Contracts & Commercial Director

About the Company

This role sits within a major mixed-use destination project in Qatar that combines leisure, retail, hospitality, residential, and entertainment elements across a substantial site in the greater Doha area. The development is positioned as a long-term strategic investment that supports the country’s tourism growth and economic diversification goals.

About the Role

An experienced Contracts & Commercial Director is needed to establish and lead the commercial and contracts function from the outset. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, this is the most senior commercial leadership position on the project. The post carries overall responsibility for contracts, procurement, cost control, and commercial governance across the full development lifecycle, covering design, construction, fit-out, retail leasing infrastructure, and operational commissioning. The successful appointee will create and guide a high-performing team, put strong contract controls in place, safeguard the project's financial position, and ensure commercial decisions support the master development strategy.

Responsibilities

• Set and manage contract strategy, administration, and execution across all project workstreams, including civil works, MEP, fit-out, retail, leisure, and hospitality packages.
• Direct the preparation, negotiation, and award of key contracts using FIDIC, NEC, and bespoke forms while protecting the project’s commercial position and balancing risk appropriately.
• Oversee the full claims process from early identification through review, negotiation, and settlement to reduce exposure and avoid disputes.
• Create and maintain a contract register, variation control process, and claims log with proper governance and complete audit records.
• Work with legal advisers on disputes, arbitration, and enforcement issues.
• Shape and implement the project’s commercial strategy together with the CEO and development board.
• Manage the project cost plan, budget, and forecast-to-complete reporting, ensuring leadership receives accurate and timely commercial updates.
• Lead value engineering efforts while preserving design quality and operational performance.
• Drive procurement planning, including packaging, market engagement, tendering, evaluation, and contract award for consultants, contractors, and specialist suppliers.
• Put in place commercial governance structures such as delegated authority, approval routes, and commercial risk logs.
• Benchmark contract pricing against market levels and comparable regional developments.
• Provide commercial input on retail leasing structures, anchor tenant arrangements, and fit-out contribution models.
• Advise on commercial terms for real estate sales, land disposal, and development management agreements.
• Support negotiations for food and beverage, hospitality, and entertainment operator agreements from a commercial and contracts perspective.
• Hire, develop, and mentor a multi-disciplinary commercial team including quantity surveyors, contracts managers, and commercial analysts.
• Promote a strong, ethical, and collaborative performance culture across the project.
• Serve as a trusted commercial advisor to the CEO and executive team.
• Represent the project with government bodies, master developers, and regulators on commercial matters as needed.

Requirements

• At least 15 years of progressive experience in contracts and commercial management, including a minimum of 5 years in a director-level role.
• Background in large-scale retail, real estate, or mixed-use destination projects with a total contract value of QAR 500 million or more.
• Strong command of FIDIC contract suites, particularly Red, Yellow, and Silver Books, and/or NEC forms.
• Proven ability to manage claims, prevent disputes, and resolve commercial conflicts effectively.
• Experience in building and leading commercial teams within a project delivery setting.
• A degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Engineering, Law, or a closely related field.
• MRICS, FRICS, or a similar professional qualification is highly preferred.
• Previous involvement in major GCC destination, leisure, or entertainment developments such as Lusail City, Place Vendôme Qatar, Diriyah Gate, NEOM, Yas Island, or Expo City is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of Qatar’s regulatory, procurement, and legal environment is desirable.
• Experience with retail leasing commercial models and operator agreements in hospitality or entertainment is advantageous.
• Arabic language skills are beneficial but not required.
• A master’s degree in a relevant discipline is preferred.

Eligibility

Professionals with deep commercial and contracts leadership experience in major development programmes, especially those involving retail, real estate, mixed-use, leisure, hospitality, or entertainment assets, are suitable for this opportunity.

Additional Information

This is a senior full-time onsite role based in Doha, Qatar. No salary, start date, deadline, or number of openings has been specified.