Contract Administrator

Khatib & Alami; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Khatib & Alami is seeking a meticulous Contract Administrator to lead the management of FIDIC Red/Yellow Book contracts, lead design consultant agreements, and PMC interfaces in Riyadh. You will drive notices, claims, variations, and interfacing between design and construction teams to protect the Employer's interests across multiple projects.

The role demands extensive experience with FIDIC contracts, strong commercial acumen, and fluency in English and Arabic.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or related field.
• 15+ years of proven Contract Administrator experience on major construction projects.
• Professional certification (MRICS, CIArb, PMP) and formal FIDIC contract training.
• Hands-on experience with FIDIC contracts and PMC/Employer-side administration.
• Strong MS Office, document control (Aconex), and claims evaluation skills.
• Fluent English and Arabic; Saudi national or Arab nationals preferred.

Responsibilities

• Administer contracts under FIDIC Red Book, Yellow Book, and Lead Design Consultant Agreements.
• Interpret terms, conditions, and scope across PMC, Employer, and Contractors.
• Manage notices, claims, variations, and change orders.
• Evaluate EOTs and payment applications with PMC and Employer teams.
• Maintain meticulous contract records and draft clear correspondence.
• Coordinate with design and construction teams to mitigate risks.
• Monitor defect liability, performance securities, and warranties.

Skills

FIDIC Red Book

FIDIC Yellow Book

Contract administration

Claims management

Design consultant agreements

MS Office

Aconex

Arbitration knowledge

English & Arabic

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

MRICS

CIArb

PMP

Tools

Aconex

MS Office

Contract management software

Job description

We are seeking a meticulous and experienced Contract Administrator to join our Project Management Consultancy (PMC) team. The successful candidate will be responsible for administering a complex portfolio of contracts, specifically the FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Construction (Red Book), FIDIC Conditions of Contract for Plant & Design-Build (Yellow Book), and Lead Design Consultant Service Agreements. This role involves managing the contractual relationships between the Employer, Construction Contractors, and Design Consultants, ensuring compliance, mitigating interface risks, and facilitating smooth project execution across both design and construction phases.

Role Summary Reporting directly to the project manager, the Contract Administrator will be the key personnel from the PMC (acting as The Engineer or Employer’s Representative) responsible for managing the commercial and contractual obligations of multiple parties. This multi-faceted role requires a candidate capable of navigating the distinct risk profiles of standard construction (Red Book remeasurement and Employer-led design), Contractor-led design-build (Yellow Book lumpsum and fitness-for-purpose), and professional services (Consultant standard of care and design deliverables). The selected candidate will safeguard the Employer’s interests through rigorous notice management, claim evaluation, change control, and interface management between the design and construction teams.

Responsibilities

1. 1. Administer contracts in strict accordance with the FIDIC Red Book, FIDIC Yellow Book, Lead Design Consultant Agreements, and applicable laws.
2. 2. Interpret diverse contract terms, conditions, specifications, and scope boundaries for the PMC team, Employer.
3. 3. Ensure all parties comply with their respective contractual obligations, and procedural timelines.
4. 4. Manage the contractual boundaries and liability hand-offs between the Lead Design Consultant and the Construction Contractors, particularly regarding design coordination, clarifications, and construction-phase design support.
5. 5. Monitor the "Review Period" for Contractor’s Documents to prevent "deemed approvals".
6. 6. Administer remeasurement processes, bill of quantities (BOQ) variations, and manage risks associated with Employer/Consultant-provided design delivery to the Contractor.
7. 7. Monitor the Lead Design Consultant’s adherence to deliverable schedules, standard of care obligations, and professional indemnity requirements.
8. 8. Maintain meticulous records of all contract correspondence, instructions, variations, and decisions. Draft all clear, contractually sound, and objective responses to incoming letters.
9. 9. Evaluate Milestone Payment Applications and Interim Payment Certificates against the contractual provision.
10. 10. Administer the Variation Procedure across all contracts, evaluating the impact of scope changes. Prepare and coordinate with the Employer to issue Variation Orders.
11. 11. Review and assess claims for Extension of Time (EOT) and Additional Payment from Contractors and Consultants. Lead the evaluation process alongside the Employer’s, technical, and PMC teams.
12. 12. Draft formal Engineer's Determinations or recommendations. Prepare briefing notes for the Employer regarding potential risks or high-value disputes.
13. 13. Prepare Taking-Over Certificates, final account certificates, and performance certificates for Contractors, as well as Services Completion certificates for Consultants. Coordinate with the Project Manager and Employer for issuance.
14. 14. Issue defect liability notifications, monitor the Defects Notification Period (DNP), and manage formal closure.
15. 15. Manage the administration and validity of Performance Securities, Advance Payment Guarantees, and all required Insurances.
16. 16. Coordinate with the technical team to ensure "Employer’s Requirements" are met.
17. 17. Draft all correspondences, notices, and responses to the received letters.
18. 18. Prepare Taking Over Certificates, final account certificates, final account reports, and performance certificates. Coordinate with the Project Manager and Employers for approval and issuance.
19. 19. Prepare detailed recommendations and justification for the Employer's approval.

Technical Skills

1. 1. Proven track record managing the full project lifecycle across FIDIC Red Book (Construction), FIDIC Yellow Book (Design-Build), and Professional Services/Design Consultant agreements.
2. 2. Must have extensive experience working on the Project Management Consultant side, simultaneously managing Main Contractors, Lead Designers, and vendors on behalf of the Employer.
3. 3. Expert-level ability to manage complex claim cycles and strict adherence to FIDIC forms of contract.
4. 4. Ability to draft Engineer’s instructions, claim evaluations, Determinations, and formal contractual correspondence capable of withstanding legal/arbitration scrutiny.
5. 5. Proven experience and firm awareness of delay analysis techniques and their practical applications in assessing EOT claims.
6. 6. Strong commercial acumen to negotiate variations, rate build-ups, and final settlements without compromising the Employer's strategic or financial position.
7. 7. Unwavering attention to detail and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary PMC teams (project managers, engineers, planners, cost controllers) to assess technical impacts on commercial obligations.
8. 8. Maintains strict contractual integrity and ethical standards under pressure from stakeholders.
9. 9. Anticipates contractual bottlenecks and interfaces and acts decisively to prevent them.
10. 10. Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills; capable of distilling complex contractual matters into clear, actionable advice.
11. 11. Fluent proficiency in both English and Arabic (Preferably Saudi National or Arab Nationals) only.

Qualifications

1. 1. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or a related field.
2. 2. Minimum of 15 years of proven experience as a Contract Administrator on major construction projects.
3. 3. Professional certification (e.g., MRICS, CIArb, PMP). Formal training in FIDIC contracts.
4. 4. Demonstrable hands-on experience working with the FIDIC suite of contracts, and bespoke/standard professional consultancy agreements.
5. 5. Experience working within a Project Management Consultant (PMC) or Engineer's organization, administering contracts on behalf of the Employer.
6. 6. Strong understanding of construction law, contract law principles, and claims management.
7. 7. Proficient in MS Office Suite, document control systems (e.g., Aconex), and project management/contract administration software.