Associate Director - Cost & Commercial

KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life. We are uniquely resourced with end-to-end services to take clients from inspiration through conceptualization to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments.

For over 60 years we have led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities.

As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms. We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 57th largest global architecture firm and the #1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2023 WA100 Survey.

We invite you to join us. Why?

When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job; you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company-wide health and well-being through on-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun-runs, in-house sports teams and beach clean-ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits, you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards, mentoring and coaching programs and extensive in-house on-demand learning courses.

Our newest opportunity is for an Associate Director, to join our award-winning team based in Dubai. The Associate Director will represent the firm in its dealings with all relevant parties, from pre-contract award throughout the entire course of the construction activities for medium to large-sized projects. We are looking for a dynamic individual with extensive experience in Pre-Contract Commercial & Cost Management on a range of large-scale and complex developments.

Responsibilities

Paramount to success within this varied role will include:

Pre-Contract Responsibilities

• Responsible for managing numerous pre-contract projects from pre-concept design stage through to Tender Award.
• QA/QC reviews of estimates / Bill of Quantities undertaken by Senior QSs and Associates to ensure accuracy / standard of delivery.
• Managing benchmarking and cost data management.
• Managing / supervising commercial tender evaluation process and reports.
• Managing / supervising value engineering / value Management activities and reports.
• Managing / supervising life cycle costing activities and reports.
• Undertaking client liaison / management activities.
• Providing formal supervision to individual employees within a single functional or operational area.
• Planning and monitoring appropriate staffing levels and utilization of labour.
• Mentoring and coaching team members to further develop competencies.
• Providing guidance and training to project staff on Commercial Issues.
• Engage in business development activities such as undertaking fee proposals and bid presentations.

Qualifications

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envisage that you will bring a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience. A Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying and will be chartered, MRICS or equivalent.

• Highly developed knowledge of statutory and commercial frameworks with the ability to analyse and interpret financial data, prepare and control budgets and manage contracts.
• Proven experience to effectively plan, lead, organise and optimise the performance of teams across multiple locations.
• Excellent communications skills across the board with the ability to write reports and presentations.
• The ability to make effective and persuasive presentations on complex topics to employees, clients, top management and/or public groups.
• Expert level analytical and quantitative skills with proven experience in developing strategic solutions with the ability to develop collaborative relationships across the firm, with clients and other key stakeholders, to achieve business results and improve client outcomes.
• In-depth knowledge of financial terms and principles with the ability to calculate complex figures and forecast and prepare budgets.
• Extensive GCC market knowledge especially with respect to UAE and KSA markets.

KEO’s performance is founded upon integrity, results, innovation, safety and our people. We embrace diversity and recognise its contribution to client success wherever we work.

We are excited to hear how you can partner with our award-winning team and treat all expressions of interest confidentially.