Senior Director Commercial Residential

This is an opportunity to take on a senior commercial leadership role within a high-profile residential platform at a formative stage of growth. The scope is broad, the stakeholder exposure is high and the portfolio complexity is real. It will suit someone who wants to apply developer-side commercial leadership at scale, shape how the function operates and have genuine influence over outcomes across a major pipeline.

Qiddiya is building one of the most ambitious residential development portfolios in the region. We are looking for a Senior Director - Commercial to lead the commercial function across the Residential Business Unit.

This is a senior leadership role within the Development Management Office, focused on commercial oversight across a major portfolio of residential developments. The role requires a strong developer-side commercial leader who can operate at portfolio level while staying close enough to projects to challenge assumptions, improve outcomes and protect value.

The successful candidate will bring deep experience from leading regional developers, with the credibility to engage senior stakeholders, lead commercial teams and drive disciplined commercial decision-making across the portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the commercial function across a portfolio of residential developments, ensuring strong commercial control from early planning through procurement, award and delivery
• Set the commercial strategy for the portfolio, ensuring alignment with business objectives, delivery priorities, budget parameters and governance requirements
• Oversee the commercial performance of projects and major packages, ensuring robust forecasting, reporting, cost visibility and timely escalation of key issues
• Lead the structuring, negotiation and management of major contracts, consultant appointments and other key commercial arrangements
• Challenge commercial assumptions, budget positions, contract approaches and procurement strategies to improve value, reduce risk and strengthen delivery outcomes
• Work closely with project, procurement, finance, risk, governance and leadership teams to support joined-up decision-making across the portfolio
• Build, lead and develop a high-performing commercial team, while driving consistency in how commercial matters are managed across projects and stages

Requirements

• Significant senior commercial leadership experience within a major real estate developer, master developer or equivalent client-side development organisation
• Strong track record leading commercial strategy and oversight across large-scale residential, mixed-use or destination-scale developments in the Middle East
• Proven ability to operate at both portfolio and project level, balancing strategic leadership with strong commercial judgement on live project matters
• Deep understanding of procurement, contract strategy, cost management, commercial governance and risk across the development and delivery lifecycle
• Experience leading sizeable commercial teams and working across complex stakeholder environments with senior internal and external counterparts
• Credibility to challenge delivery teams, consultants and partners while maintaining alignment and momentum
• Strong commercial judgement, negotiation capability and ability to simplify complex issues for executive decision-making
• Backgrounds from leading regional developers are strongly preferred, particularly organisations such as Majid Al Futtaim, Meraas, Aldar and other comparable platforms
• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management or a related discipline
• MRICS or equivalent professional qualification is preferred