Main tasks and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Strategic Contract Leadership
- Own the overall contractual and commercial strategy for the project, advising the Head of Special Projects / Project Director on positioning, risk exposure, and entitlement across all major issues.
- Lead the interpretation of complex contractual provisions and set the strategic direction for how the project team responds to Client position.
- Anticipate contractual and commercial risk at a project-wide level and shape mitigation strategy before issues escalate.
- Represent VWT's contractual position directly to the Client's senior leadership as may be required.
Client & Consortium Interface
- Act as the primary contractual point of contact with the Client (including Client Project Director-level counterparts) and consortium partners as applicable.
- Lead high-stakes negotiations on major variations, claims, and disputed positions, balancing firm entitlement protection with the preservation of a constructive Client relationship.
- Align consortium partners on joint contractual strategy, ensuring a unified position is presented to the Client on shared risk items.
- Represent the project in EPC-Client coordination meetings, framing contractual issues within the broader commercial and relationship context.
Contract Administration
- Oversee all contractual correspondence, notices, and formal communications with the Client, sub vendors and or Subcontractors in accordance with contract requirements (e.g., FIDIC, bespoke EP/ EPC Contracts).
- Ensure contractual notice periods, deadlines, and approval timelines are tracked and enforced (e.g., delay notices, claims provisions etc…).
- Maintain oversight of the contract register, ensuring key obligations, milestones, and compliance status are current and defensible.
Variations & Change Management
- Direct the preparation, evaluation, and negotiation of Variation Orders / Change Orders, ensuring proper substantiation of cost and time impact.
- Coordinate with Engineering, Procurement, and Construction leadership to build robust technical and commercial justifications for change requests.
- Own the Variation/Change Order log at a strategic level, prioritizing high-value items and driving them through to close-out.
Claims & Dispute Management
- Lead the development of Extension of Time (EOT) claims and associated cost claims, ensuring alignment with contractual entitlement and supporting evidence (program, correspondence, site records).
- Own claim strategy and timing, including positioning relative to SPV and Client, in coordination with the Project Director and/or the Project Manager.
- Lead dispute resolution processes, including negotiation, mediation, or formal dispute board proceedings, and represent the VWT's position in escalated disputes.
Risk & Compliance
- Identify contractual risks at both project and consortium level, advising Project Leadership on mitigation strategies before exposure crystallizes.
- Ensure compliance with contract terms, local regulatory requirements, and VWT governance policies across the project.
- Oversee insurance, bonding, and guarantee administration as required by contract.
Subcontract / Subvendor Management
- Oversee the drafting, negotiation, and administration of subcontracts, ensuring back-to-back alignment with main contract terms.
- Provide senior oversight on significant subcontractor claims, variations, and performance issues.
Team Leadership
- Lead and mentor Project Managers and Engineers, building team capability in claims preparation, negotiation, and contract administration.
- Review and approve key contractual deliverables prepared by the wider Operations team before external issue.
Reporting
- Provide senior leadership and Client-facing reporting on contractual status, claims strategy, variation status, and risk exposure, including input to executive briefings.
Key Relationships
- Internal: Head of Special Projects, Project Director, Engineering Director, Sales / Tenders Director, Engineering Manager, Procurement Manager, Project Managers, Operations Team.
- External: Client Project Director and senior leadership, Consortium Partners (JV/EPC partners) as applicable, Regulatory Bodies, Subvendors / Subcontractors, External Legal Counsel.