Commercial Manager

About KEO Group

KEO Group is a pioneer in creative enterprises where innovation drives every endeavor. With comprehensive capabilities across planning, design, and project delivery for built and natural environments, KEO has contributed to globally iconic projects for over six decades. Recognition includes being listed among ENR's Top 225 International Design Firms and ranked as the largest architecture firm in the Middle East by World Architecture's 2024 survey.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to join our Project Management Consultancy team in Madinah, overseeing commercial management for a portfolio of luxury hospitality projects. This pivotal role demands expertise in cost planning, commercial governance, and contract administration throughout the project life cycle, primarily focused on prestigious 5-star hospitality developments within mega projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive cost management across multiple hotel projects, including infrastructure, utilities, public realm, FF&E, OS&E, and specialized packages.
• Monitor and align cost allocations with approved budgets and project objectives, ensuring congruence with scope, design progression, procurement strategies, and construction packaging.
• Review and validate cost estimates from consultants, contractors, and specialist advisors to identify risks, gaps, duplicate scopes, and value optimization opportunities.
• Maintain detailed cost control registers for each hotel, contract, and major work package ensuring adherence to luxury hospitality brand standards and operator requirements.
• Produce detailed financial reports, forecasts, cash flow projections, and cost-to-complete evaluations, monitoring expenditures against budgets and forecasts.
• Detect potential cost overruns and propose mitigation strategies; review monthly commercial reports and perform cost variance analyses to highlight risks and key financial indicators for senior leadership.
• Oversee contractor payment applications, evaluating pricing using market benchmarks, productivity analyses, subcontractor quotes, and site conditions, ensuring contractual compliance and negotiating fair commercial outcomes.
• Manage variation and change controls by assessing, negotiating, and validating contractor and consultant submissions; verify cost impacts from design, operator, authority, site instructions, and other changes.
• Review contractor claims including prolongation, disruption, acceleration, escalation, and productivity losses, collaborating with planning and contracts teams to assess contractual entitlements and provide sound dispute avoidance recommendations.
• Act as the principal commercial liaison among clients, PMC teams, contractors, consultants, and hotel operators, furnishing updates to senior executives and endorsing strategic commercial decisions.
• Champion best practice commercial governance and mentor junior commercial staff as needed.

Qualifications and Experience

• Approximately 18 to 20 years of relevant professional experience with a Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Cost Engineering, or a related field.
• Preferred MRICS or equivalent professional accreditation.
• At least 2 to 3 years working within an engineering consultancy or Project Management Consultancy context.
• Proven track record managing large-scale mega projects valued in the billions, particularly luxury hospitality and 5-star hotel developments.
• Strong familiarity with complex mixed-use projects, including infrastructure and enabling works.
• Prior experience in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or GCC region is highly desirable.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Arabic is advantageous but not required.

Culture and Benefits

Joining KEO means joining a supportive workplace that encourages professional growth through global mobility and career development initiatives. The company fosters well-being via counselling services, workplace health clinics, and community events like sports days and beach cleanups. Benefits include competitive remuneration, hybrid work arrangements, athletic and study sponsorships, and employee referral rewards.

Additional Information

KEO values integrity, innovation, safety, and diversity, promoting an inclusive culture that enhances client success worldwide. We treat all applications confidentially and welcome motivated professionals to join our award-winning team.