Contracts Manager

About the Role

KEO Group is seeking a highly experienced Contracts Manager to join its site supervision team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role involves leading and managing all commercial, contractual, and financial aspects of enabling and early works packages, acting on behalf of the Client as part of the Site Supervision Consultant team. The position requires a minimum of 10 years of experience.

Role Overview

The Contracts Manager will be responsible for contract administration, commercial governance, cost control, change management, and claims management. The primary objective is to protect the Client’s commercial position while supporting the timely and compliant delivery of works. This role involves close coordination with the Engineer, Client representatives, project management teams, contractors, cost consultants, and legal advisors, with a focus on early works risk, productivity control, and dispute avoidance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead contract administration for enabling and early works packages, including mass earthworks, stockpile removal, construction haul roads, utilities, and temporary works.
• Administer the Contract in accordance with the Conditions of Contract (including FIDIC-based forms), ensuring compliance with notice provisions, procedures, and time bars.
• Manage all contractual correspondence, notices, early warnings, claims, and determinations in coordination with the Engineer.
• Provide contractual and commercial advice to the Client and supervision team on entitlements, risks, mitigation strategies, and commercial exposure.
• Support procurement strategies, tender evaluations, commercial comparisons, and recommendations for contract award or amendment.
• Monitor, control, and report project budgets, cost forecasts, commitments, and cash flow for early works packages.
• Review, assess, and recommend certification of interim payment applications, dayworks, and final accounts.
• Manage change control processes, including valuation of variations, compensation events, and instructed changes.
• Lead the assessment and management of contractor claims, including extensions of time, prolongation, disruption, and acceleration claims.
• Maintain and update contract risk registers, proactively identifying and managing commercial and contractual risks.
• Support dispute avoidance strategies through timely administration, accurate records, and commercial negotiation.
• Coordinate with legal advisors and external consultants as required on contractual or dispute-related matters.
• Act as the primary commercial interface between the Client, Engineer, contractors, and other consultants.
• Lead, manage, and mentor commercial and quantity surveying team members within the supervision team.
• Participate in commercial meetings, negotiations, and high-level project reviews with the Client and contractors.
• Ensure compliance with governance procedures, audit requirements, and best-practice commercial controls.
• Prepare commercial reports, recommendations, determinations, and contractual correspondence for Client approval.
• Maintain accurate and auditable records of contracts, variations, claims, payments, and financial status.
• Support audits, reviews, and compliance checks undertaken by the Client or regulatory bodies.

Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of experience in contracts and commercial management on large-scale construction or infrastructure projects.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Construction Management, Law, or a related discipline.
• Professional membership with a recognized commercial or quantity surveying institution is preferred.
• Experience operating within a supervision consultant or Engineer-led environment is advantageous.

Work Location

This position is based in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Application Information

Candidates meeting the specified qualifications are encouraged to apply.