Tendering Manager – OHTL & Underground Cable (UGC) Projects

Location: Saudi ArabiaIndustry: Power Transmission / EPCDepartment: Tendering / CommercialExperience: 10+ YearsEmployment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Tendering Manager – OHTL & Underground Cable (UGC) Projects to lead the preparation, coordination, and submission of competitive and technically compliant tenders for Overhead Transmission Lines (OHTL) and Underground Cable (UGC) projects in Saudi Arabia.The successful candidate will have strong experience in EPC power transmission projects, tender strategy, techno-commercial estimation, bid management, contract requirements, and coordination with engineering, procurement, construction, and commercial teams.The role requires a strong understanding of the Saudi power transmission market, including projects involving Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and other major utilities, developers, and EPC stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Tender ManagementLead the complete tendering process from tender receipt through final bid submission and clarification stages.
• Review ITT/RFP documents, specifications, drawings, BOQs, schedules, commercial conditions, and contractual requirements.
• Develop and manage the overall tender strategy, bid plan, schedule, and submission requirements.
• Establish tender priorities, deliverables, responsibilities, and deadlines for all involved departments.
• Ensure tenders are submitted accurately, competitively, and within the required deadline.
• Manage multiple tenders simultaneously while maintaining quality and commercial discipline.

• 2. Technical & Commercial Bid CoordinationCoordinate with engineering teams to develop technically compliant proposals for:
• High-voltage OHTL projects
• Underground transmission cable projects
• Substations and associated transmission works, where applicable
• Civil, structural, electrical, and installation scopes
• Coordinate with procurement and suppliers/subcontractors to obtain competitive quotations.
• Review technical offers, vendor quotations, exclusions, deviations, and compliance statements.
• Prepare and review BOQ, MTO, cost estimates, pricing summaries, and commercial evaluations.
• Ensure all direct and indirect costs are properly considered in the tender price.

• 3. Estimation & PricingLead the preparation of detailed EPC cost estimates and tender pricing.
• Analyze project quantities, construction methodology, resource requirements, productivity, equipment, manpower, materials, logistics, and subcontracting costs.
• Develop pricing for major OHTL and UGC components, including where applicable:
• Conductors and OPGW
• Towers and steel structures
• Foundations
• Insulators and fittings
• Earthing systems
• Cable systems and accessories
• Cable installation and jointing
• Cable trenching/duct banks
• Civil works
• Testing and commissioning
• Transportation and logistics
• Prepare cost comparison, price benchmarking, and commercial analysis.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization without compromising technical compliance or project requirements.

• 4. Contract & Commercial ReviewReview contractual terms and conditions, including:
• Scope of work
• Payment terms
• Liquidated damages
• Performance guarantees
• Retention
• Advance payment
• Bonds and guarantees
• Warranty requirements
• Delay provisions
• Variation/change mechanisms
• Insurance requirements
• Taxes and duties
• Identify commercial and contractual risks, qualifications, exclusions, and deviations.
• Prepare tender risk registers and recommend appropriate mitigation measures.
• Coordinate with legal and commercial teams on contractual clarifications and exceptions.

• 5. Client & Stakeholder CoordinationCoordinate with clients, consultants, utilities, EPC partners, and subcontractors during the tender stage.
• Manage technical and commercial clarifications, queries, and tender addenda.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings, site visits, clarification meetings, and negotiations.
• Support management during commercial negotiations and post-tender discussions.
• Maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, subcontractors, and industry partners.

• 6. Saudi Market & Utility RequirementsMaintain strong knowledge of the Saudi power transmission and EPC market.
• Demonstrate familiarity with SEC requirements, Saudi transmission projects, approved vendors, local content expectations, and applicable Saudi standards/specifications.
• Monitor market trends, competitor positioning, material prices, labor costs, and subcontractor rates.
• Develop and maintain a database of suppliers, subcontractors, and market rates relevant to OHTL and UGC projects.
• Support management in identifying upcoming transmission opportunities and developing bid strategies.

• 7. Bid Team LeadershipLead and coordinate multidisciplinary tender teams comprising:
• Estimation
• Engineering
• Procurement
• Construction
• Planning
• QA/QC
• HSE
• Finance
• Commercial/Contracts
• Assign responsibilities and ensure timely completion of tender deliverables.
• Review final technical and commercial submissions before management approval.
• Mentor and develop estimation/tendering engineers and commercial staff.

• Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Power Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in tendering, estimation, proposals, or commercial management within the power transmission / EPC industry.
• Proven experience with OHTL and/or Underground Cable (UGC) projects.
• Strong experience in preparing and managing EPC tenders and techno-commercial proposals.
• Experience in the Saudi Arabian power transmission market is highly preferred.
• Experience dealing with SEC or major Saudi utilities/EPC contractors is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of tendering, estimation, contract conditions, procurement, and project execution requirements.

• Technical & Professional SkillsStrong understanding of high-voltage transmission systems and EPC execution.
• Good knowledge of OHTL construction, including towers, foundations, conductors, OPGW, insulators, fittings, and associated works.
• Good knowledge of underground cable systems, installation, jointing, testing, trenching/ducting, and associated civil works.
• Strong cost estimation and pricing skills.
• Excellent understanding of BOQ/MTO analysis.
• Strong contractual and commercial awareness.
• Ability to analyze technical specifications, drawings, and tender documents.
• Strong negotiation and vendor/subcontractor management skills.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and decision-making abilities.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and MS Office; experience with ERP/tendering or estimation software is an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Arabic language skills are an advantage.

Preferred Experience

• Candidates with experience in the following will be particularly considered:132kV / 220kV / 380kV transmission projects
• OHTL EPC projects
• HV/EHV underground cable projects
• Transmission line construction and installation
• Cable trenching, duct banks, joint bays, and cable installation
• EPC/Turnkey transmission projects
• SEC projects and Saudi utility specifications
• Large-scale infrastructure and power transmission tenders
• International EPC contractors or major Saudi contractors

• Key CompetenciesTender & Bid Management
• EPC Cost Estimation
• OHTL & UGC Technical Knowledge
• Commercial & Contractual Acumen
• Risk Management
• Negotiation
• Leadership & Team Management
• Strategic Pricing
• Stakeholder Management
• Attention to Detail
• Time & Deadline Management

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)Tender submission accuracy and timeliness
• Tender win/conversion rate
• Pricing competitiveness
• Estimation accuracy
• Tender gross margin/target margin achievement
• Effective identification and mitigation of commercial risks
• Supplier/subcontractor quotation coverage and competitiveness
• Quality and completeness of technical/commercial submissions
• Successful management of post-tender clarifications and negotiations

Ideal CandidateThe ideal candidate is a senior tendering/proposals professional with 10+ years of experience in power transmission EPC, combining strong technical understanding of OHTL and UGC systems with excellent commercial, estimation, contractual, and negotiation skills.The candidate should be capable of independently leading complex, high-value tenders in the Saudi market and working effectively with engineering, procurement, construction, finance, commercial, suppliers, subcontractors, and senior management teams.

Candidates with proven Saudi Arabia experience in SEC-related transmission projects will be highly preferred.