Senior Contracts Manager

Role overview

This is an office-based position in Saudi Arabia supporting the Contracts and Commercial Director along with project teams. The role centers on post-contract commercial control, including risk oversight, change administration, and management of contractual claims. The successful candidate will help protect the company’s contractual position, keep risks under control, and make sure claims and variations are handled accurately and in line with contract requirements.

Core responsibilities

• Assess claims to confirm they are fully supported by evidence and documentation.
• Work with legal specialists to maintain compliance with agreed contract terms.
• Follow the status of claims and coordinate with relevant stakeholders to push them toward resolution.
• Escalate possible contractual exposures and keep senior leadership informed of emerging risks.
• Carry out risk reviews and recommend practical steps to reduce exposure.
• Partner with project teams to identify savings opportunities and improvements in commercial terms.
• Take a proactive approach to spotting, tracking, and resolving risks across all projects.
• Create and apply measures that reduce the chance of delays and financial impact.
• Monitor all project changes and assess how they affect timeframes and budgets.
• Make sure change orders are approved quickly and shared with all necessary parties.
• Bring together commercial, legal, and project management functions to support change control.
• Ensure every change is recorded and processed according to the contract.
• Help develop contract templates and commercial best practices.
• Support training initiatives for the commercial team on claims and contract administration.
• Provide regular progress reports to senior management on claims, risks, and changes.
• Contribute to ongoing improvements in project controls and contract administration processes.

Experience and knowledge

• At least 20 years of experience in contract management or a closely related area.
• Strong understanding of contract law, including formation, enforcement, and breach.
• Deep familiarity with contractual terms and conditions, especially time-related and cost-related claims.
• Awareness of applicable industry regulations and standards to ensure legal compliance.
• Advanced negotiation capability to secure favorable contract outcomes.
• Hands-on knowledge of preparing, submitting, and negotiating claims with clients and subcontractors.
• Experience managing external consultants involved in claims work, including meetings and reporting.
• Strong grasp of the records, documents, and workflows needed for effective claims handling.
• Solid background in risk management, including identification, assessment, and mitigation of project risks.
• Understanding of risk registers, reporting formats, and risk-report preparation.
• Knowledge of opportunity management and how to turn potential advantages into project benefits.
• Thorough understanding of change control, including evaluating variations and their impact on time and cost.
• Ability to work closely with project teams to resolve delays and manage variations.
• Understanding of commercial reporting related to variations and change control.
• Proven ability to manage and mentor a commercial team so work is completed efficiently and on time.
• Ability to guide the team on contracts, claims, risk controls, and change management.
• Familiarity with project implementation practices, including introducing tools or systems such as A-Site.
• Appreciation of process discipline and how it supports project success.
• Well-rounded knowledge of commercial and contract management in construction and project environments.
• Familiarity with legal research platforms such as Westlaw and LexisNexis for tracking legal updates.

Education and certifications

• A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline is required.
• A master’s degree in Business Administration, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Professional credentials such as MRICS, MCIOB, or MCIArb are considered relevant advantages.

Technical and workplace skills

• Ability to use contract management systems for tracking, reporting, and administration.
• Strong client-facing and consultant-facing communication skills, including contract letter drafting.
• Capability to handle complex projects while keeping delivery aligned with contract terms and business objectives.
• Skill in reviewing contract performance metrics and using data to support decisions.
• Working knowledge of budgeting and financial forecasting to evaluate commercial impact and profitability.
• Ability to use risk management software to identify and manage contractual exposures.
• Strong drafting skills for contract documents, amendments, and formal correspondence.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to create persuasive presentations for stakeholders.
• Comfort using collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and Slack to coordinate with internal and external parties.

Industry

This role sits within the construction sector.

Additional notes

The position requires leadership over commercial processes, detailed contract administration, and consistent collaboration across legal, project, and commercial teams. It is designed for a senior professional who can combine strategic oversight with hands-on execution in claims, risk, and change control.