Overview
A competitive tender starts with a clear understanding of what the contractor is being asked to deliver.
Cabo Norte welcomes experienced Tender Managers for potential opportunities with general contractors delivering civil works, infrastructure and marine construction projects in the United Arab Emirates.
The purpose of this role is to lead the preparation of technically credible, commercially sound tenders. You bring estimating, engineering, planning, procurement and operational teams together around a submission the business can stand behind.
Depending on the contractor, the scope may include transport infrastructure, major civil structures, utilities, coastal developments or marine works.
The principal challenge is maintaining control of scope, cost and risk while several teams develop the offer against a fixed submission deadline.
Key Responsibilities
- Review tender documents and establish the scope, submission requirements, evaluation criteria and contractual obligations.
- Develop the tender programme, assign responsibilities and manage internal review milestones.
- Coordinate estimating, engineering, planning, procurement and construction input.
- Identify missing information, scope inconsistencies and technical interfaces requiring clarification.
- Organise site visits and coordinate clarification requests with the client or consultant.
- Challenge quantities, productivity assumptions, construction methods, temporary works and delivery schedules.
- Coordinate subcontractor and supplier enquiries, ensuring quotations cover comparable scopes.
- Work with commercial and legal specialists to identify contractual exposure and develop appropriate qualifications.
- Consolidate the technical and commercial submission for management review and approval.
- Support post-submission clarifications, negotiations and revisions.
- Provide a structured handover to the delivery team when a contract is awarded.
Business And Technical Challenges
- Developing a reliable offer from incomplete or evolving design information.
- Comparing subcontractor proposals with different assumptions, exclusions and interfaces.
- Establishing realistic productivity and programme assumptions for constrained sites.
- Accounting for temporary works, access, logistics, ground conditions and construction sequencing.
- Assessing marine equipment, specialist resources and weather exposure where relevant.
- Balancing price competitiveness with contractual exposure and delivery requirements.
- Keeping tender commitments consistent across the estimate, programme, methodology and commercial offer.
Required Experience
- Demonstrated experience managing tenders within a general contractor or a comparable construction business.
- A background in civil works, infrastructure construction or marine projects.
- Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams through a complete tender process.
- Working knowledge of estimating, quantity take-offs, construction planning and subcontract procurement.
- Ability to interrogate technical proposals and identify their cost and programme implications.
- Understanding of construction contracts, commercial qualifications and risk allocation.
- Experience presenting tender assumptions and recommendations to senior management.
- Professional English communication and writing skills.
Preferred Experience
- UAE or wider GCC tendering experience.
- Exposure to design-and-build or other integrated delivery arrangements.
- Experience with major infrastructure procurement and formal prequalification processes.
- Familiarity with FIDIC-based contracts and their practical commercial implications.
- Experience evaluating alternative designs, construction methods or value engineering proposals.
- An engineering, construction management or quantity surveying qualification.
- Experience handing awarded tenders over to project delivery teams.
Leadership Profile
- Creates a clear structure for the tender team and follows through on agreed responsibilities.
- Challenges assumptions constructively, using evidence and input from delivery specialists.
- Makes uncertainties visible before they become commercial commitments.
- Maintains composure when information changes close to submission.
- Knows which decisions require management approval.
- Takes accountability for the consistency and completeness of the final offer.
Expected Outcomes
- Complete submissions delivered within the required deadlines.
- Estimates supported by traceable quantities, quotations and delivery assumptions.
- Clear visibility of exclusions, qualifications, opportunities and material risks.
- Better coordination between technical proposals, construction programmes and pricing.
- Management decisions based on a transparent understanding of the offer.
- A practical handover that enables the project team to understand what was priced and committed.
Location And Eligibility
- Target location: United Arab Emirates.
- Sector scope: Civil works, infrastructure or marine construction, depending on the opportunity.
- Employer environment: General contractors.
- Required language: Professional English.
- Travel: May include site visits, client meetings and supplier discussions; requirements depend on the role.
- Employment terms and work authorisation: To be confirmed for each specific opportunity.
How To Apply
Cabo Norte receives relevant candidatures throughout the year. Submit your CV with a brief overview of the tenders you have managed, the construction sectors involved and your responsibilities within the tender team.
Please indicate your current location, availability and interest in UAE-based opportunities.
This listing supports ongoing candidate discussions and does not represent a currently confirmed client vacancy. Any specific employer, assignment and employment terms will be discussed with you before proceeding. Your profile will only be presented to an employer with your agreement.
About Cabo Norte
Cabo Norte is an executive search business focused on leadership and senior appointments across energy, water, marine, port, digital and industrial infrastructure.
Our focus spans the infrastructure lifecycle: strategy, engineering, project delivery, operations and asset optimisation. We look at the responsibilities candidates have held, the complexity they have managed and the outcomes they have delivered.