Commercial Defect Manager

RATP Dev; St Marys; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

RATP Dev Western Sydney Airport (RDWSA) is seeking a Commercial Defects Manager to oversee contract administration, commercial claims, and risk mitigation arising from technical defects across the Parklife Metro project. You will bridge engineering inputs with contract law, ensuring notices and cost-recovery strategies are robust and compliant.

The role reports to the Defect Manager and Commercial Director, requiring deep expertise in large infrastructure contracts, and proficiency with Maximo,

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in senior commercial roles within rail, transport or heavy civil construction.
• Experience in contract administration, claims formulation, and complex multi-million dollar disputes.
• Excellent drafting skills for contract notices, letters, and dispute packages.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial claims process end-to-end and issue notices within timelines.
• Draft formal Contract Notices and defect notices with Legal Counsel.
• Audit work orders in Maximo to ensure direct costs are tracked and claims are reimbursed.
• Support warranty handover and provide surge support to the commercial team.

Skills

Contract administration

Claims management

Risk mitigation

Commercial drafting

Cross-functional coordination

Financial modelling

Synthesis of technical inputs

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Quantity Surveying, Business, Commerce, Construction Management

Master of Laws (Construction Law/Dispute Resolution) desirable

Tools

Maximo

TeamBinder

Aconex

Job description

About Us

RATP Dev Western Sydney Airport (RDWSA) is a subsidiary of the RATP Group, a global leader in high-capacity urban rail and the world's third largest public transport operator.

About Us

RATP Dev Western Sydney Airport (RDWSA) is a subsidiary of the RATP Group, a global leader in high-capacity urban rail and the world's third largest public transport operator.
Our 25,000 people design, operate, maintain and modernise urban and interurban transportation networks. We serve more than 100 cities in 17 countries, delivering tailored mobility solutions that address each community's unique environmental, social, and economic challenges.
We build, deliver and commit for the best of public transport every day, everywhere, for everybody, making it the natural choice for cities and passengers.
As an Operator & Maintainer to the Australian Federal and NSW Governments, Parklife Metro is leading a transformative metro project connecting St Marys to Bradfield and the new Western Sydney Airport.
The Parklife Metro (PLM) consortium, comprising Plenary, RATP Dev, Siemens and Webuild, is delivering the Stations, Systems, Trains and Operations & Maintenance (SSTOM) package for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project.
RDWSA will proudly operate and maintain six new stations, 12 metro trains, core rail systems, and a state-of-the-art stabling and maintenance facility at Orchard Hills for 15 years following commencement of operations.

About The Role

Reporting primarily to the Defect Manager with a secondary reporting line to the Commercial Director, the Commercial Defects Manager plays a key role in contract administration, commercial claims management, and risk mitigation arising from technical defects across the project.
In this role, you will bridge the gap between engineering and contract law. Working in tight lockstep with our technical teams, you will safeguard RDWSA's commercial interests under our project deeds and O&M agreements, translating technical defect data into robust, contractually compliant notices and successful cost-recovery strategies.

Key Responsibilities May Include

• Claims & Contract Administration: Lead the commercial claims process end-to-end, evaluating technical defects against project agreements to establish clear contractual positions and issuing notices within strict timelines.
• Commercial Drafting: Own the drafting of formal Contract Notices and defect notifications, partnering with Legal Counsel to manage risk and protect business rights.
• Cost Capture & Recovery: Audit work orders in Maximo to ensure all direct costs (labour, subcontractors, spares) are accurately tracked, and coordinate reimbursement claims to drive maximum cost recovery.
• Warranty Handover & Support: Secure the transfer of subcontractor and manufacturer warranties to protect permanent operations, and provide strategic surge support to the wider commercial team.

About You

Profil de candidat recherché :

You are a highly collaborative, decisive, and strategically-minded commercial professional with extensive expertise in contract administration, construction law, and claims management within major infrastructure or PPP environments. You have a proven track record of synthesizing technical engineering inputs into robust legal-commercial arguments.

You Will Bring

• Minimum 8‑10 years of experience as a Commercial Manager, Claims Manager, or Senior Contract Administrator in rail, transport, or heavy civil construction projects.
• Deep expertise in contract administration, claims formulation, and managing complex multi-million dollar disputes within a PPP or O&M interface structure.
• Excellent commercial drafting skills, with the ability to write precise, contractually robust notices, letters, and dispute packages.
• High-level commercial acumen, with experience in direct cost tracking (e.g., Maximo, TeamBinder, Aconex), financial modeling, and commercial quantum calculations.
• Strong cross‑functional coordination skills, with the ability to extract and synthesize technical inputs from engineers to build airtight commercial arguments.
• Essential: Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Quantity Surveying, Business, Commerce, Construction Management, or a related discipline. A Master of Laws (Construction Law/Dispute Resolution) is highly desirable.

At RATP Dev, we believe great public transport is delivered by diverse people with diverse perspectives. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds - including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people living with disability, veterans, and the LGBTQIA+ community. We hire based on capability, potential, and values, and we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to thrive.