Description
The Principal Engineer - Quantity Surveying is responsible for leading the delivery of quantity surveying and commercial management services for major Transport & Infrastructure projects across the Middle East.
The successful candidate will act as a subject matter expert in cost management, procurement, tendering, contract administration, and commercial risk management, supporting multidisciplinary project teams across transportation, water, maritime, structures, utilities, and major infrastructure sectors.
Responsibilities
Technical & Commercial Leadership
- Lead the preparation and review of cost plans, estimates, bills of quantities (BoQ), and tender documentation.
- Provide strategic commercial advice throughout the project lifecycle from feasibility through to construction and close-out.
- Develop lifecycle cost models and value engineering solutions to optimise project outcomes.
- Oversee cost control, cost reporting, change management, and forecasting processes.
- Advise project teams on contractual obligations, claims, variations, and dispute avoidance.
- Ensure compliance with client-specific commercial procedures and industry best practices.
Project Delivery
- Lead delivery of quantity surveying services for complex and high-value infrastructure projects.
- Manage multiple project assignments while maintaining quality, budget, and schedule commitments.
- Coordinate with multidisciplinary engineering and design teams to ensure commercial alignment.
- Review consultant and contractor submissions, valuations, and payment applications.
- Support project directors and project managers in commercial decision-making.
Procurement & Contract Management
- Develop procurement strategies and tender evaluation methodologies.
- Manage tendering processes including preparation of tender documents, bid evaluations, and recommendations.
- Administer contracts under FIDIC and other standard forms of contract.
- Identify and manage contractual and commercial risks.
Quality & Technical Governance
- Act as a technical reviewer for key commercial deliverables.
- Establish and maintain quantity surveying standards, templates, and best practices.
- Drive continuous improvement and innovation in commercial management processes.
- Ensure compliance with company quality management systems.
Client & Stakeholder Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with Middle East project teams and clients.
- Participate in client meetings, commercial workshops, and project reviews.
- Provide trusted commercial advice to internal and external stakeholders.
People Leadership
- Mentor and develop engineers, senior engineers, and graduate quantity surveyors.
- Support recruitment and capability development of the Commercial Management team.
- Conduct technical reviews and knowledge-sharing sessions.
- Contribute to succession planning and talent development initiatives.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Timely delivery of commercial outputs.
- Accuracy of estimates and cost plans.
- Reduction in commercial risks and claims exposure.
- Client satisfaction and repeat business.
- Successful delivery of project budgets and commercial targets.
- Team capability development and mentoring outcomes.
- Contribution to work-winning and business growth.
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline.
- 12-15+ years of relevant experience in quantity surveying and commercial management.
- Experience delivering major infrastructure, transportation, water, utilities, maritime, or multidisciplinary projects.
- Strong understanding of FIDIC contracts and international procurement practices.
- Advanced proficiency in cost estimating, cost planning, and commercial reporting.
Preferred
- MRICS (Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
- Chartered Quantity Surveyor or equivalent professional accreditation.
- Postgraduate qualification in Commercial Management, Construction Law, or Project Management.
Key Competencies
Technical
- Cost Planning & Estimating
- Commercial Management
- Contract Administration
- Procurement & Tendering
- Quantity Take-Offs
- Value Engineering
- Risk Management
- Change Control
- Claims Management
- Project Controls
Leadership
- Strategic Thinking
- Client Relationship Management
- Team Leadership & Mentoring
- Stakeholder Management
- Influencing & Negotiation
- Commercial Acumen
Digital Skills
- Advanced Excel
- Power BI
- CostX
- Primavera P6 / Microsoft Projects
- FIDIC contract administration tools
- Common Data Environments (ProjectWise, Aconex, BIM360, etc.)