Local Content Expert

Own the local content agenda across the legal entities and projects in scope — from tender-stage local content (LC) calculations and certification support through to annual entity LC audits and ongoing project performance monitoring. The role sits under Operations, reporting directly to Commercial and functionally to Finance, and works and hand-in-glove with Procurement, Legal, O-PMO and HR to protect and maximize the group’s local content score in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the requirements of the LCGPA.

Key responsibilities

Local content certification & audit

• Coordinate and support the annual local content certification audits for the entities in scope, acting as the primary interface with the approved LC certification bodies / external auditors.

• Perform and support contract-level LC audits - validating spend classification, supplier declarations and supporting evidence against the LCGPA methodology.

• Prepare, review and maintain the LC calculation files and workings behind each certificate, ensuring figures are auditable and reconcile to source (SAP / finance ledgers).

• Takes ownership of assembling the documentation and evidence for LC certificates at company and project level.

Bid / tender support

• Prepare local content calculations and projections for tenders and new project bids.

• Provide LC certificate and end-to-end process support through the bidding lifecycle, including price-preference / weighting implications and mandatory-list compliance.

• Review the LC pricing and reporting submitted to local content authorities for accuracy and consistency.

Performance monitoring & reporting

• Establish and maintain the local content governance, reporting and review cadences, coordination with the O-PMO.

• Monitor the LC performance of ongoing projects against committed percentages, identifying risks and deviations early and escalating issues requiring management attention.

• Track and analyse key LC metrics (score contribution, supplier localization, spend mix, cost impact) and maintain dashboards and KPIs giving management visibility of LC performance across entities and projects.

• Prepare regular LC reports for senior management, the O-PMO and regulatory bodies on progress and achievements.

• Maintain action logs and track improvement initiatives through to timely closure and accountability.

• Drive the standardization and continuous improvement of LC processes, controls, templates and reporting.

Regulatory & authority liaison

• Act as point of contact with the local content authority (LCGPA) and its representatives within the client agencies the in-scope companies work for.

• Keep the LC files, assumptions and methodology current as regulations change, and communicate the impact internally.

• Stay abreast of the latest LC laws, mechanisms and market developments (including sector programmes such as iktva where relevant); ensure the group is proactive in meeting or exceeding requirements.

Procurement, supplier & cross-functional collaboration

• Work with Procurement to identify, assess and onboard local suppliers that meet required standards and improve the LC mix.

• Partner with HR and Procurement to propose solutions (role localisation, sourcing changes) that lift LC performance on live projects and keep them compliant with committed percentages.

• Work with Legal and Compliance so that sourcing and contractual activity meets LC requirements.

Stakeholder management & internal enablement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with departments, industry bodies and government agencies to foster partnerships.

• Drive internal awareness of local content - facilitating workshops and training sessions for the relevant departments.

• Where in scope, lead supplier capability-building and knowledge-transfer initiatives.

Required qualifications & experience

• Saudi national.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Engineering or a related field.

• 5–8 years’ experience in local content, audit, compliance or a related analytical finance function within KSA.

• Strong working knowledge of the full local content compliance landscape - LCGPA regulations, LC certification methodology and score calculation, mandatory lists, and price-preference mechanisms.

• Advanced MS Excel and broader MS Office skills.

• Fluent in Arabic and English, written and spoken.

• Technically minded and comfortable with data and calculation-heavy work.

• Proven stakeholder-management skills spanning finance, operations and external authorities.

• Able to operate effectively under a dual / matrix reporting line to both Operations and Finance.

Advantageous

• Big4 experience, or a background in an international / multinational environment.

• Exposure to LC certification audits from the auditor / certification-body side.

• Experience in construction, or in testing, inspection & certification (TIC) / engineering services.