Job Description

Position Title: Commercial Operations Manager MEA

Location: Dubai, UAE
Department: Commercial
Reporting To: Chief Commercial Officer

ABOUT NEP

NEP is the leading worldwide technical production partner supporting premier content producers across live sports, entertainment, music, and corporate events. With innovation at our core, we empower our clients to create exceptional experiences through cutting-edge broadcast and media solutions.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

The Commercial Operations Manager is a newly created role acting as the bridge between commercial and operational teams across NEP Middle East & Asia. From bid go/no-go through contracting, handover, and project closure, the role drives rigour, governance, and cross-functional alignment across the commercial lifecycle.

Key priorities include strengthening bid process discipline (including Salesforce adoption, reporting, and improved proposal documentation), supporting sales pipeline development, and coordinating material opportunities across Commercial, Delivery, Legal, and Finance to ensure competitive and compliant outcomes. The role also supports Most Valuable Customer (MVC) management through market intelligence, executive briefings, and strategic meeting preparation.

POSITION KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND JOB TASKS

Commercial Governance

• Own and continuously improve Salesforce and associated commercial tools, ensuring data integrity, process compliance, reporting accuracy, and consistent adoption across the sales team.
• Maintain oversight of the sales pipeline, proactively challenging opportunity qualification, probability, margin assumptions, and timelines to ensure realistic forecasting and disciplined progression.
• Monitor performance against individual and group sales targets, providing visibility, insight, and constructive challenge to drive accountability, focus, and target attainment.
• Embed discipline in pricing governance, ensuring margin protection, risk assessment, and strategic alignment on key bids and renewals, with appropriate review and approval controls in place.

Proposal Development & Contracting

• Lead and coordinate complex RFP responses, ensuring resources are aligned, deadlines are met, and proposals reflect both client and NEP strategic requirements.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration, consolidating inputs from technical management, equipment planning, engineering, legal, finance, logistics, and other stakeholders to prepare complete and compliant proposals.
• Review tender documentation and perform detailed commercial and risk assessments
• Oversee the full Internal Approval (IA) process for MEA from opportunity through contract
• Lead the internal Bid Review process, delivering tailored Bid Summaries, Cashflow projections, and Risk Registers for each opportunity.
• Support the Regional Chief Commercial Officer and Sales team in client conversations where required.
• Provide expert guidance on regional and global bidding processes to enhance proposal quality and competitiveness.

Project Handover and Client Engagement

• Transition project and contractual information to internal teams, ensuring clarity of scope, deliverables, and expectations.
• Participate in internal alignment sessions to confirm project requirements and ensure smooth operational handover.
• Maintain proactive involvement during project execution to monitor compliance with contractual terms, flag risks, and provide early warnings where necessary

Performance Analysis and Reporting

• Collaborate with Finance on the project closure process by analyzing performance against expectations – from both financial and operational lenses.
• Use insight learned from project closure process to enable periodic reviews, with clear recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Maintain comprehensive records of deviations, risks, and lessons learned to inform future bids and proposals.

QUALIFICATIONS / PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION / OTHER INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Media, Finance, Law or related field.

• 7+ years of experience in commercial or contract management roles within media, broadcasting, live events, or large-scale projects.
• Proven track record managing contracts for high-value, complex projects across MEA.
• Strong knowledge of contract law in the Middle East, particularly UAE and KSA.
• Familiarity with FIDIC contract structures.
• Hands-on experience with regional and global bidding processes.
• Strong regional network and understanding of local market dynamics.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen with proven expertise in contract review and bidding process.
• Excellent presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective client relationships and collaborate across functions and cultures.
• Arabic speaker with full professional proficiency in English.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret KPIs and performance data to support informed decision-making.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, managing multiple priorities and tight deadlines.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Willingness to travel across the MEA region as needed.