Senior Contract Lead

Damco Spain SL; Den Haag; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

APM Terminals is seeking a Senior Contract Lead to provide independent governance, assurance and advisory support across BIM capital projects. The role strengthens contract controls, improves reporting, and supports proactive management of claims, variations and risks.

Based in The Hague, the position reports to the Contract Strategy & Execution Lead – BIM PMO and may involve travel. We expect extensive experience in contracts management, strong English communication, and a proven ability to

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of contracts management experience in construction, infrastructure, or major capital projects.
• Experience with FIDIC contracts and EPC/Design & Build agreements.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication; ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract governance across BIM capital projects and promote framework adherence.
• Monitor compliance, notices, milestones and contractual deadlines.
• Provide independent assurance on contract controls and risk management across the portfolio.
• Develop contract management reporting, dashboards and performance insights.
• Act as senior subject matter expert for complex contractual, claims and disputes.

Skills

Contract management

Influencing stakeholders

English communication

Leadership

Problem solving

Education

Degree in engineering / related field

MRICS / MCIArb / PMP advantageous

Job description

Senior Contract Lead

APM Terminals has embarked on an exciting global growth journey. Building on our extensive industry experience and internationally recognized operational standards, we are shaping a best-in-class implementation setup, combining clear, optimized processes with an agile, forward-looking team. Our success is driven by a strong commitment to LEAN methodologies, embedding continuous improvement into every aspect of our operations.

As part of our Growth Strategy at APM Terminals, we are investing in greenfield projects to expand our existing footprint and working with our existing brownfield sites to ensure best-in-class terminals across the globe. Our ability to design and build a terminal, establish an operational organization and secure commercial business is pivotal to achieving these ambitions.

The Senior Contract Lead provides independent contract governance, assurance, compliance oversight, portfolio monitoring, reporting and advisory support across BIM capital projects. The role supports Project Teams and Project Contracts Managers by promoting consistent application of the APM Terminals Contract Management Framework, strengthening contract controls, improving contractual reporting, and supporting proactive management of claims, variations, risks and disputes. The role works both with projects and across the BIM organisation to strengthen contract management capability, improve standards, embed lessons learned and support continuous improvement of contract management practices.

What We Offer:

At APMT Terminals, we foster a dynamic learning and training culture that empowers our employees to excel. Our commitment to improvement is driven by Lean principles, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to develop their skills and advance their careers. Experience a diverse, multinational workplace where your operational insights directly influence how we work.

Location: role is based in The Hague, Netherlands. The role may require occasional travel.

Position reports to: Contract Strategy & Execution Lead – BIM PMO

Key Responsibilities:

1. Contract Governance & Assurance

• Lead and support implementation of the Contract Management Framework across projects through guidance, assurance and targeted training.
• Promote consistent application of contract management standards, procedures, and governance requirements.
• Conduct periodic contract health checks and governance reviews.
• Review adherence to contractual approval authorities and delegated authority requirements.
• Monitor compliance with contractual processes, workflows, and documentation standards.
• Monitor implementation and close-out of audit findings and governance actions. Lead complex contract governance reviews and provide independent recommendations to senior project and BIM leadership.
• Review and challenge project contract management approaches to ensure alignment with portfolio objectives and contractual best practices.

2. Contract Compliance Monitoring

• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations, conditions precedent, milestones, deliverables, notice requirements, and key contractual deadlines.
• Verify that contractual obligations are appropriately tracked and managed by project teams.
• Monitor the validity and tracking of insurances, bonds, guarantees, securities, and warranties.
• Review project contract administration practices to ensure contractual obligations, notices, approvals and records are managed in accordance with approved procedures.
• Escalate material contractual non-compliance and emerging contractual concerns to the Contract Strategy & Execution Lead.
• Lead portfolio-wide reviews of contractual exposure, claims trends and dispute risks, identifying systemic issues and recommending mitigation strategies.
• Provide independent assurance on the effectiveness of contract controls across major capital projects.
• Maintain portfolio-level visibility of contractual status across all assigned projects.
• Monitor the reporting and management of project claims, variations, notices, compensation events, contractual correspondence, disputes, and key contractual risks.
• Monitor contractual exposure and emerging trends across the portfolio.
• Ensure contract registers, claims logs, variation logs, notice trackers and key contractual records are maintained to an agreed standard across projects.
• Identify recurring control issues and lessons learned for escalation into portfolio reporting and continuous improvement processes.
• Lead reviews of high-value or complex contractual risks and support development of mitigation and resolution strategies.
• Provide strategic advice on preservation of contractual entitlement and management of significant claims and disputes.

4. Contract Risk Management & Early Warning

• Monitor contractual risk exposure throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support early identification of contractual entitlement, exposure and potential claims to enable timely intervention and preservation of contractual rights.
• Support development, tracking and close-out of contractual risk response actions.
• Review contract risk registers and assess effectiveness of response actions.
• Promote proactive dispute avoidance and early intervention practices.
• Present contractual performance insights, emerging risks and recommendations to BIM leadership and governance forums.
• Lead development of portfolio-level contractual performance metrics, dashboards and maturity assessments.

5. Reporting, Analytics & Performance Insights

• Develop and maintain contract management reporting and performance dashboards.
• Produce periodic contract governance, compliance, claims, variation, dispute, and risk reports.
• Provide management with data-driven contractual insights and trend analysis.
• Develop and maintain contract management KPIs, leading indicators and performance metrics to support proactive portfolio oversight.
• Identify opportunities for improvement through analysis of contractual performance trends.
• Support stage-gate reviews and governance forums with contractual reporting and recommendations.

6. Contract Advisory Support

• Act as a trusted contract management advisor to the project teams.
• Provide independent review of contractual positions, correspondence, claims strategies, variation management approaches, and dispute avoidance measures.
• Coordinate with Legal, Procurement, Finance, Risk and Project Controls functions where contractual matters require cross-functional input or escalation.
• Contribute to development of contractual position papers and management briefings where required.
• Serve as the senior subject matter expert for complex contractual, claims and dispute matters across the BIM project portfolio.
• Support senior leadership in contractual decision-making and risk-based assessments.
• Lead development of management briefings, executive papers and contractual recommendations for critical project matters.

7. Capability Building & Continuous Improvement

• Support the development of organisational contract management capability across BIM projects.
• Deliver awareness sessions, workshops and coaching on contract governance, contract administration and best practices.
• Maintain a structured repository of contract management standards, templates, lessons learned, and training materials.
• Benchmark internal and external industry practices and recommend improvements to the Contract Management Framework.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen contract management maturity across the portfolio.
• Mentor and coach Contract Leads, Project Contracts Managers and project teams on advanced contract management practices.
• Champion adoption of industry best practices and drive contract management maturity initiatives across the organisation.

8. Interim Contracts Management

• When required and subject to agreed governance boundaries, act as interim Contracts Manager during contract drafting, negotiation or mobilisation phases, ensuring continuity of contract management support and appropriate handover to the appointed project Contracts Manager.

We are looking for people with:

• Proven experience managing contracts throughout the entire lifecycle: contract strategy, tendering and procurement, contract negotiation, contract administration, claims, dispute management, and close-out.
• Experience with FIDIC Contracts (Red, Yellow, White, Green, Blue, Silver Books) and well as with bespoke EPC, Design & Build and reimbursable contracts, concession, O&M or interface agreements
• Ability to interpret and apply contractual mechanisms, identify potential claims, assess time and cost impact of claims and Variations
• Experience with Dispute Board and Arbitration processes is a plus
• Experience developing and working with project standards and delivering project assurance from a preservation of contractual entitlement perspective
• Experience in developing reports and performance insights for contracts management
• Strong ability to influence senior stakeholders and project teams in a matrix organisation without direct authority.
• Excellent English written and verbal communication, presentation and facilitation skills. Any knowledge of other languages is a plus.
• Degree or equivalent experience in engineering, construction management, quantity surveying, law, commercial management, project management or a related discipline.
• Relevant professional qualifications such as FIDIC Certified Contract Manager, MRICS, MCIArb, PMP or equivalent are advantageous.
• Minimum 10 years of contracts management experience in construction, infrastructure, engineering, energy, ports, industrial or major capital projects
• Experience from a major civil infrastructure construction project is a major advantage
• 3 years of port industry experience, terminal construction or upgrade experience is a plus.
• We are looking for people who consistently puts customers first, leads by example with respect for people, delivers results with integrity, and drives continuous improvement by solving problems at the root, developing people, and raising standards every day.
• Continuous improvement mindset: we are looking for someone who brings a thoughtful improvement mindset—curious about how work gets done and motivated to make meaningful, sustainable improvements over time.

We’re excited to hear from you!

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

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