Senior Contracts Engineer

About This Role

Job Purpose

The Senior Contracts Engineer is responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of prime contracts and subcontracts. This role demands a high-level expert who can safeguard the company’s interests through precise drafting, rigorous risk assessment, and strategic claims management. You will act as the primary contractual authority, ensuring all project stakeholders adhere to the FIDIC 1999 framework while maximizing commercial recovery and minimizing liability.

Key Responsibilities

1. Contract Drafting & Expertise

• FIDIC Mastery: Apply expert-level knowledge of FIDIC 1999 (Red, Yellow, and Silver Books) to manage project obligations.
• Comprehensive Drafting: Develop full contract suites, including Particular Conditions, Appendix to Tender, and specialized Annexes.
• Security Documentation: Draft and manage legal forms for Bank Guarantees (Performance, Advance Payment, Retention) and Parent Company Guarantees.
• Consistency Control: Ensure all technical exhibits and commercial terms are synchronized to prevent conflicting interpretations.

2. Negotiation & Risk Assessment

• Contractual Forensics: Review Main Contracts to identify "hidden" risks, such as onerous time-bars, aggressive indemnity clauses, and ambiguous scopes of work.
• Strategic Negotiation: Lead negotiations with Clients and Consultants to refine terms and conditions, ensuring a balanced risk profile.
• Subcontract Alignment: Draft and negotiate "back-to-back" subcontracts to ensure project risks are appropriately cascaded to third parties.

3. Contractual Writing & Correspondence

• Formal Communication: Draft high-stakes contractual correspondence, ensuring all notifications comply with strict contract timelines (e.g., FIDIC Clause 20.1).
• Instruction Analysis: Review Consultant/Architect instructions to determine if they constitute a Change in Scope and issue appropriate notifications.
• Investigation: Conduct detailed investigations into project records to provide factual substantiation for contractual positions.

4. Claims & Dispute Management

• Claim Strategy: Identify opportunities for Extension of Time (EOT) and Additional Cost claims; manage the preparation of comprehensive claim "narratives."
• Substantiation: Collate and present evidence (delay analysis, cost records, and legal precedent) to build irrefutable claim packages.
• Defense & Counterclaims: Critically assess subcontractor claims to identify weaknesses; draft robust rebuttals and prepare counterclaims for non-performance or liquidated damages.

Candidate Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in contracts management within the construction or engineering sectors.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM) or similar are highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of local laws and regulations related to contracts in the relevant industry.
• Exceptional negotiation skills with a strategic mindset to navigate complex contractual discussions.