Contracts and Legal Expert

Khatib & Alami International; Muscat; On-site; OMR 15,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Khatib & Alami International is seeking a Contract & Legal Expert to lead contract review, negotiation, and administration across the procurement lifecycle for major infrastructure projects in Oman.

The role provides strategic contractual and commercial guidance, ensures compliance with laws and governance requirements, and supports timely project delivery. Requires a minimum 15 years in building/infrastructure contracts and strong English/Arabic communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineer or Quantity Survey and RICS
• Familiarity with local laws regulating the engineering / construction sectors in Oman
• Knowledge of risk management strategies
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic

Responsibilities

• Provide expert contractual advice related to supervision contracts to supervision project teams, as needed
• Support Senior Contracts Specialists with the provision of contractual advice to Supervision Project Managers and supervision teams in settlement of claims, variation orders and disputes between contractors and clients in Oman during supervision projects, as needed
• Review and interpret the Contracts, Agreements, and Terms of Reference (TOR) between the Client and the Developers, and identify all key contractual obligations, responsibilities, deliverables, interfaces, and performance requirements of the Client and Developers.
• Identify, assess, and monitor critical contractual, legal, commercial, financial, and delivery risks arising from the agreements with Developers and develop appropriate mitigation measures, risk allocation strategies, and contractual controls to protect the Client’s interests.
• Review the Developers’ contracts and agreements with their Consultants, Contractors, and other key stakeholders to ensure alignment with the Client’s requirements, the overall vision and objectives of the City, approved master plans, design guidelines, development standards, and applicable project requirements.
• Identify any inconsistencies, gaps, conflicts, or deviations between the Developers’ contractual arrangements and the Client’s vision, development strategy, design guidelines, and applicable requirements, and initiate and coordinate the necessary corrections, amendments, or contractual actions.
• Provide strategic contractual and commercial advice to the Client regarding Developer obligations, non-compliances, variations, claims, delays, risks, and other matters that may affect the Client’s interests, project objectives, cost, or schedule.
• Manage and coordinate interfaces between the Developers, Client, Consultants, Contractors, Authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure timely resolution of technical, contractual, commercial, and development-related matters.
• Support the Client in the interpretation and administration of Developer contracts, including identification of contractual remedies, notices, approvals, amendments, and other actions required to protect the Client’s interests.
• Promote effective contract management practices, lessons learned, standardization, and continuous improvement across Developer and project-related contracts.
• Perform any other contractual, legal, commercial, or procurement-related duties reasonably required by the Client in connection with the effective management and delivery of the development programme.
• Develop and maintain an archive of contracts developed by Client
• Attend periodic training to develop relevant skills in contract administration

Job description

The Contract & Legal Expert is responsible for the preparation, review, negotiation, administration, and management of contracts throughout the complete procurement and contract lifecycle. The role shall provide strategic contractual, legal, and commercial advice to safeguard the Client’s interests, ensure compliance with the approved procurement strategy, Conditions of Contract, applicable laws and regulations, and established governance requirements, and support the successful and timely delivery of the Client’s projects and development objectives.

• Ensure responsibilities are fulfilled with a high quality and in a cost-effective manner

Key Responsibilities (Customer Focus)

• Provide expert contractual advice related to supervision contracts to supervision project teams, as needed
• Support Senior Contracts Specialists with the provision of contractual advice to Supervision Project Managers and supervision teams in settlement of claims, variation orders and disputes between contractors and clients in Oman during supervision projects, as needed

Key Responsibilities (Internal Business Process)

• Review and interpret the Contracts, Agreements, and Terms of Reference (TOR) between the Client and the Developers, and identify all key contractual obligations, responsibilities, deliverables, interfaces, and performance requirements of the Client and Developers.
• Identify, assess, and monitor critical contractual, legal, commercial, financial, and delivery risks arising from the agreements with Developers and develop appropriate mitigation measures, risk allocation strategies, and contractual controls to protect the Client’s interests.
• Review the Developers’ contracts and agreements with their Consultants, Contractors, and other key stakeholders to ensure alignment with the Client’s requirements, the overall vision and objectives of the City, approved master plans, design guidelines, development standards, and applicable project requirements.
• Identify any inconsistencies, gaps, conflicts, or deviations between the Developers’ contractual arrangements and the Client’s vision, development strategy, design guidelines, and applicable requirements, and initiate and coordinate the necessary corrections, amendments, or contractual actions.
• Provide strategic contractual and commercial advice to the Client regarding Developer obligations, non-compliances, variations, claims, delays, risks, and other matters that may affect the Client’s interests, project objectives, cost, or schedule.
• Manage and coordinate interfaces between the Developers, Client, Consultants, Contractors, Authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure timely resolution of technical, contractual, commercial, and development-related matters.
• Support the Client in the interpretation and administration of Developer contracts, including identification of contractual remedies, notices, approvals, amendments, and other actions required to protect the Client’s interests.
• Promote effective contract management practices, lessons learned, standardization, and continuous improvement across Developer and project-related contracts.
• Perform any other contractual, legal, commercial, or procurement-related duties reasonably required by the Client in connection with the effective management and delivery of the development programme.

Key Responsibilities (Learning & Growth)

• Develop and maintain an archive of contracts developed by Client
• Attend periodic training to develop relevant skills in contract administration

Qualification, Technical Skills and Competencies

• Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineer or Quantity Survey and RICS
• Familiarity with local laws regulating the engineering / construction sectors in Oman
• Knowledge of risk management strategies
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic

Overall Experience Required to Execute this Role

• Minimum 15 years of experience in Building and Infrastructure works.

Specific Experience Required to Execute this Role

• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in contracts, commercial management, procurement, or contract administration.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Smart City, infrastructure, large-scale development, or technology-enabled infrastructure projects.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in the Middle East/GCC region is mandatory.