The Contracts Manager is responsible for overseeing all contractual aspects of projects and operations, ensuring that contracts are negotiated, administered, and managed effectively to mitigate risk and maximize value. This role leads the contracts team, provides strategic advice on contractual matters, manages claims and disputes, and ensures compliance with legal and company requirements throughout the contract lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
Contract Strategy & Negotiation
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve contract management strategies aligned with the company's commercial and operational objectives.
- Lead and participate in contract negotiations with clients, consultants, subcontractors, and suppliers to achieve commercially favorable terms while managing risk exposure.
- Advise management and project teams on contractual implications, risk allocation, and commercial strategies.
- Draft, review, and approve contractual documents, including main contracts, subcontracts, consultancy agreements, contract variations, addendums, and amendments.
- Ensure contract terms are clear, enforceable, and aligned with project scope, pricing, timelines, and risk profiles.
Contract Administration & Compliance
- Oversee the administration of contracts from award to close-out, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and timelines.
- Monitor contract performance, deliverables, milestones, and payment terms.
- Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and company policies.
- Support project teams in contract interpretation, issue resolution, and correspondence with external parties.
- Maintain a robust contract management system and documentation controls.
Claims, Variations & Disputes Management
- Manage and coordinate all contract variations, including evaluation, negotiation, documentation, and approval processes.
- Lead the preparation, assessment, and negotiation of Extension of Time (EOT) claims, cost claims and Loss and Expense claims.
- Identify potential disputes early and implement strategies to prevent escalation.
- Liaise with legal advisors, consultants, and senior stakeholders on dispute resolution matters, including mediation, adjudication, arbitration, or litigation where required.
- Prepare detailed reports, position papers, and recommendations on claims and disputes for management decision-making.
Team Leadership & Coordination
- Lead, mentor, and develop the contracts team to ensure high standards of performance, professionalism, and compliance.
- Allocate workloads, set priorities, and provide guidance to ensure timely and accurate contract administration.
- Coordinate contract-related activities across projects, departments, and functions such as project management, finance, procurement, and legal.
- Foster effective communication and collaboration between internal stakeholders and external parties, including clients and subcontractors.
Risk Management & Reporting
- Proactively identify contractual, commercial, and legal risks throughout the project lifecycle.
- Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies in collaboration with project and management teams.
- Provide regular and ad-hoc contract status reports to senior management, highlighting key risks and issues, claims and variations status, commercial exposure and compliance matters.
- Ensure accurate record-keeping, audit trails, and documentation of all contract-related activities.
