Commercial / Contracts Manager - Roads & Bridges

Atkins Realis Group; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Atkins Realis Group in Saudi Arabia seeks a Contracts Manager to lead contract administration, governance and commercial compliance across large-scale projects. You will manage client, consultant, contractor and subcontractor contracts throughout the project lifecycle, protect commercial interests and ensure timely, accurate documentation.

The role requires 15+ years in contract administration and 8+ years in senior roles, with proven experience in FIDIC-based contracts on multi-hundred-million

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree in Construction Law, Commercial Management, Business Administration (MBA), or Project Management is highly desirable.
• MRICS, MCIArb, or equivalent accreditation is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 15 years in contract administration and commercial management.
• Minimum 8 years in a Contracts Manager or senior contract administration role.
• Extensive experience administering FIDIC-based contracts on projects exceeding USD 250 million.
• Experience within Saudi Arabia and the GCC region is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the administration of all contracts associated with the client.
• Develop and implement contract administration procedures and governance frameworks.
• Monitor contractor, consultant, and supplier performance against contractual commitments.
• Coordinate with legal and commercial teams during disputes and negotiations.
• Establish change control procedures and manage variations and change proposals.
• Identify and assess contractual and commercial risks and maintain risk logs.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Claims analysis

Commercial acumen

Risk management

Stakeholder mgmt

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree desirable

MRICS / MCIArb preferred

Job description

The Contracts Manager will be responsible for leading all contract administration, contractual compliance, claims management, change management and commercial governance activities for the Projects. The role will ensure effective administration of client, consultant, contractor and subcontractor contracts throughout the project lifecycle while protecting the commercial and contractual interests of the project.

Contract Administration amp Management

• Lead the administration of all contracts associated with the client
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations project procedures and client requirements
• Interpret contract terms and provide contractual guidance to project leadership and project teams
• Develop and implement contract administration procedures and governance frameworks
• Monitor contractor consultant and supplier performance against contractual commitments
• Ensure all contractual correspondence is properly managed and documented
• Maintain contract registers obligations trackers and contract compliance records

Claims amp Dispute Resolution

• Assess contractual entitlement and supporting documentation
• Develop contractual strategies to protect project interests
• Prepare contractual responses determinations and recommendations
• Support negotiation and resolution of disputes
• Coordinate with legal and commercial teams during dispute avoidance and dispute resolution processes

Change Management amp Variations

• Establish and manage project change control procedures
• Review and assess variation requests and change proposals
• Evaluate commercial and contractual implications of design changes scope modifications and construction changes
• Maintain variation registers and change management records
• Support negotiations with contractors and consultants regarding variation valuations and contractual entitlements
• Monitor change implementation and contractual approvals

Commercial amp Contractual Risk Management

• Identify and assess contractual and commercial risks
• Maintain contract risk registers and issue logs
• Provide recommendations to project leadership regarding contractual risk exposure
• Support project contingency planning and risk management workshops

Procurement amp Tendering Support

• Support preparation of tender documentation and contract conditions
• Review Requests for Proposal RFPs tender packages and procurement strategies
• Participate in technical and commercial bid evaluations
• Assess deviations qualifications and commercial risks within contractor submissions
• Support contract negotiations and award recommendations
• Ensure procurement activities align with project governance requirements

Payment amp Commercial Administration

• Review interim payment applications and contractor assessments
• Validate compliance with contractual payment provisions
• Support commercial and quantity surveying teams in payment certification processes
• Ensure accurate administration of contract milestones and payment mechanisms
• Monitor financial obligations and contractual deliverables

Stakeholder amp Client Management

• Lead contractual meetings and commercial negotiations
• Develop strong working relationships with key stakeholders
• Support executive decision-making on contractual matters

FIDIC Contract Administration

• Provide expert administration of FIDIC contracts and related contractual frameworks
• Ensure compliance with contractual notice requirements and time bars
• Support preparation of contractual notices and communications
• Advise project leadership on obligations and rights under contract conditions

Leadership amp Team Management

• Lead and mentor contract administrators quantity surveyors and commercial personnel
• Establish contractual awareness across project teams
• Provide training and guidance on contractual compliance and best practices
• Promote collaboration between engineering commercial planning and legal functions
• Drive continuous improvement in contract management processes

Health Safety amp Compliance

• Ensure contractual provisions relating to HSE quality environmental compliance and project controls are effectively administered
• Verify contractor compliance with contractual HSE obligations
• Support project governance and regulatory compliance requirements
• Promote ethical and transparent contract management practices

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.
• Master's Degree in Construction Law, Commercial Management, Business Administration (MBA), or Project Management is highly desirable.
• MRICS, MCIArb, or equivalent accreditation is preferred.
• Experience Requirements
• Minimum 15 years of experience in contract administration and commercial management.
• Minimum 8 years in a Contracts Manager or senior contract administration role.
• Strong experience administering FIDIC-based contracts on projects exceeding USD 250 million.
• Previous experience with consultant, PMC, client-side, or major contractor organizations.
• Extensive experience within Saudi Arabia and the GCC region is highly desirable.

Key Skills

• Contract negotiation and administration expertise.
• Claims analysis and dispute resolution capabilities.
• Strong commercial and contractual acumen.
• Excellent risk management skills.
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills.
• Leadership and team development capabilities.

Behavioral Competencies

• Strategic and commercially astute.
• High level of integrity and professional judgment.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Proactive and solutions-focused mindset.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage complex contractual matters.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills.