Local Content Expert

Role Overview

Local Content Expert at Applus+, based in Saudi Arabia. This role owns the local content agenda across legal entities and projects in scope, from tender-stage local content calculations and certification support through to annual entity audits and ongoing project performance monitoring.

Company Overview

The role sits under Operations, reporting directly to Commercial and functionally to Finance. It works 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.

Role Purpose

Establish, maintain and optimize local content compliance and performance across the organization. Coordinate certification audits, support bidding processes, monitor project performance, engage with regulatory authorities, and drive continuous improvement of local content processes, controls and reporting to ensure the group meets or exceeds LCGPA requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Local Content Certification & Audit

• Coordinate and support annual local content certification audits for entities in scope, acting as primary interface with approved LC certification bodies and external auditors.
• Perform and support contract-level LC audits, validating spend classification, supplier declarations and supporting evidence against LCGPA methodology.
• Prepare, review and maintain LC calculation files and workings behind each certificate, ensuring figures are auditable and reconcile to source financial ledgers and SAP.
• Assemble 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 and weighting implications and mandatory-list compliance.
• Review LC pricing and reporting submitted to local content authorities for accuracy and consistency.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Establish and maintain local content governance, reporting and review cadences in coordination with the O-PMO.
• Monitor 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 including score contribution, supplier localization, spend mix and cost impact.
• 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 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 client agencies.
• Keep LC files, assumptions and methodology current as regulations change and communicate impact internally.
• Stay abreast of latest LC laws, mechanisms and market developments, including sector programmes such as IKTVA, ensuring 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 such as role localization and sourcing changes that lift LC performance on live projects and maintain compliance with committed percentages.
• Work with Legal and Compliance to ensure 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 through facilitating workshops and training sessions for relevant departments.
• Lead supplier capability-building and knowledge-transfer initiatives where in scope.

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, including 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 dual or matrix reporting line to both Operations and Finance.

Additional Information

Advantageous Experience

• Big Four experience or background in an international or multinational environment.
• Exposure to LC certification audits from the auditor or certification-body side.
• Experience in construction or in testing, inspection and certification (TIC) and engineering services.