Senior Director - Commercial (Development Accounting)

Lead the commercial strategy, governance, and performance of major development, construction, infrastructure, or real estate programs to ensure value optimization, cost control, and commercial risk management.

Provide executive leadership for commercial planning, procurement strategy, contract management, claims management, and financial performance across the project portfolio.

Drive commercial excellence and support the successful delivery of projects through effective stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and commercial decision-making.

Section III: KEY RESPONSIBILITIES/ ACCOUNTABILITIES

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the commercial strategy for major programs, projects, and portfolios.
• Oversee commercial governance, cost management, procurement strategy, contract administration, and financial controls.
• Provide executive oversight of pre-contract and post-contract commercial activities across the project lifecycle.
• Lead commercial evaluations, business cases, procurement approaches, and contract award recommendations.
• Manage high-value commercial negotiations with contractors, consultants, suppliers, and strategic partners.
• Oversee contract performance, change management, claims management, dispute resolution, and commercial risk mitigation activities.
• Monitor project financial performance, forecasts, budgets, commitments, and cost reporting.
• Collaborate with Development, Project Delivery, Finance, Procurement, Legal, and Executive Leadership teams to support project objectives.
• Ensure compliance with commercial policies, governance frameworks, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead value engineering, cost optimization, and commercial improvement initiatives.
• Provide commercial insights and recommendations to executive leadership and governance committees.
• Build and lead high-performing commercial teams, driving capability development and continuous improvement.

Section IV: KEY INTERACTIONS

Key Internal Interactions

• Executive Leadership Team
• Development Teams
• Project Delivery Teams
• Finance and Development Finance
• Procurement
• Legal
• Risk Management
• Project Controls

Key External Interactions

• Contractors
• Consultants
• Suppliers
• Investors
• Government Authorities
• Regulatory Bodies
• External Advisors

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred.

Professional Certifications

• MRICS, FRICS, CCM, PMP, MBA, or equivalent professional certification preferred.

Skills

• Commercial management
• Contract management
• Cost management and control
• Procurement strategy
• Claims and dispute management
• Financial and commercial analysis
• Risk management
• Negotiation and influencing
• Strategic planning
• Executive leadership and stakeholder management

Experience

Years of Experience

• 15+ years of progressive experience in commercial management, quantity surveying, construction, infrastructure, real estate development, or related disciplines.

Nature of Experience

• Leading commercial functions on large-scale construction, infrastructure, mixed-use, hospitality, entertainment, or mega-development projects.
• Managing complex contracts, commercial negotiations, claims, and dispute resolution activities.
• Providing executive oversight of commercial governance and financial performance.
• Leading multidisciplinary commercial teams and engaging with executive stakeholders.
• Delivering cost optimization and value enhancement initiatives across major project portfolios.