Director - Commercial

Job Requisition ID: 165409

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the worlds most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Groups entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview of the role The role is responsible for overseeing the Commercial Management Services Department, ensuring the successful delivery of a defined program of works for a mixed-use development. This involves managing project timelines and budgets in alignment with Group Policies, optimizing the efficient utilization of investment funds for asset creation, development, and seamless handover to end users.

What you will do

• Commercial Management Services: Oversee and provide commercial management support for an Al Futtaim Group Real Estate (AFGRE) program of works (CFC).
• Leadership & Team Direction: Manage and direct the Programme Commercial Manager and Portfolio Commercial Managers to ensure effective commercial advisory services to the AFGRE team.
• Procurement Strategy: Develop and implement procurement strategies for projects and consultancy services, ensuring alignment with time, quality, and cost requirements of the development plan.
• Claims & Disputes Management: Oversee the resolution of claims and disputes, leveraging both internal and external resources based on complexity, claim size, and available expertise, while ensuring compliance with contractual terms and timelines.
• Commercial Advisory: Provide strategic commercial advice to Design Management and Development Divisions to mitigate risks, achieve best value, and maximize investment returns.
• Contract Management: Manage the development, maintenance, and updates of Standard Form Contracts, ensuring alignment with Group Legal and adherence to risk allocation policies.
• Oversee the preparation of project-specific contract documentation.
• Cost & Budget Reporting: Lead the monthly production and review of cost and budget reports in collaboration with Portfolio Managers, identifying risks and ensuring active cost management.
• Supervise pre- and post-contract Quantity Surveying Services, including cost estimating, monthly accounts, budget forecasting, claims analysis, and final account settlements.
• Insurance & Risk Management: Monitor and maintain comprehensive development-wide insurance policies for construction works, including Professional Indemnity, Contractors All Risk, Third Party, and other contractual insurance requirements.
• Governance & Compliance: Develop and maintain internal approval processes in accordance with Group Policies and Delegation of Authority.
• Manage the Delegation of Authority, ensuring clarity and compliance across all commercial operations.
• Administrative Oversight: Provide leadership and direction to the Commercial Management Services Administration Team to ensure smooth commercial operations.
• Cost Management Services: Guide the Cost Management Services Team in tracking and managing payments, contract approvals, and budget approvals.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Establish and maintain interfaces with the Project Planning Services Team to ensure alignment between commercial and planning functions.

Required Skills to be successful

• Minimum 20+ years of experience in senior position in commercial role (Contractors, Clients, Consultants, Developers) in real estate development or construction sectors.
• Excellent leadership and management skills.
• Self-motivated with high organizational and communication skills.

What equips you for the role

• Professional qualification (MRICS, MCIOB), Bachelors Degree in Construction Economics or Quantity Surveying or equivalent.

About Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate The real estate development and operations arm of Al-Futtaim, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate is responsible for a multi-billion-dollar portfolio across MENA. With high-quality residential, business, retail, tourism, educational and healthcare developments, the master developer caters to the diverse needs of cities and communities in the region. From origination, conception, development, sales, procurement and construction of mega-projects and the leasing, operation and management of these projects after completion, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate (AFGRE) has been developing and managing owned landbanks, unlocking the economic potential of the region and contributing to future development for more than 40 years. Our focus is to enable and invest in meaningful relationships to make our properties the best places to live and work, build additional products and services and enable partnerships to create true value to our customers throughout their entire experience with us. AFGRE is responsible for master planning of all projects in its portfolio, including two large scale mixed use destinations: Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City.