Senior Cost Manager

Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

We are seeking an experienced Cost Manager / Senior Cost Manager to join our team and act as the client-side commercial lead across major development projects. The role is responsible for overseeing all commercial and cost-related matters from contract award through project close-out, ensuring robust commercial governance, cost control, risk management, and financial reporting.

The successful candidate will lead and manage external consultants, including cost consultants and commercial advisors, ensuring their deliverables are accurate, aligned with project objectives, and support effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

This is a strategic commercial leadership role focused on oversight, governance, due diligence, and commercial management rather than traditional quantity surveying activities.

• Act as the primary client-side commercial lead across assigned projects and contract packages.
• Establish and maintain commercial governance frameworks, processes, and reporting standards.
• Provide strategic commercial advice to senior management on cost, risk, contractual, and commercial matters.
• Ensure all commercial activities align with project objectives, budgets, and financial targets.

• Lead, manage, and oversee appointed consultants, including cost consultants and other commercial advisors.
• Review and validate cost reports, payment certifications, variation assessments, and final accounts prepared by consultants.
• Challenge assumptions, ensure consistency, and drive accuracy across all consultant deliverables.
• Monitor consultant performance against contractual obligations, KPIs, and reporting requirements.

• Monitor overall project cost performance against approved budgets and business plans.
• Review and consolidate cost forecasts, cash flow projections, and financial reports.
• Identify cost risks and opportunities and implement mitigation strategies.
• Maintain oversight of commitments, expenditures, and cost-to-complete forecasts.

• Support the administration and commercial management of FIDIC-based contracts.
• Oversee the application of contractual mechanisms, including:
• Variations and change control
• Payment certifications
• Claims and extensions of time
• Provide commercial input on contractual correspondence and key notices.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution strategies in coordination with project teams.

• Provide strategic oversight on the assessment and negotiation of variations and contractor claims.
• Ensure all changes are commercially justified, properly instructed, and formally documented.
• Review entitlement, quantum, and contractual compliance of claims.
• Lead complex or high-value commercial negotiations when required.
• Support commercial due diligence activities relating to design development, procurement strategies, and delivery methodologies.
• Assess cost implications of design changes, value engineering initiatives, and scope adjustments.
• Identify commercial risks across project packages and implement mitigation measures.
• Ensure alignment between project budgets, feasibility assumptions, and delivery costs.

• Prepare and present commercial reports to senior leadership.
• Provide clear insights into project financial performance, risks, opportunities, and forecasts.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders including development, design, finance, legal, and project management teams.
• Coordinate with consultants, contractors, and regulatory authorities as required.

• Oversee the agreement and settlement of final accounts prepared by cost consultants.
• Ensure the timely and efficient commercial close-out of all contracts.
• Capture lessons learned, benchmarking data, and cost intelligence to support future projects.

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• 8-15 years of relevant experience with a developer, client-side organization, consultancy, or contractor.
• Demonstrated experience in post-contract commercial management of large-scale residential, mixed-use, hospitality, infrastructure, or master-planned developments.
• Proven track record managing and overseeing external cost consultants.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC contracts and construction industry best practices.
• Experience managing claims, variations, and final account negotiations.
• Experience working within the UAE or GCC region is highly desirable.
• Strong commercial leadership and strategic thinking.
• Excellent understanding of commercial processes, contract administration, and risk management.
• Advanced analytical and financial management skills.
• Confident in challenging consultants and contractors constructively.
• Strong negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to balance…