Commercial Compliance Lead - Emirati Talent

CNS is a technology company that powers the future by providing digital solutions essential to support all enterprise and human development. While growing and managing a robust pool of supplier-partners for the benefit of our clients has always been a priority, we are constantly re-inventing ourselves.
Founded in 1987 with more than 30 years of experience, CNS employs over 320 employees including more than 250 certified engineers. We offer in-depth expertise and a range of best-in-class products that support the digital transformation of all major industries. With offices in three countries, we have an extensive reach into, and regional knowledge of the Middle East markets.
A shift into levering our many years of experience to develop pioneering software in-house will add yet another dimension to our highly innovative solutions-portfolio.

The Commercial Compliance Lead will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of contracts and ensuring alignment with both commercial objectives and compliance requirements across all projects and operations. This role is critical at both the bidding stage and the execution stage—reviewing tender documentation, identifying risks, drafting/negotiating agreements, and managing ongoing contractual obligations with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and partners.

The successful candidate will combine expertise in contracts management, commercial compliance, and risk mitigation with the ability to engage effectively with internal teams, clients, suppliers, and regulators.

Job Responsibilities:

Contractual & Commercial Management

• Review tender documents, highlight key contractual risks, and raise queries to ensure compliance and minimize exposure.
• Manage contracts post-award, including monthly payment applications, variations, procurement, EOT (Extension of Time), and cost claims.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts (subcontract agreements, JV agreements, SaaS/cloud agreements, licensing, NDAs, government contracts, partnership agreements, etc.).
• Maintain a centralized contract repository with version control, audit trails, and clear governance processes.
• Track and manage contractual changes arising from RFIs, site instructions, approvals, and other project variations.
• Certify subcontractor applications, payments, EOT claims, and variations.

Risk, Compliance & Governance

• Proactively identify contractual risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with UAE Civil Code, DIFC regulations, GDPR, export controls, and other relevant laws and industry standards.
• Incorporate protective clauses related to liability, indemnity, data privacy, intellectual property, and dispute resolution.
• Develop and roll out contract templates, playbooks, and negotiation guides.
• Establish and continuously improve approval workflows and escalation protocols.
• Train internal teams (operations, commercial, and project teams) on contracting best practices, compliance awareness, and dispute management.

Commercial Support

• Work closely with commercial, procurement, finance, and project delivery teams to align contract terms with financial and operational objectives.
• Provide commercial and contractual insights during bidding, pre-sales, and vendor onboarding processes.
• Support resolution of disputes, claims, or amendments through negotiation or other dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Support budgeting and cost control by ensuring contracts are commercially sound.

Education:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Law, or a related discipline is required. A Master’s degree or LLM is preferred.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8+ years of experience in contracts management and compliance, preferably within the UAE. Candidates with 10+ years of experience will be given preference.
• Prior contracting experience in the technology or IT sector is highly desirable. Relevant certifications such as CIPS, IACCM, or equivalent are an added advantage

Skills & Abilities

• Strong commercial acumen with attention to detail.
• Excellent command of contract law, compliance standards, and risk management.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex agreements and resolve disputes.
• High integrity, professionalism, and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong communication, analytical, and leadership skills.

Compliance with policies and procedures based on the ISO standards adopted by CNS.