Commercial Director - Commercial Contracts & Claims (Dangote Construction & Heavy Industries)

JOB SUMMARY

The Commercial Director – Commercial Contracts & Claims is the senior commercial authority responsible for the commercial governance of all construction, EPC, subcontracting, claims, variations, payment certification, contract risk management, dispute avoidance, and final account strategy across the Construction & Heavy Industries portfolio in Lagos.

The role provides executive leadership and oversight for all commercial and contractual matters throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring the protection of the Company's commercial interests while maximizing entitlement recovery, minimizing contractual risk, strengthening governance controls, and improving project profitability.

The incumbent will establish robust commercial frameworks, oversee complex claims and dispute matters, lead high-value commercial negotiations, and provide strategic commercial guidance to executive management across major construction, infrastructure, industrial, and heavy industry projects.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish and oversee commercial governance frameworks, policies, procedures, approval processes, and controls across all Construction & Heavy Industries projects.
• Lead the commercial management and administration of construction, EPC, EPCM, LSTK, subcontracting, and other contract forms, ensuring compliance and protection of the Company's contractual interests.
• Manage all claims, variations, change orders, extensions of time (EOT), final accounts, and commercial recoveries while maintaining a centralized claims and commercial risk register.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate commercial and contractual risks, ensuring effective change control, entitlement management, and prevention of unauthorized commitments or scope creep.
• Lead high-level commercial negotiations, final account settlements, and dispute avoidance initiatives, while supporting adjudication, mediation, and arbitration processes where required.
• Oversee commercial controls, including cost-to-complete forecasts, cash flow, change management, earned value performance, commercial exposure, and risk reporting.
• Prepare and present monthly executive-level reports to the CEO/MD on commercial performance, claims status, recovery opportunities, cash flow, contractual risks, and dispute matters.
• Develop and mentor commercial teams, strengthen local capability, and promote best practices in commercial management, contracts administration, and claims management across the business.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Commercial Management, Law, or a related discipline. Professional certifications such as MRICS, RICS, MCIArb, FCIArb, AACE, MBA, or equivalent are highly preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in major construction, EPC, infrastructure, industrial, or heavy industry projects, with at least 8–10 years in senior commercial leadership roles such as Commercial Director, Contracts Director, Claims Director, or Head of Commercial.
• Proven experience managing large-scale projects or portfolios valued between USD 500 million and USD 3 billion+.
• Strong expertise in FIDIC (Red, Yellow, and Silver Book), EPC, EPCM, LSTK, remeasurement, cost-plus, framework agreements, subcontracting, bonds, guarantees, insurance, and payment security mechanisms.
• Demonstrated experience in claims and dispute management, including EOT, variations, disruption, acceleration, prolongation, back-charges, liquidated damages defense, final accounts, dispute avoidance, adjudication, and arbitration support.
• Strong knowledge of commercial controls, including cost-to-complete forecasting, change control, cash flow management, earned value analysis, commercial risk management, and executive reporting.
• Excellent commercial acumen, negotiation, leadership, stakeholder management, risk management, and communication skills, with fluency in written and spoken English.
• Demonstrated track record of achieving commercial recoveries, negotiating settlements, resolving disputes, and successfully closing final accounts on major projects.