Commercial Director

OverviewKnight Frank’s Project & Development Services division is seeking an experienced Commercial Director to provide strategic commercial leadership across a large-scale PMO commission in Riyadh. The programme comprises a portfolio of high-profile tower developments and associated infrastructure, requiring a commercially astute leader capable of operating at executive level within a complex stakeholder environment.Reporting to the Head of P&DS, KSA, the Commercial Director will be responsible for the overall commercial governance, contractual management, financial performance and risk mitigation of the PMO agreement. The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to both Knight Frank leadership and the client, ensuring commercial excellence, robust contract administration and effective programme controls throughout the project lifecycle.This role requires a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience leading commercial functions on major developments, together with a strong understanding of PMO environments, consultancy services agreements and large-scale mixed-use or high-rise construction programmes.Key ResponsibilitiesCommercial Leadership & GovernanceProvide strategic commercial leadership across the PMO programme, ensuring commercial objectives are aligned with project and business goals.Act as the senior commercial authority for the programme, advising leadership on commercial strategy, risk exposure and contractual obligations.Develop and implement commercial governance frameworks, policies, procedures and controls to ensure consistency across all projects within the portfolio.Champion commercial best practice and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the PMO team.Establish and maintain the P&DS Commercial Framework and Commercial Golden Rules, incorporating lessons learned and industry best practice.Contract Management & AdministrationLead all aspects of contract administration, interpretation and compliance across the programme.Provide expert advice on contractual matters, including claims, disputes, change management and risk allocation.Ensure robust contract management procedures are implemented and adhered to across all project teams.Support negotiations with clients, consultants, contractors and suppliers to achieve commercially advantageous outcomes.Oversee the preparation, evaluation and negotiation of contractual correspondence, notices and commercial submissions.Claims, Risk & Dispute ResolutionIdentify, assess and mitigate commercial risks throughout the programme lifecycle.Lead the management of variations, claims and dispute avoidance strategies.Review and evaluate contractor and consultant claims, ensuring contractual compliance and commercial robustness.Prepare and support the negotiation of claims with clients and third parties where required.Develop proactive mitigation strategies to protect both client and Knight Frank commercial interests.Financial Management & PerformanceLead the preparation and management of annual budgets, forecasts and financial reporting requirements for the P&DS business and PMO programme.Monitor programme financial performance, revenue forecasts, profitability and cash flow.Work closely with the Head of P&DS, KSA to identify and implement mitigation measures where financial performance may be at risk.Ensure commercial reporting provides clear visibility of programme performance, risks and opportunities.Support investment planning and strategic decision-making through detailed financial analysis and forecasting.PMO Commercial ControlsDevelop and maintain integrated systems, trackers, dashboards and reporting tools to monitor commercial performance across the portfolio.Drive consistency in commercial reporting, forecasting and governance across all programme teams.Collaborate with programme leadership to ensure commercial considerations are embedded within decision-making processes.Support the evolution of programme reporting and performance management frameworks.Business Development & Strategic GrowthSupport business development activities by providing commercial input into bids, proposals and client presentations.Work with the wider leadership team to support pipeline management, revenue forecasting and strategic growth initiatives.Contribute to the development of new service offerings, commercial models and client solutions.Promote the Knight Frank brand through professional engagement, industry participation and thought leadership.Stakeholder ManagementBuild and maintain strong relationships with senior client stakeholders, programme leadership teams and key supply chain partners.Act as a trusted commercial advisor to the client and internal leadership teams.Provide executive-level reporting and presentations to senior stakeholders and governance boards.Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and commercial awareness across the programme.Leadership & Team DevelopmentLead, mentor and develop commercial teams across the PMO portfolio.Support recruitment, succession planning and capability development within the commercial function.Promote a high-performance culture aligned with Knight Frank’s values and behaviours.Ensure effective knowledge sharing and continuous professional development across the team.Skills & QualificationsBachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Engineering or a related discipline.MRICS, FRICS, MSc, LLM or equivalent professional qualification preferred.Minimum 20 years’ experience within the construction, infrastructure or engineering sectors.Demonstrable experience leading commercial functions on major PMO, programme management or large-scale development projects.Significant experience managing commercial operations for high-rise, mixed-use or large-scale urban developments.Extensive knowledge of contract administration, claims management and dispute resolution.Strong understanding of consultancy agreements, PMO delivery models and procurement strategies.Experience operating within Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region is highly desirable.Exceptional commercial acumen, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.Strong financial management, forecasting and reporting capability.Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; Arabic would be advantageous.Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and commercial reporting systems.