, team management, stakeholder management and commercial judgement.
- Excellent written and spoken communication skills in the English language.
- Ability to operate effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural project environments.
