Senior Position - Real Estate - Construction Contracts

Adler Talent Solutions; Dubai; On-site; AED 850,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Adler Talent Solutions in Dubai is seeking a senior Contracts Leader to oversee the contracts function for large-scale real estate and construction projects. You will lead a multi-location team in drafting, reviewing, negotiating and administering complex agreements, ensuring alignment with UAE regulations and project needs.

You will drive risk management, contract governance, and stakeholder coordination with project, commercial, procurement, and finance teams, supporting tendering, execution

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in construction contracts management, preferably across large-scale real estate and construction projects.
• 10+ years in a leadership/managerial capacity, managing multi-location contracts teams.
• Strong experience in high-value construction and real estate development contracts.
• Expertise in FIDIC 1987 & 2017, NEC, EPC, Design & Build frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Contracts function and manage a team of contracts professionals for drafting, review, negotiation and administration.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, procedures and governance aligned with UAE regulations and project needs.
• Manage contractual risk assessment, mitigation strategies and escalation of material risks across projects.
• Drive contract management systems usage and ensure proper records, notices and approvals.
• Support senior management in major commercial negotiations and key contractual decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Job description

Role & responsibilities:

1. Contracts Leadership & Governance

• Lead the Contracts function and manage a team of contracts professionals responsible for drafting, review, negotiation and administration.
• Establish and maintain robust contractual governance, processes, procedures and approval frameworks.
• Develop and periodically update standard contract templates, tender documentation, contract procedures, risk schedules and contract summaries.
• Ensure contractual practices are aligned with applicable UAE regulations, project requirements and industry standards.

2. Contract Drafting & Negotiation

• Draft, review, negotiate and finalize complex contractual documentation, including:
• Main Contracts
• Design & Build Agreements
• Consultancy Agreements
• Framework Agreements
• Letters of Appointment (LOAs)
• Letters of Nomination (LONs)
• Work Orders
• Subcontracts
• Other project-specific and commercial agreements
• Provide expert contractual advice to project, commercial, procurement and leadership teams.
• Review contractual terms and amendments to ensure commercial interests and project requirements are adequately protected.

3. Contractual Risk Management

• Lead contractual risk assessment and identify potential commercial, legal and delivery risks across projects.
• Develop appropriate mitigation strategies and ensure timely escalation of material contractual risks.
• Monitor contractual obligations, entitlements, liabilities and key milestones throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support resolution of contractual disputes, claims and variations in coordination with relevant stakeholders.

4. Contract Management Systems & Compliance

• Drive effective use of contract management systems for documentation, tracking, reporting and governance.
• Ensure accurate and timely maintenance of contractual records, correspondence, notices and approvals.
• Establish effective reporting mechanisms covering contractual risks, obligations, claims, variations and key exposures.

5. Stakeholder & Project Support

• Partner with senior project, commercial, procurement, finance and development teams on contractual matters.
• Provide strategic contractual inputs during tendering, procurement, project execution and close-out stages.
• Manage contractual relationships with consultants, contractors, subcontractors and other project stakeholders.
• Support senior management in major commercial negotiations and critical contractual decisions.

Preferred candidate profile:

• 20+ years of experience in construction contracts management, preferably across large-scale real estate and construction projects.
• Minimum 10 years in a leadership / managerial capacity, with experience managing multi-location contracts teams.
• Strong experience in overseeing contracts for high-value construction and real estate development projects.
• Strong technical expertise in:
• FIDIC 1987 & 2017
• NEC
• EPC
• Design & Build
• Bespoke contractual frameworks
• Demonstrated expertise in drafting, reviewing, negotiating and amending complex contractual documentation.
• Strong understanding of contractual risk assessment, contract administration and contract management systems.