Contracts Manager

Job description

The Contracts Manager is responsible for the overall management and governance of a diverse portfolio of roads and infrastructure contracts. They will lead a team, providing strategic direction and ensuring contractual compliance and commercial protection. The role involves managing risks, supporting dispute resolution, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance performance and protect organizational interests. Project duration: 5 months • Lead the management of a large and diverse portfolio of roads and infrastructure contracts, ensuring strategic contract management leadership throughout the contract lifecycle. • Develop and implement contract management strategies, procedures, and governance frameworks, providing leadership, direction, and mentorship to contract management and administration teams. • Establish consistent contract management practices across all projects and contracts, driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance contractual and commercial performance. • Oversee all contract administration activities to ensure compliance with contractual and corporate governance requirements, managing contractual correspondence, notices, approvals, instructions, and records. • Monitor contractual obligations, key milestones, deliverables, securities, warranties, guarantees, and insurance requirements, ensuring contract records are maintained accurately and audit-ready. • Identify, assess, and manage contractual and commercial risks across the portfolio, providing strategic advice on contractual entitlements, liabilities, and obligations. • Lead the management of contract changes, variations, claims, compensation events, and extensions of time, supporting dispute avoidance and resolution initiatives. • Monitor contractor compliance with contractual obligations and performance requirements, leading performance reviews and contractual compliance assessments. • Act as the primary contractual point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, building and maintaining strong relationships with key project delivery teams and decision-makers. • Lead the review, assessment, negotiation, and administration of variations, claims, and contractual changes, ensuring fair and consistent assessment of contractual submissions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Law, or a related discipline.
• Professional membership with RICS, CIArb, ICE, CICES, or equivalent professional body preferred.
• Postgraduate qualification in Commercial Management, Construction Law, or Business Administration desirable.
• Minimum 15 years' experience in contract management, commercial management, or contract administration within major infrastructure or construction projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing large and complex contract portfolios, with proven leadership experience managing multidisciplinary commercial and contract management teams.
• Significant experience administering and managing FIDIC-based contracts, with a strong understanding of FIDIC contract forms and contract administration principles.
• Strong commercial acumen and risk management skills, with excellent negotiation and stakeholder management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple complex contracts simultaneously, with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong governance, audit, and compliance awareness.
• Proficiency in Oracle Unifier, SAP, Microsoft Office, and contract management systems.

Skills