Overview
Senior Manager – Commercial Contracts (6 months) Jobs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates at Hays
Title: Senior Manager – Commercial Contracts (6 months)
Company: Hays
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Role Purpose
The Senior Manager – Strategic Commercial Contracts will play a critical role in overseeing, managing, and optimizing high-value and complex strategic commercial contracts. The role ensures all contracts are aligned with the organization’s commercial objectives, governance standards, and risk management framework, while delivering long-term value.
This position requires deep expertise in contract strategy, negotiation, lifecycle management, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong understanding of the airport business environment, local laws, and regulatory frameworks.
Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities
1. Contract Strategy & Management (40%)
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve strategic contract management frameworks, policies, and procedures.
- Manage the full lifecycle of strategic commercial contracts, including drafting, negotiation, execution, renewals, amendments, variations, and terminations.
- Lead and support negotiations for high-value and complex commercial agreements, including but not limited to:
- Fuel Concession Agreements
- Ground Handling Agreements
- Strategic Partnerships and Commercial Concessions
- Manage and oversee strategic contracts with a cumulative value exceeding AED 600 million.
- Ensure all contracts are compliant with company policies, regulatory requirements, governance standards, and risk management guidelines.
- Support the Commercial Contracts team during commercial tendering processes, including preparation of RFPs, ITTs, contract conditions, commercial schedules, and evaluation documentation.
2. Stakeholder Management (20%)
- Partner with senior leadership, legal, finance, operations, procurement, and commercial teams to understand business needs and objectives.
- Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders on contractual obligations, commercial risks, and negotiation strategies.
- Serve as the primary liaison with external commercial partners, ensuring collaborative and effective contract relationships.
- Influence outcomes by providing clear, well-reasoned contractual advice that balances commercial opportunity with risk mitigation.
3. Risk Management & Compliance (20%)
- Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with strategic commercial contracts.
- Conduct regular contract performance reviews, audits, and compliance checks.
- Ensure adherence to local laws, regulatory requirements, and governance frameworks relevant to the airport and aviation-related commercial environment.
- Develop mitigation strategies and contractual safeguards to minimize financial, operational, and reputational risk.
4. Performance Monitoring & Issue Resolution (10%)
- Monitor contract KPIs, service levels, and financial deliverables to ensure contractual compliance by all parties.
- Address, escalate, and resolve contractual issues, disputes, and performance gaps in a timely and commercially pragmatic manner.
- Support continuous improvement by identifying lessons learned and opportunities to enhance contract structures and performance.
5. Leadership & Continuous Improvement (10%)
- Provide guidance and mentoring to commercial contracts team members.
- Promote best practices in contract management, negotiation, and governance.
- Encourage innovative thinking (“outside the box”) to respond to evolving business demands and market conditions.
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
Essential Experience
- Significant experience in strategic commercial contracts management, preferably within airports, aviation, infrastructure, or large-scale regulated environments.
- Proven expertise in contract negotiation, drafting, review, and administration of complex, high-value agreements.
- Strong background in commercial tendering, governance, and compliance.
- Experience managing contracts valued at hundreds of millions of AED.
Knowledge & Competencies
- Strong understanding of the airport business ecosystem, including concession-based and partnership models.
- In-depth knowledge of local laws, regulations, and governance frameworks applicable in the UAE.
- Exceptional analytical, commercial, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to balance commercial opportunity with risk management.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Law, Business, Commercial Management, Finance, or a related discipline.
- Professional certifications in Contract Management, Commercial Law, or Project Management (e.g., IACCM/WorldCC, PMP) are an advantage.
