Contracts Manager (Post Contract)

Role Overview:

RLB is seeking a highly capable and proactive Contracts Manager to support the commercial delivery of a major project (Post Contract). The role is responsible ensuring the effective implementation of contractual obligations, protection of the client's commercial interests, and successful delivery of contractual and commercial outcomes.

Acting as a trusted advisor, the Contract Manager provides strategic contractual guidance throughout project execution, managing variations, claims, Extension of Time (EOT) requests, commercial risks, dispute resolution, and contract close-out activities. The role requires strong client-facing capabilities and the ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and project teams.

The successful candidate will demonstrate initiative, accountability, and urgency, with the ability to independently drive commercial activities through to completion.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Procurement

   1. Collaborate with the Procurement team to manage the tender process from invitation through to tender clarification and submission

   2. Evaluate technical and commercial tender submissions and prepare tender evaluation reports

   3. Manage the tender evaluation of future contracts through to contract award

   4. Coordinate contract execution and contract deliverables following award.

2. Contract Administration

   1. Administer and manage contracts throughout the project lifecycle from contract award to final account.

   2. Interpret contract provisions and advise clients project delivery team on contractual rights, obligations, risks, and entitlements.

   3. Ensure compliance with contract requirements, governance procedures, and contractual obligations.

   4. Monitor contractor and consultant performance against contractual commitments.

   5. Maintain comprehensive contract records, notices, correspondence, and contractual documentation.

   6. Identify contractual issues and recommend appropriate mitigation and resolution strategies.

3. Change Management and Variations

   1. Lead the administration and management of variations, change orders, compensation events, and contract amendments.

   2. Assess contractual entitlement relating to changes in scope, time, cost, and risk.

   3. Review and prepare variation submissions and supporting documentation.

   4. Negotiate variations and commercial agreements with contractors and consultants.

   5. Maintain variation registers and monitor approval status and financial impacts.

   6. Ensure all contractual notification requirements are satisfied within prescribed timelines.

4. Claims and Extension of Time (EOT) Management

   1. Manage the preparation, evaluation, and negotiation of contractual claims.

   2. Assess contractor and consultant claims for contractual entitlement, substantiation, and compliance.

   3. Review Extension of Time (EOT) submissions and associated delay analyses.

   4. Evaluate claims relating to prolongation costs, disruption, acceleration, and additional payment entitlement.

   5. Develop strategies to protect the client's commercial position

   6. Maintain accurate claims records and supporting evidence.

5. Payment and Commercial Administration

   1. Support the administration of interim and final payment processes in accordance with contract provisions.

   2. Review payment applications, assessments, certifications, and commercial entitlements.

   3. Ensure contractual payment obligations and timelines are properly managed.

   4. Support final account negotiations and commercial settlements.

   5. Monitor the commercial implications of project decisions, changes, and risks.

6. Contractual Correspondence and Notices

   1. Draft, review, and issue contractual notices, responses, instructions, and formal correspondence.

   2. Ensure contractual communications comply with contract requirements and applicable regulations.

   3. Monitor contractual deadlines, notice requirements, and critical milestones.

   4. Maintain effective document control and contractual correspondence records.

   5. Advise project teams on contractual communication strategies to preserve contractual rights and entitlements.

7. Commercial Risk Management

   1. Identify, assess, and manage contractual and commercial risks throughout project execution.

   2. Establish and maintain contractual risk registers.

   3. Advise clients and project teams on risk allocation and contractual exposure.

   4. Develop mitigation strategies to minimise commercial and contractual risk.

   5. Promote proactive dispute avoidance through timely identification and management of potential issues.

8. Client and Stakeholder Management

   1. Act as a key client-facing representative and trusted advisor on contractual and commercial matters.

   2. Establish, develop, and maintain strong working relationships with clients and key project stakeholders.

   3. Provide strategic contractual advice to senior client representatives and project leadership teams.

   4. Lead contractual discussions, commercial negotiations, and stakeholder meetings.

   5. Collaborate effectively with project managers, commercial teams, planners, legal advisors, engineers, and consultants.

   6. Represent the organisation professionally during client engagements and contractual negotiations.

9. Dispute Avoidance and Resolution

   1. Support dispute avoidance initiatives through proactive contract management and early issue resolution.

   2. Lead initial preparation of contractual positions, supporting documentation, and commercial assessments.

   3. Assist in mediation, adjudication, dispute board proceedings, arbitration, and litigation where required.

   4. Maintain robust records to support dispute resolution processes.

10. Contract Close-Out

    1. Manage contractual close-out activities through project completion.

    2. Support the administration of completion, taking-over, and final acceptance processes.

    3. Oversee contractual obligations during defects liability and warranty periods.

    4. Facilitate final account agreement and resolution of outstanding commercial matters.

    5. Ensure all contractual obligations are fully discharged and documented.

    6. Prepare contract close-out reports and lessons learned documentation.

11. Reporting

    1. Prepare regular reports on contractual status, commercial performance, claims, variations, disputes, and risks.

    2. Provide recommendations and advice to clients and project leadership teams.

    3. Monitor contract management KPIs and project commercial performance.

    4. Support governance reviews and executive reporting requirements.

Person Specification:

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a positive proactive approach to the role, and will be committed to delivering customer service excellence, with good commercial results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master’s Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Engineering, Law, or a related discipline.

• Professional membership or working towards membership of MRICS, MCIArb/CIArb, CCM, CPCM, or equivalent professional accreditation.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years' relevant experience, managing Contracts within construction projects, specifically management experience across multi-disciplinary teams.

• Demonstrated experience managing post-contract services on large and complex projects.

• Proactive, with a drive for delivery and an ability to bring stakeholders together around a common vision, ability to follow through and clearly deliver work instructions in a complex stakeholder environment.

• Proven in claims management, Extension of Time assessments, variation management, and dispute resolution.

• Experience in administration of Standard and Bespoke forms of contract, including strong working knowledge of FIDIC Contracts.

• Experience providing contractual and commercial advice in a client-side consultancy environment.

• Experience managing multiple stakeholders across multidisciplinary project teams.

• Flexibility and adaptability in responding to changing business requirements.

• Effectively manages and prioritises workload and delivers to tight deadlines.

• Demonstrates strong written and verbal skills in English, specifically within Contracts review/change.

Skills & Competencies

• Excellent client-facing presence and relationship management skills.

• Strong contract administration and post-contract management expertise

• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Sound professional judgement and decision-making capabilities.

• Leadership, mentoring, and collaborative team working skills.

• High level of commercial awareness and attention to detail.

• Strong negotiation, influencing, and conflict-resolution capabilities.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

• Strong understanding of project controls, planning, scheduling, and cost management principles.

• Strong commercial and contractual risk management capabilities.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced project environment.

Company Overview:

With 200 KSA staff and 4,500 worldwide, Rider Levett Bucknall has a truly global reach, and with such scope can offer a local presence to its clients almost without exception. We are committed to our core services and pride ourselves on our dedication to customer care and leading-edge service provision.

We are an award winning, leading independent firm providing our clients with some of the most comprehensive and forward-thinking advice available.

We offer a range of complementary quantity surveying, project management, building surveying and advisory services from conception, through design and construction and operational performance of facilities to their eventual disposal or reuse.

Our clients have rapid access to the latest industry intelligence and innovations, which serve to enhance value and mitigate risk. We provide expert management of the relationship between value, time and cost from inception to completion. We do this through our global and local team of experts, who possess a passion for both core services and innovation.

We are committed to developing new services and techniques aimed at enhancing our clients' businesses in the long term.

Please note that only candidates who meet the above requirements will be considered for this role. We appreciate your interest in Rider Levett Bucknall and wish you the best of luck in your job search.