Contracts Manager

WSP; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Medical cover

Generous annual leave

Professional subscriptions

Inclusive culture

Job summary

WSP is seeking a senior commercial leader to provide strategic leadership across major projects in Africa. You will govern commercial and contractual matters, shape risk strategies and mentor a team of professionals while interfacing with senior leadership.

The role emphasizes negotiation of complex contracts, dispute management, and ensuring regulatory and governance compliance across large infrastructure and energy programmes.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of senior commercial/contractual leadership on large infrastructure or energy projects.
• Deep expertise in NEC, FIDIC and bespoke contracts.
• Professional registration (e.g. RICS, SACQSP) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on commercial and contractual matters across major projects.
• Develop and implement commercial strategies aligned to objectives.
• Lead negotiation of complex contracts, variations, claims and final accounts.
• Advise project directors and senior leadership on contractual and risk issues.
• Oversee dispute resolution and engage legal advisors.
• Establish and enforce governance, controls and risk frameworks.
• Mentor senior/contracts professionals.
• Support tendering, pricing strategies and bid negotiations.
• Drive continuous improvement and best practice in commercial management.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual and governance requirements.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Negotiation

Dispute management

Governance & risk

Mentorship & leadership

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, Law or equivalent

Tools

NEC contracts

FIDIC contracts

Job description

WSP is one of the most diverse consulting firms in Africa. To further our strategic business execution plan, we are seeking leaders that share our guiding principles - we value our people and our reputation; we are locally dedicated with international scale; we are future focused and challenge the status quo; we foster collaboration in everything we do and we have an empowering culture and hold ourselves accountable. We are committed to the achievement and maintenance of diversity and equity in employment.

Key Role:

Provide strategic commercial and contractual leadership across major, high risk and complex projects or programmes. The role focuses on governance, risk management, commercial strategy, dispute management and leadership, supporting executive decision making and shaping best practice across the business.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership on commercial and contractual matters across major projects and programmes

Develop and implement commercial strategies aligned to business, project and client objectives

Lead negotiation of complex contracts, major variations, claims and final accounts

Act as a key advisor to project directors and senior leadership on contractual, risk and commercial issues

Oversee dispute resolution, claims strategy and engagement with legal advisors and external consultants

Establish and enforce commercial governance, controls and risk mitigation frameworks

Mentor and develop senior and intermediate contracts/commercial professionals

Support tendering, pricing strategies and contract negotiations at bid stage

Drive continuous improvement, lessons learnt and best practice in commercial management

Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual and corporate governance requirements

Health and Safety

• Role model standards for SHEQ performance and behaviour consistent with the company's health, safety, environmental and quality vision and policies by influencing those around you
• Contributing to the identification of SHEQ risks and driving processes to achieve Zero Harm
• Embracing, displaying and promoting the company values and ensuring a safe working environment is maintained at all times

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, Law or equivalent
• 15+ years' experience in senior commercial/contractual leadership roles on large infrastructure or energy projects
• Deep expertise in NEC, FIDIC and bespoke contracts
• Professional registration (e.g. RICS, SACQSP) strongly preferred

Key Competencies and Generic

• Strategic commercial leadership
• Expert negotiation and dispute management skills
• Strong governance and risk management capability
• Mentorship, influence and decision making at Senior Level

Additional Information

What's in it for you?

What if we can have work-life balance? What if we can be rewarded in ways that support our individual needs? What if we can be accepted for who we are? Here at WSP - we can! WSP recognizes that work is only one part of our lives and making time for the other things in our life is important - be that our families, our friends or ourselves. So, if working from home, working part-time or having flexible start and finish time will help with this let us know as part of your application. As well as rewarding you with competitive pay, WSP offers standard benefits including first class medical cover, generous days annual leave, and paid professional subscriptions. Be you, be happy - we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture which respects and maximizes the contribution individuals can bring to WSP. We recognize the benefits that people with varying backgrounds and experiences can bring. Here at WSP we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy or maternity/paternity. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.