Head of Procurement, Commercial and Contracts - Real Estate Developer

Overview

Lead procurement, commercial and contracts for luxury real estate projects

Key Responsibilities

• procurement
• contract management
• cost control
• vendor management
• value engineering
• risk mitigation

Tasks

The Head of Procurement, Commercial and Contracts will lead and manage all procurement, commercial, and contractual functions across the company’s prestigious real estate portfolio, which includes luxury residential, hospitality, and mixed-use developments. This role is a key member of the leadership team, responsible for ensuring that all projects are delivered with commercial excellence, contractual integrity, and value optimization, in line with the company’s high design and quality standards. -Ensure transparency, compliance, and alignment with corporate policies and sustainability goals. -Report to senior management on commercial performance, risks, and opportunities. -Draft, review, and negotiate contracts to safeguard company interests. -Develop and manage contracting strategies (consultancy agreements, construction contracts, design & build, FIDIC, bespoke). -Lead and mentor teams across procurement, commercial, and contracts functions. -Manage the approved vendor database and continuously evaluate supplier performance. -Oversee value engineering exercises to maintain quality while optimizing costs. -Lead all commercial planning, budgeting, and cost control activities across development projects. -Support cross-functional collaboration between development, design, finance, and project management teams. -Develop and implement a strategic procurement framework that supports the company’s luxury project pipeline. -Ensure accurate cost forecasting, reporting, and cash flow management. -Collaborate closely with legal counsel to ensure all contractual documentation meets local and international standards. -Oversee end-to-end procurement processes for consultants, contractors, and suppliers — from tendering to award. -Build and maintain strong relationships with top-tier consultants, contractors, and suppliers in the region and internationally. -Establish and enforce best practices, governance frameworks, and process efficiencies. -Oversee contract compliance, claims management, and dispute resolution. -Provide commercial input for feasibility studies, development appraisals, and investment decisions. -Identify and mitigate commercial risks throughout project lifecycles.

Requirements

• bachelor's
• rics
• leadership
• fidic
• 15+ yrs
• luxury

What You Bring

-Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management, or Business Administration. -Professional certifications (RICS, MRICS, MCIPS, PMP, or equivalent) preferred. -Strong knowledge of FIDIC and regional contract law. -Minimum 15+ years of experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within a real estate developer -Proven track record managing high-end, luxury, or hospitality projects. -Strategic thinker with strong financial acumen and attention to detail.

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About Big Fish Consult

-Born in the UAE, spun off from a broader group to focus on recruitment in MENA and Asia. -Carved a niche by placing professionals in construction, engineering, facilities management, property, and support-services roles. -Uses a lean team of experts to match top talent with sector-specific mandates, guided by deep regional expertise. -Undertakes projects ranging from sourcing engineers for major infrastructure builds to staffing entire FM teams for large property portfolios. -Operates on WordPress, backed by Outlook and Google Cloud, enabling agile placement tracking. -Earned a reputation for combining sector insight with precise recruitment, emphasizing the human edge in technical fields.

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