Contracts Manager

UGL; North Shore; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

UGL Transport is seeking a Contracts Manager to provide contractual expertise across upcoming Rail Systems projects in Queensland and NSW. You will drive commercial practices, manage subcontracts, and optimise value while protecting the company’s interests.

This role is based in Australia with full-time responsibilities. The position requires tertiary education in relevant fields and strong experience in contract management, negotiation, and cost control.

Qualifications

• Tertiary education in Engineering, Commerce/Business, Law, Quantity Surveying or Construction Management.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen and the ability to interpret and apply contracts.
• Strong awareness in cost management and contract law; capable of commercial negotiations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of contract management, program financial management, risk and budgeting.
• Experience in lump sum D&C contracts is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead scope planning to minimise gaps, maximise cost efficiency and consider subcontractor capabilities.
• Prepare procurement strategies with the Project Manager; identify subcontracts and timing.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders and monitor market conditions.
• Procure project work in line with strategy; ensure orders are within authority and well scoped.
• Negotiate subcontract terms, conditions and pricing; ensure proper execution.
• Provide commercial support during downstream negotiations with necessary approvals.
• Manage subcontractor payment claims; ensure validation, certification and timely payment.
• Maintain cost forecasting for allocated subcontracts and escalate issues as needed.
• Address variations, claims, EOT and disputes with subcontractors/suppliers.
• Assess upstream/downstream commercial risks and implement controls.
• Advise project teams on upstream contractual rights and obligations.
• Administer upstream contracts to protect UGL Transport’s rights in a timely, accurate way.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Contract interpretation

Negotiation skills

Cost management

Contract law awareness

Risk management

Budgeting and reporting

Education

Tertiary education in Engineering or Commerce/Law/Construction Mgmt

Job description

UGL Transport is a diversified transport company delivering critical assets and essential services that sustain and enhance the environment in which we live. Our capabilities extend across a broad range of services and whole-of-life solutions across the Transport sector, utilising world leading, sustainable and innovative technologies. We partner with some of the world’s largest blue-chip companies, government agencies, private enterprise, and public institutions.

Job Purpose

The role will provide contractual expertise during the performance of projects to ensure contract requirements are adhered to and the interests of UGL Transport are protected. The Contracts Manager will promote, encourage and ensure management and implementation of effective commercial practices including contractual compliance. The role sponsors reducing project cost and risk, whilst maintaining value for clients.

This position is for upcoming projects in Queensland and New South Wales in the Rail Systems space.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead scope of works planning, ensuring that scope gaps are minimised, cost efficiencies are maximised and subcontractor capabilities are considered.
• Prepare procurement strategies in conjunction with the Project Manager, including break into individual works packages, identification of potential subcontractors, procurement methods and timing in alignment with an approved Project Procurement Plan.
• Maintain contact and good working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders and maintain good awareness of market conditions and movements.
• Procure the project in accordance with approved strategy ensuring that orders are fully scoped, bought at best value and are correctly contracted in accordance with limits of authority.
• Negotiate subcontract and supplier contract terms, conditions and pricing and follow up to ensure execution according to the negotiated terms.
• Provide effective commercial support during downstream contract negotiations, in particular ensuring appropriate legal approvals are obtained in relation to any deviations from UGL Transport standard terms and conditions.
• Accountable for maximisation of the commercial benefit of subcontracts and effective management of contract change. This includes ensuring Subcontractor / supplier payment claims valuations are accurately assessed, challenged appropriately, certified and paid on time.
• Ensure cost forecasting for allocated subcontracts are accurately maintained and cost issues are appropriately escalated upon identification.
• Addressing contractual matters with subcontractors/suppliers including negotiating variations, claims, EOT and mitigating any contractual disputes
• Assess upstream and downstream commercial and contractual risks, identify and implement appropriate controls and escalate actual or potential issues to Commercial Manager and Project Manager.
• Provide clear, concise advice to project teams in relation to upstream contractual rights and obligations.
• Ensure upstream contracts are administered effectively to ensure responsibilities and obligations of the contract are met, and UGL Transport’s rights and interests are protected in a manner that is timely, accurate and compliant.
• Undertake robust contract and commercial analysis of issues, prospective claims, prospect & viability of active claims.
• Ensure upstream contracts are administered effectively to ensure responsibilities and obligations of the contract are met, and UGL Transport’s rights and interests are protected in a manner that is timely, accurate and compliant.

Qualifications

• Tertiary educated in Engineering, Commerce/Business, Law, Quantity Surveying or Construction Management (or equivalent experience)
• Demonstrated commercial acumen and the ability to interpret and apply contracts.
• Strong awareness in areas of cost management and contract law and demonstrated ability to manage commercial negotiations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of contract management, program financial management, risk and opportunity management, performance reporting, budget preparation and administration.
• Experience in lump sum D&C contracts is a must

Diversity

We embrace diversity in all its forms, backgrounds, ideas, work styles, and perspectives. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage applications from women, individuals with disabilities, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, mature-aged workers, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Our selection process includes relevant screening checks such as national criminal history and pre-employment medical assessments, including drug and alcohol screening.

REF:268720

Primary Location

Australia-NSW-North Shore & Northern Beaches

Work Type

Full-time