Civil Engineering & Construction
31 Jul
Contract & Claims Manager
Contract & Claims Manager About the role: The Contract & Claims Manager is responsible for establishing and leading the contract management function for major international infrastructure projects. The role ensures effective administration of the Main Contract and Subcontracts, protects the company's contractual and commercial interests, and provides strategic support to Project Management Teams throughout the project lifecycle. The successful candidate will have extensive experience in international infrastructure and Design-Build projects, with strong expertise in FIDIC Conditions of Contract, contract administration, claims management, variation orders, and contractual correspondence. Key Responsibilities 1. Contract Management: Establish and implement an effective Contract Management structure in collaboration with Project Management Teams and local contract administrators. Administer and manage the Main Contract and Subcontracts in accordance with FIDIC Conditions of Contract and project-specific contractual requirements. Coordinate the preparation, review, negotiation, and standardization of subcontract, supplier, and service provider agreements, including all contractual appendices. Draft, negotiate, and finalize Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Letters of Intent (LoIs), and other pre-contract agreements where early mobilization is required. Prepare comprehensive Main Contract and Subcontract Summaries, including executive summaries, notice requirements, deliverables, reporting obligations, field record requirements, penalties, and key contractual provisions, and communicate these requirements to project teams. Provide contractual advice and guidance to Project Managers, Site Teams, Procurement, Engineering, Planning, Commercial, and Management teams. Monitor compliance with contractual obligations by all parties and identify contractual risks and opportunities. 2. Claims & Variation Management Lead the preparation, submission, negotiation, and resolution of contractual claims, including Extension of Time (EOT), additional cost, disruption, and other entitlement claims. Ensure all contractual notices are issued within the prescribed contractual timeframes to preserve contractual rights. Maintain comprehensive contemporaneous records and supporting documentation required for successful claims management. Prepare, evaluate, negotiate, and manage Variation Orders (VOs), ensuring all changes are properly documented, valued, and contractually justified. Maintain a comprehensive register of claims, variations, notices, and contractual correspondence. 3. Contractual Correspondence & Risk Management Draft, review, and manage contractual letters, notices, and formal correspondence in accordance with contractual requirements. Identify contractual risks at an early stage and advise project management on appropriate mitigation strategies. Support dispute avoidance and dispute resolution by preparing contractual analyses and supporting documentation. Coordinate with external legal advisors and consultants to ensure effective utilization of specialist contractual and legal services. 4. Project Support & Coordination Hold regular contractual due diligence meetings with Project Managers and Site Teams. Monitor project progress and contractual performance across all project sections, ensuring contractual issues are proactively managed. Capture lessons learned and ensure contractual knowledge is shared across project teams. Participate in commercial and contractual meetings with clients, consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and other stakeholders. Prepare regular reports on contractual status, claims, variations, commercial risks, and contractual compliance. Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Highway Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Law, or a related discipline. Master's Degree or postgraduate qualification in Highway Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Construction Management, Contract Management, or a related field is an advantage. Professional certification in Contract Management or Claims Management is desirable. Experience Minimum 15 years of professional experience on major international infrastructure projects, including highways, motorways, bridges, railways, airports, water, or utility projects. Minimum 10 years of dedicated experience in contract management. Proven experience working on Design-Build (DB) projects. Extensive practical experience administering contracts under FIDIC Conditions of Contract. Demonstrated expertise in: Contract administration Claims management Extension of Time (EOT) claims Variation Order preparation and negotiation Contractual correspondence and notices Commercial risk management Dispute avoidance and resolution support Required Competencies Thorough knowledge of FIDIC contract conditions and international construction contracting practices. Strong understanding of construction claims, delay analysis, contract administration, and commercial management. Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills for contractual correspondence. Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities. Excellent command of written and spoken English. Ability to manage multiple contractual matters simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary and multicultural project teams. Results-oriented, proactive, and capable of working under pressure to meet project deadlines. Personal Attributes High level of integrity and professionalism. Strong leadership and decision-making abilities. Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills. Hardworking, proactive, and solution-oriented. Ability to work independently while supporting collaborative project delivery. GDPR Notice: By applying for this role, candidates implicitly consent to their personal data being processed by Antal, unless otherwise advised in writing.Please note that our career ads may use approximate salary levels as a guide. However, we are happy to consider applications from all candidates who can demonstrate the skills necessary to fulfill the role. We can only respond to the best-fit applicants within an average response time of a maximum of four weeks. The rest of the CVs are stored in our international talent pool for potential future matches. 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