Commercial Defects Manager — Rail & PPP Claims

Ratp Dev; Tasmania; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

RATP Dev Western Sydney Airport (RDWSA) is seeking a Commercial Defects Manager reporting to the Defect Manager with a secondary line to the Commercial Director. You will bridge engineering and contract law, translating defect data into robust contractually compliant notices and cost-recovery strategies.

You will lead the claims process, draft formal notices, audit costs in Maximo, and oversee warranty transfers to support the project through O&M.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.

Job description

RATP Dev Western Sydney Airport (RDWSA) is seeking a Commercial Defects Manager reporting to the Defect Manager with a secondary line to the Commercial Director. You will bridge engineering and contract law, translating defect data into robust contractually compliant notices and cost-recovery strategies.

You will lead the claims process, draft formal notices, audit costs in Maximo, and oversee warranty transfers to support the project through O&M.