Overview:
A senior strategic role that provides enterprise-wide commercial leadership and governance for the development activities. The role focuses on setting direction, establishing control frameworks and exercising independent commercial oversight to safeguard value, manage risk and uphold governance standards across the portfolio. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior management, the role shapes commercial decision-making, strengthens organisational capability and ensures consistent, disciplined outcomes across projects, while avoiding involvement in routine day-to-day execution.
Key Responsibilities:
1) Leadership & Governance
- Lead the Cost & Contracts department, setting strategy, policies, SOPs and systems (e-tendering, document control, benchmarking).
- Lead tender and award team; ensure compliance with Delegation of Authority, governance, and audit requirements.
- Establish best practices in claims management, variation/change control, and dispute resolution.
2) Procurement & Tendering
- Define procurement strategies (packaging, tender models, contract forms) for all projects.
- Oversee full tender lifecycle: prequalification, RFP/ITT issuance, clarifications, bid evaluation, negotiation, award recommendations, and onboarding.
- Drive responsible procurement standards (ESG, safety, sustainability, local content).
3) Pre-Contract (Cost Planning & Controls)
- Own cost planning from feasibility to GMP/Contract Sum: elemental estimates, cash-flow forecasting, escalation indices, and contingency modelling.
- Ensure design-to-budget discipline through VE/VA exercises with consultants.
- Approve tender documentation (drawings, BoQs, specifications, contract conditions).
4) Post-Contract Administration
- Manage administration of SIA, REDAS, and bespoke forms of contract: progress payments, EOT/LD assessments, variation orders, interim/final accounts.
- Co-Lead Change Control progress, ensuring timely assessment, approval, and reporting of variations.
- Maintain robust audit trails and document control across all projects.
5) Risk Management & Reporting
- Maintain commercial cost risk register; implement mitigation and insurance strategies.
- Deliver monthly commercial dashboards on cost status, contingency utilisation, claims exposure, and settlement updates.
- Conduct stage-gate reviews (award, day-90, mid-project, pre-PC, final account).
6) People & Stakeholder Management
- Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team (QS, Contracts Managers, Document Controllers).
- Partner with Design, Project Management, Finance, Legal, and Operations teams to align cost strategies with programme and compliance requirements.
- Manage supplier/contractor performance reviews and long-term vendor relationships.
Job Requirements:
- At least a Degree in Quantity Surveying, Building, Construction Management, or related discipline.
- Minimum 15 years experience in cost & contracts/commercial management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role for large-scale Singapore developments (developer experience required).
- RICS, SISV, or equivalent preferred; training in contract/claims management advantageous.
- Mastery of cost & contracts lifecycle (feasibility, procurement, claims, final accounts).
- Strong commercial negotiation and procurement strategy skills.
- Advanced financial acumen and analytics.
- Effective stakeholder management at senior levels.
- High integrity, resilience, and ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
