Contracts Manager

Position: Contracts Manager Company: Astra Engineering & Construction LLC Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Industry: Oil & Gas / Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC)

Job Summary

Excel Astra Engineering & Construction LLC is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to lead its Contracts Department and oversee contractual administration across the project lifecycle. The successful candidate will safeguard the Company's contractual and commercial interests through effective contract governance, claims and variation management, contractual risk assessment, and negotiations with clients, consultants, and subcontractors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Contracts Department, including team supervision, performance management, mentoring, and professional development.
• Establish and maintain consistent contract governance, procedures, controls, registers, reporting, and escalation mechanisms across projects.
• Lead the review, administration, and management of EPC contracts from tender and pre-award stages through execution, variations, claims, and final close-out.
• Oversee contractual claims, extensions of time (EOTs), and variations, ensuring timely notices, proper substantiation, contractual entitlement, negotiation, and recovery.
• Advise senior management, Project Directors, and project teams on contractual obligations, risks, liabilities, liquidated damages (LDs), payments, indemnities, insurance, termination, force majeure, and dispute resolution.
• Support Commercial and Procurement teams in managing subcontract terms, flow-down obligations, back-charges, performance bank guarantees (PBGs), warranties, subcontractor claims, EOTs, and disputes.
• Lead contractual negotiations with clients, consultants, and subcontractors to protect the Company's position while maintaining commercially practical relationships.
• Work closely with Legal, Commercial, Procurement, Finance, and Project teams to coordinate contractual matters and ensure clear responsibilities.
• Identify potential contractual disputes and risks early, maintain appropriate records, and implement effective mitigation, escalation, and dispute avoidance strategies.
• Monitor compliance with contractual requirements and ensure timely documentation, reporting, and closure of outstanding contractual matters.

Qualifications and Experience

• B. Tech in Engineering or a similar relevant qualification.
• An LLM or equivalent legal qualification is an added advantage.
• 15–18 years of relevant experience in contract management , preferably within Oil & Gas, EPC, engineering, or construction projects.
• Demonstrated experience in EPC contract administration, claims management, variations, EOTs, subcontract management, and contractual risk assessment.
• Proven leadership experience managing a Contracts Department or leading a contracts team.
• Strong knowledge of contractual terms, commercial risk, negotiation, dispute avoidance, and project lifecycle requirements.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong contractual analysis, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and communication abilities.
• Ability to provide sound contractual advice to senior management and project teams.
• Strong documentation, reporting, and risk management capabilities.
• Ability to balance contractual protection with practical project and commercial requirements.

Application Question(s):

• Have you completed a B. Tech in Engineering or a similar relevant qualification?
• Do you have 15–18 years of relevant experience in contract management, preferably within Oil & Gas, EPC, engineering, or construction projects?
• We need to fill the role at the earliest. If selected, can you join within one (1) month or sooner?

Work Location: In person