Operations Manager – Projects
Fractal Consulting FZE
Total years of experience :24 years, 0 Months
Leading the functions of Contract & Commercial Management, Cost Management, and Tendering/Estimation on running projects with responsibilities including:
(1) Pre-Contract Review and Formulation of Contract Documents (Defining Scope, Drafting Particular Conditions, Performing Risk Assessment, Negotiating Terms/Conditions, etc.)
(2) Management of Interim/Final Payments and Changes/Variation Orders including capturing/confirming change Instructions, and determining/agreeing the cost/value/time impact of changes.
(3) Management of Claims/Dispute Resolution through Prevention, Mitigation, Notification, Claims Preparation (including liasion with Planning Teams for EOT and determining Financial Damages) and administering Arbitration.
(4) Setting Commercial Processes/Procedures and Managing Work Suspension/Contract Termination situations.
(5) Administering Contractual Correspondence and ensuring compliance/validity of Bonds, Guarantees and Insurance Documents and the fulfilment of contract obligations in terms of Notices, Actions, and Deliverables.
(6) Cost Reporting including the determination of cost-to-complete, estimates at completion, and associated variances
(7) Development/Forecasting of Cash Flow profiles based on updated programmes of work and updating the Finance Management teams on required Bank Drawdowns and necessary funding amounts/periods
(8) Preparation of Cost Plans (Direct/Indirect Cost Estimates) through proper Identification of Work Packages, Quantity Take-Off, Unit Rates Breakdowns, Analysis of Received Quotations, and Risk/Contingency allowance.
(9) Management of Tenders for appointing Contractors/Subcontractors including Scope of Work Definition, preparation of tender documents, issuing addenda, attending to tenderers' queries, evaluating offers, managing Value Engineering exercises, leading Pre-Contract Negotiations, and preparation of Agreements.
Worked as the Head for Estimation/Quantum & Commercial Services on the Client side for the Five Star Kempinski Palm Jumeirah Hotel & Residence Project with a Total Value Exceeding AED 800 Million. Responsibilities include:
1) - Procurement Management of major Work Packages including Scope Definition, Vendors Invitation to Tender, Evaluation, Pre-Contract Negotiation, and Finalization of Agreements.
2) - Management of Contractors/Suppliers Accounts from the Preparation of Requisitions, Monitoring, Valuation, and Authorisation of Contract Payments, through to Agreement of Final Accounts.
3) - Cost Management of the project including Cost Planning, Value Engineering, Cost Reporting, Cost Control, Change Management, Claims Administration, and Contract Close-Out.
4) - Providing Assistance, Support and Guidance on miscellaneous Commercial Issues on the project and Establishing all necessary Commercial Processes and Procedures.
5) - Liaising with the Finance Department for preparation of Bank Drawdown Reports, Cash Flow Profiles, Management of Guarantees/Bonds, and Reconciliation of Vendors' Accounts.
Working as the Cost Control Manager of the firm’s Holding responsible for the full program run by the subsidiary business units of UAE, KSA, Jordan, and Algeria for a total contracts value exceeding 10 Billion AED and spanning a wide range of project natures from High-Rise Residential, Commercial, and Recreational Facilities, to Research Centers, Hospitals, etc. Responsibilities include:
1) - Implementing an Earned-Value-Management Standardized Cost Control System including the definition of the stakeholders’ Roles and Responsibilities, setting out the necessary Operational Work Procedures, and ensuring Proper System Operation.
2) - Designing and Managing the development and implementation of a tailored Web-Based Cost Control Application (SQL Database/ASP.Net) required to serve/act as the backbone of the Cost Control System.
3) - Conducting a Commercial Assessment of already-progressed projects and taking remedial actions for detected variances/potential risks through enforcing control tools for productivity, material consumption, balance time to complete, etc.
4) - Providing Feedback to the Estimation and Procurement Departments based on the outcomes of the System Operation/Commercial Assessment in order to enhance future tenders’ costing and optimize profitability.
5) - Fostering a Cost Control environment and Ensuring Awareness among Project Teams through conducting seminars, providing literature, etc.
Worked as a Commercial Manager / Projects Control with a full suite of pre-contract and post-contract responsibilities for High-Rise Residential/Commercial Towers and Hotel/Resort Complexes with a full scope of work and contracts value exceeding 1 Billion AED. Activities included:
Commercial Management:
1) - Providing advice and assistance for the determination and submission of monthly Interim Payment Applications and the preparation / agreement of Interim Valuations and Final Accounts of subcontractors.
2) - Management of the tracking, preparation, submission, and negotiation of Variation Applications and Claims including the determination of Prolongation/Acceleration Costs, Loss of Productivity, etc.
3) - Management of the monthly update of the firm’s Financial Position through forecasting and determination of the program’s Profit & Loss and associated Risk Assessment.
4) - Updating the Finance Management team on projected Cash Flow profiles.
Projects Control Management:
1) - Cost Control: Establishing, Maintaining, and Leading a Functional Cost Control System for the projects based on well-defined procedures and Stakeholders’ Roles/Responsibilities for Data Collection, Earned Value Analysis, Cost-To-Complete Forecasting, and Effective Reporting for Recommended Corrective Action, and proper Feedback to Estimation.
2) - Time Control: Guiding/Managing the Planning Engineers, in collaboration with the Project Management Team, in Preparing the Project Plan/Baseline Time Schedule, Identifying the Required Resources, Collecting Field Data, Monitoring/Reporting Progress, Detecting Potential Delays, and Suggesting Remedial Actions/Recovery Plans as necessary.
Acting Estimation Manager:
Worked as Acting Estimation Manager prior to Commercial/Projects Control responsible for Managing the Preparation, Review, and Verification of Cost Estimates (Direct/Indirect) to ensure proper Identification of Project Requirements, Quantity Take-Off, Unit Rates Breakdowns, Analysis of Received Quotations, clarification of Assumptions/Exclusions, and Timely Tenders Submission/Follow-up.
Worked as Commercial Manager (carrying out Quantity Surveying applications till project completion and Procuring Projects to the company). Activities included:
- Preparation/Management of Quantity Take-Offs
- Preparation of Monthly Valuation of Subcontractors/Suppliers based on Completed Scope
- Checking Cost Against Work Completed and Preparation of Monthly Cost Report
- Tracking Variations to Scope of Work during Project Construction
- Preparing & Finalizing Subcontracts
- Controlling Labour / Material On Site Against Budget
- Reviewing Proposed Client Contract Documents / Conducting Commercial Risk Assessment
- Receiving Client’s Inquiry & Project Requirements
- Request for Suppliers’ Quotations
- Preparation & Presentation of Tenders & Proposals
- Follow-up & Client Negotiation
- Revision of Scope of Work & Pricing - Budgetary/Detailed
- Preparation of Contract Documents
Worked as Quantity Surveyor / Planning Engineer for the Renovation Project of Wadi Abou Jmeel Area - Infrastructure & Hardscape. Activities included:
- Establishing Databases for Quantity & Information Requests
- Preparation of Interim Payment Applications
- Substantiation of Variations to Scope
- Checking Billed Quantities Against Consultant Certification
- Preparation of Claims for Extension of time
- Preparation of Baseline/Updated Programs of Work
- Progress Update of Programs based on Actual Construction Status
- Establishing Work Breakdown Structures
- Checking Planned Against Actual Cash Flow Diagrams
- Preparation of Progress Reports for Time & Cost Implications
Worked as a Graduate Assistant for the Engineering Management Program. Activities included:
- Research in Web-Based Construction Project Management
- Course Instructor for the courses Computer Literacy I and II
Worked as a Lieutenant-Engineer for the Marine Forces. Activities included:
- On-site Erection of Ship-Maintenance Support Structures
- Command and Management of 30-men team.
Worked as a Trainee on the Project of Development and Rehabilitation of Beirut International Airport. Activities included:
- Final Shop Drawings Inspection
- On-Site Checkup and Investigation for Reinforcement Layout
- Structural Design of Beams, Columns, Retaining Walls, Waffle Slabs
Thesis: Web-Based Construction Project Management - Billing and Certification