Senior Contracts Engineer

ATGC Transport and General Contracting L.L.C; Abu Dhabi Emirate; On-site; AED 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

ATGC Transport and General Contracting L.L.C. seeks a Senior Contracts Engineer to manage end-to-end contracts, from drafting to dispute resolution. You will ensure compliance with FIDIC 1999 standards and maximize commercial recovery while minimizing liability.

The role requires a senior professional with strong negotiation skills, risk assessment acumen, and experience in back-to-back subcontracts. Abu Dhabi-based, on-site role with a strategic contract oversight remit.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in contracts management within construction/engineering.
• Professional certifications such as CCCM or similar are highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of local contract laws and regulations.
• Exceptional negotiation skills with a strategic mindset.

Responsibilities

• Apply expert-level knowledge of FIDIC 1999 to manage project obligations.
• Develop full contract suites including Conditions, Tender Annexes, and Appendices.
• Draft and manage bank guarantees and parent company guarantees.
• Ensure consistency between technical exhibits and commercial terms.
• Identify hidden risks in main contracts and manage risk mitigation.
• Lead negotiations with Clients and Consultants to refine terms.
• Draft back-to-back subcontracts to cascade risks to third parties.
• Draft high-stakes contractual correspondence within timelines.
• Review instructions to determine Change in Scope and issue notifications.
• Conduct detailed investigations into project records for factual substantiation.
• Identify opportunities for Extension of Time and Additional Cost claims.
• Collect and present evidence to support claim packages.
• Assess subcontractor claims and draft counterclaims when needed.

Skills

FIDIC mastery

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Risk assessment

Change in scope

Subcontract alignment

Notice drafting

Investigation

Claim strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.