Contracts Manager

Opus Associates; Dubai; On-site; AED 558,000 - 614,000; Full time

Job summary

Opus Associates represents a leading Tier 1 contractor in the GCC region that has recently been awarded a AED 4 billion urban development project and needs a corporate contracts manager at their head office in Dubai. You will manage the full contract lifecycle for construction and engineering projects, safeguarding commercial and legal interests.

You will work with UAE forms (FIDIC/NEC) and collaborate with the commercial team to handle variations, claims, and final accounts, ensuring robust

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Law (Master's or LLM an advantage).
• 8-15 years' experience in contracts management, with at least 5 years in UAE/GCC construction sector.
• Strong working knowledge of FIDIC (1999/2017 Red, Yellow, Silver Books) and/or NEC3/NEC4.
• Experience with claims preparation (SCL Protocol, delay analysis methods) is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts (FIDIC, NEC, or bespoke UAE forms) prior to award, flagging onerous clauses and commercial risk to senior management.
• Administer contracts throughout the project lifecycle: notices, correspondence, variations, extensions of time (EOT), and claims in accordance with contractual timelines.
• Prepare and submit EOT and loss/expense claims, with supporting programme and cost substantiation.
• Manage subcontractor and supplier contracts, including scope definition, back-to-back terms, and payment certification.
• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations, insurance, bonds, and guarantees (performance bonds, advance payment guarantees, retention).
• Liaise with the QS/commercial team on valuations, payment applications, and final accounts.
• Identify and mitigate contractual risks; escalate disputes and support resolution via negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration, or litigation as required.
• Maintain a contract register and ensure proper documentation and record-keeping for audit and dispute readiness.
• Liaise with legal counsel, consultants, and clients on contractual matters.
• Support tender preparation, including contract review and risk assessment during bidding.
• Ensure compliance with UAE Commercial Companies Law and relevant local regulations.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Contract management

English communication

Detail oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Law

Master's or LLM an advantage

Tools

MS Office

Contract management software

Job description

Our client is a leading Tier 1 contractor in the GCC region. They have recently been awarded a AED 4billion urban development project and require a corporate contracts manager to be based at their head office.

Location: Dubai, UAE
Department: Commercial / Contracts
Reports To: Commercial Director / Project Director / General Manager

Manage the full contract lifecycle for construction/engineering projects — from tender and award through execution, variations, claims, and final account close-out — protecting the company's commercial and legal interests while maintaining strong client relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts (FIDIC, NEC, or bespoke UAE forms) prior to award, flagging onerous clauses and commercial risk to senior management.
• Administer contracts throughout the project lifecycle: notices, correspondence, variations, extensions of time (EOT), and claims in accordance with contractual timelines.
• Prepare and submit EOT and loss/expense claims, with supporting programme and cost substantiation.
• Manage subcontractor and supplier contracts, including scope definition, back-to-back terms, and payment certification.
• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations, insurance, bonds, and guarantees (performance bonds, advance payment guarantees, retention).
• Liaise with the QS/commercial team on valuations, payment applications, and final accounts.
• Identify and mitigate contractual risks; escalation disputes and support resolution via negotiation, mediation, adjudication, DIAC/DIFC-LCIA arbitration, or litigation as required.
• Maintain a contract register and ensure proper documentation and record-keeping for audit and dispute readiness.
• Liaise with legal counsel, consultants, and clients on contractual matters.
• Support tender preparation, including contract review and risk assessment during bidding.
• Ensure compliance with UAE Commercial Companies Law and relevant local regulations (municipality, free zone, or mainland requirements as applicable).

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Law, or a related field (Master's or LLM an advantage).
• 8-15 years' experience in contracts management, with at least 5 years in the UAE/GCC construction sector.
• Strong working knowledge of FIDIC (1999/2017 Red, Yellow, Silver Books) and/or NEC3/NEC4.
• Experience with claims preparation (SCL Protocol, delay analysis methods) is highly desirable.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication (English essential; Arabic an advantage).
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Proficient in contract management software and MS Office (Excel, Word, Project).
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Other Requirements

• UAE driving license
• Willingness to travel between project sites as required.

Our client is a leading Tier 1 contractor in the GCC region. They have recently been awarded a AED 4billion urban development project and require a corporate contracts manager to be based at their head office.

Location: Dubai, UAE
Department: Commercial / Contracts
Reports To: Commercial Director / Project Director / General Manager

Manage the full contract lifecycle for construction/engineering projects — from tender and award through execution, variations, claims, and final account close-out — protecting the company's commercial and legal interests while maintaining strong client relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts (FIDIC, NEC, or bespoke UAE forms) prior to award, flagging onerous clauses and commercial risk to senior management.
• Administer contracts throughout the project lifecycle: notices, correspondence, variations, extensions of time (EOT), and claims in accordance with contractual timelines.
• Prepare and submit EOT and loss/expense claims, with supporting programme and cost substantiation.
• Manage subcontractor and supplier contracts, including scope definition, back-to-back terms, and payment certification.
• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations, insurance, bonds, and guarantees (performance bonds, advance payment guarantees, retention).
• Liaise with the QS/commercial team on valuations, payment applications, and final accounts.
• Identify and mitigate contractual risks; escalation disputes and support resolution via negotiation, mediation, adjudication, DIAC/DIFC-LCIA arbitration, or litigation as required.
• Maintain a contract register and ensure proper documentation and record-keeping for audit and dispute readiness.
• Liaise with legal counsel, consultants, and clients on contractual matters.
• Support tender preparation, including contract review and risk assessment during bidding.
• Ensure compliance with UAE Commercial Companies Law and relevant local regulations (municipality, free zone, or mainland requirements as applicable).

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Law, or a related field (Master's or LLM an advantage).
• 8-15 years' experience in contracts management, with at least 5 years in the UAE/GCC construction sector.
• Strong working knowledge of FIDIC (1999/2017 Red, Yellow, Silver Books) and/or NEC3/NEC4.
• Experience with claims preparation (SCL Protocol, delay analysis methods) is highly desirable.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication (English essential; Arabic an advantage).
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Proficient in contract management software and MS Office (Excel, Word, Project).
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Other Requirements

• UAE driving license
• Willingness to travel between project sites as required.

Salary packages are open for discussion. AED 50,000 per month is the guideline.