Contracts/Commercial manager supporting water, roads, and utilities projects across the Middle East

Ensures robust commercial strategy and contractual compliance. Leads contract administration, procurement, cost control, and management of variations and claims while safeguarding client interests across the project lifecycle. Provides commercial guidance, risk management, and dispute resolution support, ensuring projects are delivered in line with contractual, financial, and performance objectives.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensure that the requirements of the contract documents are implemented and maintained throughout the contract period.
• Assist in the review of contractual notices of claims and provide contractual advice to the engineering team in their administration of the construction contract.
• Interact with client representatives, project management and supervision consultants, and relevant contractors in respect of all contractual matters.
• Review all contract documents to ensure congruity and to minimize patent and latent ambiguities.
• Implement, update, and communicate the risk register pertaining to all ongoing commercial and contract matters with the client team and consultants.
• Manage commercial risks by advising the client of potential claims, rough order of magnitude, and necessary actions towards claim avoidance and dispute resolution.
• Assist with administration of ongoing contracts, including monitoring contractor and commission compliance with the contract documents.
• Prepare correspondence and maintain records necessary to ensure the effective administration of all contractual matters.
• Facilitate the preparation of contract changes and prepare the relevant variation orders.
• Responsible for the change management process, including initiating all credit change orders whenever applicable.
• Facilitate contract close-out procedures to ensure all terms and conditions of contracts have been complied with prior to final payment to the contractor.
• Ensure that all contractual procedures are implemented and maintained.
• Assist in the review of contractor’s claims in accordance with the provisions of the conditions of contract and ensure the client’s interests are protected.
• Ensure all warranties, bonds, insurances, guarantees, etc., are in place, maintained, and updated in accordance with the contract and comply with the client’s requirements.
• Contract closeout: document items to be completed, amounts to be withheld for final completion, and review taking over the certificate.
• Responsible for the preparation and maintenance of engineer’s instructions, variation orders, and claim logs.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly progress reports.
• Assist on all contractual and commercial matters.
• Validate the consultants’ and contractor’s interim and final payment applications from a commercial perspective, including any variation from the GMP figures (rates, contractor compliance of payment rules as per the contract, retentions, back-charges, fees, taxes, etc.).
• Assist the estimation and project control teams regarding contractual implications of change orders.
• Organize, chair, and record commercial meetings and minutes of meetings.
• Ensure compliance with relevant quality, environmental, safety, and occupational health policies, manuals, and procedures in place within the company.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the line manager or client department head.

Qualifications and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, quantity surveying, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 20 years’ experience with strong international exposure.
• Preferably a chartered member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).
• Strong background and understanding of FIDIC forms of contract, particularly design and build.
• Knowledgeable in all contractual and legal matters relevant to the industry, including claim management.
• Excellent leadership and organizational skills.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English; Arabic language skills are desirable.
• Experience working internationally, preferably in the GCC region.

About the company:

The company provides program management, project management, construction management, project management oversight, advisory, facilities management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. It is recognized as one of the largest program management firms worldwide. The company is exclusively focused on program, project, and construction management, dedicating its efforts to protecting client interests and helping clients achieve their desired outcomes. The company is part of a global infrastructure solutions group and is an equal opportunity employer.

Note: This job description is intended to provide an indication of the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other essential functions to be carried out as part of fulfilling the role. Various other duties may be required.