Claims Director

People Group; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

People Group's client, a leading data centre developer, is expanding its footprint in Finland and seeks a seasoned Claims Director to lead strategic claims management across its Finland construction programme.

You will identify risks early, lead negotiations on extensions of time and cost claims, and build robust processes with project teams, legal advisors and executives to protect commercial interests.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in construction claims and disputes.
• Experience with large-scale or infrastructure projects.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall claims strategy across Finland data centre projects.
• Identify potential claims and mitigation strategies early.
• Prepare, present and negotiate time/cost/extender claims.
• Develop governance for claims across the project portfolio.
• Provide strategic risk and dispute resolution guidance to leadership.

Skills

Construction claims

Contractual risk

Dispute resolution

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Contract types (NEC/FIDIC/JCT)

Tools

Construction contracts knowledge

Job description

The Opportunity

Our client who are a leading data centre developer is expanding its data centre footprint across Europe and is seeking an experienced Claims Director to provide strategic leadership across its growing data centre construction programme in Finland.

This is a senior position responsible for leading the identification, management, preparation and resolution of construction claims across complex, high-value capital projects. Working closely with project, commercial, planning, legal and delivery teams, the Claims Director will play a critical role in protecting the company's commercial interests and managing contractual risk throughout the project lifecycle.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience in construction claims, dispute avoidance and resolution, with the ability to operate at both a strategic and detailed project level.

Previous data centre experience is highly desirable; however, candidates with a strong claims background gained on other complex, large-scale construction or infrastructure projects will also be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall claims strategy across data centre construction projects in Finland.


• Identify potential claims, contractual risks and dispute issues at an early stage and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.


• Lead the preparation, presentation and negotiation of extension of time, delay, disruption, acceleration, prolongation and cost-related claims.


• Develop robust claims management processes and governance across the project portfolio.


• Provide strategic advice to senior leadership on claims exposure, commercial risk and dispute resolution.

Project & Contractual Management

• Review and interpret construction contracts, notices, change events and project correspondence.


• Ensure contractual notices and claims are identified, documented and managed within required timescales.


• Work closely with Commercial Directors, Project Directors, Planning teams and external legal advisors.


• Analyse project records, programmes, cost information and technical documentation to support claims.


• Oversee the preparation of detailed claims submissions and supporting documentation.


• Lead negotiations and commercial discussions with contractors, consultants and other key project stakeholders.

Delay & Planning

• Work closely with Planning and Project Controls teams to assess delay events and programme impacts.


• Review critical path impacts, delay analysis and extension of time claims.


• Challenge and validate contractor claims relating to delays, disruption and acceleration.


• Ensure appropriate contemporaneous records are maintained to support potential claims and dispute resolution.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the senior claims subject matter expert across the Finland data centre programme.


• Build strong relationships with internal project, commercial, legal and executive stakeholders.


• Manage external claims consultants, delay experts and legal advisors where required.


• Provide guidance and support to project teams to improve claims awareness and dispute avoidance.


• Present claims strategy, risk exposure and key issues to senior management and executive stakeholders.


• Significant experience in construction claims, contractual disputes and commercial risk management.


• Experience working on large-scale, complex construction or infrastructure projects.


• Strong understanding of construction contracts and contractual entitlement.


• Experience managing claims relating to:


• Extensions of Time


• Delay and disruption


• Prolongation


• Acceleration


• Variations and change


• Loss and expense


• Cost and commercial claims


• Strong understanding of project programmes, planning and delay analysis.


• Experience negotiating with contractors, consultants and other project stakeholders.


• Ability to analyse complex contractual, technical, programme and commercial information.


• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.


• Experience operating in a senior leadership or subject matter expert capacity.


• Previous experience delivering or supporting data centre or mission critical projects.


• Experience working on hyperscale or large-scale data centre developments.


• International project experience.


• Experience working on major capital programmes or fast-track construction projects.


• Knowledge of NEC, FIDIC, JCT or other international construction contracts.


• Experience managing disputes before they escalates to formal proceedings.


• Experience working alongside external legal teams, claims consultants and delay experts.

Data centre experience is preferred but is not essential. Candidates with strong construction claims experience from other major projects and sectors will also be considered.