Contract Manager

DHK; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary commensurate with经验

Exposure to iconic projects across the

Career development opportunities

Studio culture

Job summary

dhk Architects, one of Africa's largest architectural studios, seeks a Contract Manager for its Cape Town team. You will administer contracts, coordinate bids, and support commercial risk management across projects.

You will advise on rights and obligations, manage variations, payments, and schedule adherence, while coordinating with engineers, QS, finance, and clients on site and in office environments. A relevant engineering degree and solid bid experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Civil, Structural, or Mechanical).
• 5–10 years of construction project contract management experience.
• Experience with supervision consultants or engineers teams.
• Strong knowledge of contract administration and negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Administer bid/tender contracts and ensure compliance.
• Review variations and prepare contractual assessments.
• Oversee interim payments, final accounts, and certification support.
• Monitor programmes, delays, and risk mitigation.
• Prepare contract reports and coordinate with project stakeholders.

Skills

Contract management

Tender coordination

Negotiation

Documentation

On-site coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil/Structural/Mechanical)

Tools

eTenders

Job description

dhk Architects is one of the largest architectural studios in Africa. We deliver buildings, public spaces and interiors that are contextually sensitive, environmentally responsible and technically resilient, resulting in exceptional places that elevate the human experience. dhk is part of 10N, a collective of urbanism, architecture and related design experts brought together by Egis Group.

Our strength as a design-focused, multidisciplinary studio lies in an integrated combination of creative talent, advanced technical capability including digital delivery, on-site implementation expertise and a clear understanding of commercial development strategy.

We work from studios in Cape Town and Johannesburg, delivering a portfolio of award-winning projects that spans geographies and scales. We design for clients in multiple sectors, including commercial, residential, hospitality and leisure, retail, healthcare and education, among others.

What we're looking for:

We’re looking for a Contract Manager to join our Cape Town-based team.

The Contract Manager shall be responsible for the effective administration and management of the construction contract and bid coordination, ensuring full compliance with the Contract and tender Agreement and the Client’s requirements. The role supports the supervision consultant in safeguarding contractual, commercial, and risk interests throughout project execution.

Requirements

Contract Administration

Administer the bid/ tendercontracts

Advise the Project Director / Resident Engineer on contractual rights, obligations, and risks.

Manage contractual correspondence, notices, determinations, and formal communications.

Ensure compliance with contractual procedures, timelines, and approval requirements.

• Identifying and reviewing tender/bid opportunities (often via portals like eTenders in South Africa, or similar procurement platforms)
  
• Coordinating input from various departments (finance, legal, technical, operations) to compile a complete bid
  
• Ensuring compliance with tender requirements (documentation, BBBEE certificates, tax clearance, etc. — especially relevant in SA)
  
• Managing submission deadlines and formatting requirements
  
• Maintaining a tender/bid tracking register or database
  
• Liaising with clients or procurement officers for clarifications
  
• Drafting or reviewing contract terms once a bid is successful
  
• Filing and archiving submitted bids and related contracts
  

Claims & Variations Management

Review and assess Variation Orders, and change requests.

Prepare contractual assessments and recommendations.

Maintain a comprehensive Variation Register.

Payments & Commercial Control

Review Interim Payment Applications (IPAs) and Final Accounts in coordination with the Quantity Surveyor or Project Controller.

Verify contractual compliance related to payment, retention, advance payments, and deductions.

Support the certification process in line with contract provisions.

Time & Delay Management

Review baseline and updated programmes from a contractual perspective.

Monitor contractual milestones and notice requirements related to delay events.

Identify contractual and commercial risks and propose mitigation measures.

Ensure adherence to countrylaws, regulations, and local authority requirements.

Support dispute avoidance and resolution through proactive contract management.

Reporting & Coordination

Prepare contractual reports, summaries, and dashboards for the Client and Consultant management.

Coordinate closely with Resident Engineers, discipline engineers, planners, QS, and the Client/PMC.

Support audits and provide contractual input during meetings and negotiations.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Civil, Structural, Mechanical, or equivalent).

Minimum 5–10 years of experience in construction projects, with significant exposure to contract management roles.

Proven experience working within a Supervision Consultant or Engineer’s team.

Strong knowledge of contract administration practices.

Strong contractual, analytical, and negotiation skills.

Strong tender/ bid coordination experience.

High attention to detail and strong documentation skills.

Ability to work independently on site and manage multiple stakeholders.

Strong commercial awareness and problem-solving capability

• A competitive salary commensurate with experience and expertise.
  
• Exposure to iconic urban and architectural projects across the continent.
  
• Career development opportunities in a progressive, design-led environment
  
• A studio culture grounded in innovation, excellence, and collaboration.