Assistant Director - Contracts

The job holder will oversee all contractual activities including contract administration, contract management and procurement activities related to function to ensure that all are in accordance with DHRE policies and contractual requirements.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Contract Management:

• Develop and implement comprehensive policies, procedures and templates that optimize value-added contractual support and oversight for the entire company, aligning with DHRE policies and maximizing procurement effectiveness.
• Drive contract compliance throughout the lifecycle: from inception and negotiation through, contract administration, contract compliance and analytics, closeout, and dispute resolution, minimizing risk and upholding contractual commitments.

Contract Administration and Negotiation:

• Provide expert support in dispute resolution: conducting analyses, recommending settlement strategies, and negotiating favorable outcomes for the company.
• Manage project execution cost control: administering change orders and claims with meticulous attention to detail and contractual terms.
• Support leadership in developing, recommending, negotiating and administering contracts and proposals: including bid evaluation awarding and ensuring fulfillment of all terms and conditions.

Procurement and Tender Management:

• Manage divisional procurement activities, ensuring adherence to policies, optimal price points, and consistent high-quality delivery across the organization.
• Conduct price benchmarking and sensitivity analyses to identify and mitigate cost variances in procurement, contributing to efficient budget management.
• Implement all procurement policies and procedures, including Contract Standing Orders and risk management processes, upholding high professional standards.
• Compile and analyze variation order statuses, identifying holding points and actively supporting stakeholders to resolve all pending variations, streamlining project progress.
• Execute comprehensive procurement strategies: managing all aspects of contract preparation, tendering, evaluation and award, from ITT development to document controls.
• Review and ensure compliance of Procurement Requests and RFPs: upholding DHRE guidelines, standards, procedures and policies for ethical and compliant procurement practices.

Contractual Compliance and Risk Management:

• Preparation of the draft tender or contract and the issuance of the same to all relative stakeholders including the Legal Team.
• Review proposals and tenders for adherence to RFP/tender requirements, flagging any deviations and working with stakeholders to address them for optimal project alignment.
• Coordination of any qualifications with the Legal Team and DHRE stakeholders to ensure agreement of all parties as to DHRE’s position with regard to such qualifications.
• Preparation of the final draft contract for the award purpose ensuring that the results of any negotiations or recommendations, protecting company interests while securing favorable partnerships and agreed internally within the DHRE structure, are reflected therein.
• Preparation of the NTP (Notice to Proceed) and the coordination of the sign off by all authorized signatories.
• Manage contract changes and variations, ensuring these are agreed in a timely manner and formalized as per contractual terms and conditions and company's procedures.
• Review the performance of contractors and consultants on periodical basis to ensure contract performance and compliance throughout the contract life including up to contract closeout.
• Manage of CAR & PI Insurance.
• Support the full lifecycle of all assigned claims files. Conduct thorough analysis and investigations necessary to determine claims exposure and recommend appropriate settlement strategies and action plans.

Legal and Claims Management:

• Liaise and collaborate with the legal team on relevant contract and tender matters, ensuring seamless legal support and compliance throughout the procurement process.
• Manage the full lifecycle of assigned claims files: performing thorough analyses, investigating exposure, recommending optimal settlement strategies, and executing action plans to effectively resolve claims.
• Manage CAR & PI Insurance: ensuring policy compliance, claims handling, and optimal risk mitigation strategies.

Desired Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Property Economics/ QS Business Administration/ Supply Chain Management, or Engineering; Master's degree - preferred.
• Professional certifications in contract management/ procurement (e.g., CPCM, CPPM, PMP) - preferred.
• Must possess strong knowledge in Project Management, Quantity Surveying and Risk Management.
• Min. 8-10 years with at least 5 years in senior managerial level.
• FIDIC Contractual knowledge (The International Federation of Consulting Engineers).
• MS office suite; Power BI- preferred for reports/dashboards.
• Clear understanding of construction laws, and standard forms of conditions of contracts practice in the industry.
• Good knowledge and understanding of contractual issues such as claims, risk management, commercial awareness and market intelligence.
• Knowledge of budgets and ensure adherence to corporate budget timelines.
• Achieve cost savings through negotiations.
• Manage budget and cost control.
• Ensure efficiency and reliability of contract administration and documentation.
• Commercial analysis and Risk analysis experience.
• Strong demonstrated recent experience leading a procurement function.
• Excellent attention to detail, follow-up and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage contractors/ vendors.
• Effective team management and leadership skills.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Demonstrated integrity and ability to manage confidential information and exercise appropriate judgment when taking risks.