Contract Manager (Oil and Gaz)

Bureaux; Doha; On-site; QAR 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

A Contracts Manager is sought to lead the EPC contract administration for a major energy project in Doha. The role oversees change control, claims, disputes, and risk mitigation, coordinating with Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Project Controls.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in contracts and commercial management on large EPCs (LSTK), with strong negotiation skills, regional knowledge, and a track record of steering complex commercial positions with major

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Law, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification in Construction Law or Commercial Management is highly desirable.
• Experience: 15+ years of contracts and commercial management experience on major, large-scale EPC projects (preferably LNG, mega-energy, or oil & gas infrastructure).
• Contract Expertise: Proven track record in lump-sum turnkey (LSTK) EPC contracts, including high-value claims, formal change management procedures, and complex force majeure management.
• Negotiation: Demonstrated experience directly negotiating complex commercial and contractual positions with National Oil Companies (NOCs) or major international operators.
• Jurisdictional Knowledge: Working knowledge of regional legal and contractual practices, including statutory codes relevant to major Middle Eastern jurisdictions (e.g., Civil Code provisions regarding construction contracts).

Responsibilities

• Administer the EPC Agreement, including notice requirements, time bars, submissions, approvals, and record-keeping.
• Review and issue contractual correspondence to the Client, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and strict compliance with the Agreement.
• Advise project leadership and operational teams on the contractual implications of instructions, directives, and day-to-day project decisions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate formal Amendments with the Client, working directly with corporate legal teams in the finalization of terms and conditions.
• Prepare, substantiate, and submit claims for extensions of time, additional cost, and contractual relief, backed by solid contemporaneous records.

Skills

Contract negotiation

EPC contracts

Change management

Dispute resolution

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Law, Engineering, Quantity Surveying

Postgraduate qualification in Construction Law or Commercial Management

Job description

Position Title: Contracts Manager

Reporting Line: Project Controls Manager

Accountability

The Contracts Manager is responsible for the overall administration of the EPC Contract, ensuring the protection of the Joint Venture’s contractual and commercial interests. The role leads the Contracts and Change Team and provides strategic contractual support to Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Commissioning, and Project Controls functions.

The Contracts Manager is responsible for the identification, evaluation, preparation, submission, negotiation, and resolution of contractual matters—including change requests, claims, notices, disputes, and commercial risk mitigation measures—and acts as the principal contractual interface with the Client.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Administration & Compliance

• Administer the EPC Agreement, including notice requirements, time bars, submissions, approvals, and record-keeping.
• Review and issue contractual correspondence to the Client, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and strict compliance with the Agreement. Close interaction is required with key stakeholders, including Project Management, Engineering, Construction, Commissioning, SHES, Quality, and Project Controls.
• Advise project leadership and operational teams on the contractual implications of instructions, directives, and day-to-day project decisions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate formal Amendments with the Client, working directly with corporate legal teams in the finalization of terms and conditions.

Claims & Dispute Management

• Prepare, substantiate, and submit claims for extensions of time, additional cost, and contractual relief, backed by solid contemporaneous records.
• Manage force majeure events from initial notification through to substantiation, mitigation reporting, and final resolution.
• Assess and respond to Client claims, including notifications of potential defects.
• Lead and support commercial negotiations with the Client, including settlement of claims, handover milestones, and project completion positions.
• Manage contractual disputes with the Client, developing comprehensive claim strategies on both individual and project-wide bases.
• Support procurement and subcontract management teams in negotiations with major vendors and subcontractors, advising on flow-down requirements.
• Ensure back-to-back alignment between subcontract terms and the main EPC Agreement.

Change Management

• Oversee and support the Change Team in the preparation of Change Requests covering cost, schedule, and technical impacts.
• Identify, notify, and manage change events, including Client-directed changes, changes in law, scope variations, and force majeure occurrences.
• Support the Change Team in negotiating Change Requests through to final agreement and formal Change Order execution.

Reporting & Governance

• Functional Reporting: Head of Contract Management Department
• Operational Reporting: Project Controls Manager / Project Director
• Direct Supervision: Contract Engineers, Change Specialists, and associated contract management resources
• Key Internal Interfaces: Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, Subcontracting, Construction, Planning, Cost Control, Finance, Legal, Compliance, Insurance, Tax, and Treasury
• Key External Interfaces: Client Representatives, Joint Venture / Consortium Partners, Major Subcontractors, Vendors, and relevant project third parties
• Provide regular reporting on contractual risk, claims status, change exposure, and legal entitlement to project leadership and Joint Venture partners.
• Participate in formal Client meetings, record or review agreed minutes, and track contractual action items.
• Maintain rigorous document control standards for contractual records to an evidentiary standard suitable for dispute resolution or arbitration.

Qualifications & Experience

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Law, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline. A postgraduate qualification in Construction Law or Commercial Management is highly desirable.

Experience: 15+ years of contracts and commercial management experience on major, large-scale EPC projects (preferably LNG, mega-energy, or oil & gas infrastructure).

Contract Expertise: Proven track record in lump-sum turnkey (LSTK) EPC contracts, including high-value claims, formal change management procedures, and complex force majeure management.

Negotiation: Demonstrated experience directly negotiating complex commercial and contractual positions with National Oil Companies (NOCs) or major international operators.

Jurisdictional Knowledge: Working knowledge of regional legal and contractual practices, including statutory codes relevant to major Middle Eastern jurisdictions (e.g., Civil Code provisions regarding construction contracts).