Senior Director of Contracts

Vallum Associates; Dubai; On-site; AED 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Vallum Associates in Dubai is seeking a Senior Contracts Director to lead contractual strategy for large data centre developments as part of an international expansion.

The role requires extensive experience in managing complex contracts, claims, EOTs and risk across multi-jurisdiction projects. Relocation to Dubai with a comprehensive package is provided as part of this opportunity.

Qualifications

• Proven experience at Contracts Director level or equivalent.
• Must have data centre or hyperscale project experience.
• Strong understanding of claims, variations, and contract risk management.
• Experience negotiating high-value agreements with general contractors, EPCs and consultants.

Responsibilities

• Lead the contracts strategy and governance across major data centre developments.
• Oversee contracts through pre-contract, procurement, construction, delivery and close-out.
• Negotiate and administer major contracts with suppliers and contractors.
• Identify and manage contractual and commercial risk across programs.
• Provide senior oversight of variations, claims, EOTs and disputes.

Skills

Contracts leadership

Data Centre contracting

EOTs & claims management

Negotiation with EPC/GC/consultants

Stakeholder management

Tools

Contract management software

Job description

Location: Dubai, UAE

Relocation: Full relocation to Dubai required – comprehensive relocation package provided

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Contracts Director to join one of the fastest-growing international Data Centre developers at a pivotal stage of its global expansion.

Backed by a major multi-billion-dollar group, the business is developing large-scale hyperscale and AI-ready Data Centre infrastructure across multiple international markets.

Based in Dubai, the Senior Contracts Director will provide strategic contractual leadership across major Data Centre developments, protecting the organisation's commercial interests while supporting the successful delivery of an ambitious international development pipeline.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the contracts strategy and governance across major Data Centre developments.
• Oversee complex contracts throughout the full lifecycle, from pre-contract and procurement through construction, delivery and close-out.
• Lead the negotiation, review and administration of major construction, consultancy, supplier and contractor agreements.
• Identify and manage contractual and commercial risk across projects and programmes.
• Provide senior-level oversight of variations, change orders, claims, EOTs, disputes and contractual entitlements.
• Establish robust contract management and change-control processes across the portfolio.
• Work closely with Development, Construction, Commercial, Procurement, Legal and Project leadership teams.
• Advise executive leadership on significant contractual exposure, risk and mitigation strategies.
• Support the selection, appointment and management of major international contractors and consultants.
• Lead and develop Contracts Managers and wider commercial/contracts teams as the international portfolio expands.
• Support negotiations and dispute resolution with key project stakeholders.
• Ensure projects maintain appropriate contractual records, notices and governance throughout delivery.

Candidate Profile

• Significant experience at Contracts Director / Senior Director / Head of Contracts level.
• Previous Data Centre experience is essential, ideally across hyperscale or major mission-critical developments.
• Extensive experience managing major construction and development contracts.
• Strong understanding of claims, variations, EOTs, change management and contractual risk.
• Experience negotiating high-value agreements with general contractors, EPC contractors, consultants and specialist suppliers.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to operate effectively with C-suite and executive stakeholders.
• Experience working across international projects or multiple jurisdictions would be highly advantageous.
• Excellent leadership, negotiation and stakeholder-management capabilities.