Senior Contract Administrator

Unify Recruitment; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Unify Recruitment is seeking a Senior Contract Administrator for a Brisbane-based role in rail infrastructure. The successful candidate will lead contract management, proforma agreement drafting, and commercial risk assessment across projects, working with the Project Manager and Head of Commercial.

The role requires extensive experience in construction contracts, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to manage multiple subcontractors while ensuring compliance with procurement and

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in project/contractual engineering/construction.
• Degree qualified, or equivalent.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word/Excel) and database management.
• Experience with construction financial management software (e.g., Jobpac).
• Knowledge of commercial management, legal and governance requirements in construction projects.
• Understanding of contract management, program financial management, risk and opportunity management, reporting, budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Develop proforma agreements for the project in consultation with PM and Head of Commercial.
• Provide guidance on commercial issues to project teams.
• Track project margins and report status to PM.
• Facilitate commercial disputes, mediation and adjudication claims.
• Maintain knowledge of head contract and subcontracts.
• Ensure timely submission of contractual notices.
• Coordinate subcontract quotations and post-tender negotiations.
• Manage subcontract payments, variations, and final accounts in line with contracts and law.
• Ensure compliance with commercial procedures and governance.
• Establish filing systems and manage accruals/payments.
• Monitor budgets and cost coding on site.
• Conduct risk, value management and sustainability activities.
• Prepare formats for progress claims and variations with clients.
• Agree on variations and extension of time with clients.
• Administer practical completion requirements and tender evaluations.
• Review subcontract documentation before issue and coordinate meetings after award.

Skills

Problem solving

Interpersonal skills

Prioritisation

Influencing

Teamwork

Analytical skills

Written communication

Education

Degree qualified (or equivalent)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Jobpac or similar software

Job description

Senior Contract Administrator Opportunity | Rail Infrastructure | Brisbane

About the Client:

Fastly being recognised as one of the most respected contractors across the East Coast, this role provides a fantastic opportunity to learn, develop, and be part of a business that values their people. Recognised as a client-focused Australian-owned construction companies for challenging infrastructure, they create results built on collaboration with clients and innovation through experience and teamwork.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum 5 years' experience in project/contractual engineering/construction
• Degree qualified, or equivalent
• Demonstrated proficiency in the broad range of Microsoft Office products, particularly word and excel, and confidence in database development and management
• Demonstrated experience in construction financial management software e.g. Jobpac or other similar products
• Comprehensive knowledge of the commercial management, legal and governance requirements of construction projects
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of contract management, program financial management, risk and opportunity management, performance reporting, budget preparation and administration
• Analyse contractual / legal issues and provide solutions through appropriate problem-solving techniques
• Possess commercial acumen accompanied by proven negotiation and inter-relationship skills evidenced by effective dispute resolutions

Personal Qualities:

• Ability to solve problems efficiently
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with all levels of personnel
• Ability to effectively prioritise a busy workload and meet project deadlines
• Ability to influence others
• Strong team player within a diverse environment
• Sound analytical skills and an ability to work with discretion
• Excellent oral and written interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to interact with a diverse range of people

Position Requirements:

• Develops, in consultation with the Project Manager and the Head of Commercial, a suite of applicable proforma agreements for the project
• Provide assistance, support and guidance on all commercial issues to the project(s) and support fellow commercial staff to attain their maximum potential
• Understanding of project margins and provide feedback to PM of status
• Facilitate commercial disputes, mediation and adjudication claims
• Maintains a comprehensive working knowledge of the head contract and of the proforma subcontracts
• Ensure all contractual notices are submitted as per contract requirements and on time
• Arranges for quotations to be called from sub-contractors, co-ordinate and participate in post tender negotiations. Recommend preferred subcontractors for the Project Manager's approval. Compile subcontract documents for signing and ensure safekeeping of signed originals
• Ensures that no subcontractor commences work on-site without necessary approvals to do so including contract execution and review and approval by the project of insurances and of LSL, Superannuation, redundancy schemes etc.
• Ensure delay claims, EOTs and variations are being claimed to maximum potential
• Mitigate contractual / legal exposure
• Ensure timely collection of outstanding payments
• Manage subcontract progress payment claims, variations to subcontractors, contractual claims and final accounts in accordance with the terms of the Subcontract and the relevant security of payment legislation
• Comply with Company commercial procedures and corporate governance requirements
• Establishes filing system and ensure procedures are complied with
• Processes accruals and payments in a timely manner
• Monitors budgets and highlight any likely over-run to the Project Manager
• Monitors site staff to ensure correct cost coding is used
• Performs financial control to the project's requirement, in conjunction with Project Manager
• Record and report the required project data for measuring the overall environmental and sustainability performance against the project targets
• Participate in risk, value management and sustainability exercises and training relevant to the project
• Prepares an agreed format with clients concerning progress claims and agree monthly claim with clients
• Prepares and obtain an agreement of variation claims to the client (utilising back-up information provided by subcontractors)
• Prepares and obtain an agreement concerning extension of time claims with the client
• Administers practical completion requirements of the contract
• Manages tender evaluation and recommendation process
• Reviews and approve subcontract documentation prior to issuing
• Co-ordination of preliminary meeting after award of contracts
• Progress claims – prepare and check payment authority
• Processes subcontract variations in accordance with relevant procedures
• Assesses subcontract extension of time claims
• Manage and resolve disputes with Subcontractors, suppliers and consultants
• Finalisation of claims and procurement of Contract Value Agreements