Contract Specialist

Background:

At Nicholas O'Dwyer, sustainability is at the core of our work. If you are looking to advance your career in a socially responsible company, which has a proven track record over 90 years, and is committed to creating a sustainable planet, we invite you to be part of our team.

Our mission is to provide innovative and reliable solutions using cutting edge technology and expertise, to ensure project success and employee satisfaction. We deliver infrastructure projects in water, wastewater, transportation, civil and structural engineering, flood protection, and energy including renewables. With headquarters in Ireland, we also operate in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

As part of the RSK Group, an amalgamation of over 200 companies with more than 15,000 employees, we benefit from a global network of opportunities while retaining our brand and autonomy.

Project Overview:

This project aims to manage and develop a dedicated Suai Supply Base, through a Design-Build and Finance contract. The Supervision works of SSB design build contract will provide specialized project management advice and expertise in the development of onshore and offshore works for the project. 

We are currently seeking an experienced Contract Specialist with a minimum of 20 years' post-graduate experience to join our team in the region. The ideal candidate will bring proven leadership in overseeing complex infrastructure projects, strong contract administration skills, and will be responsible for overseeing the execution of the DBF Contract on all phases of the project. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a transformative infrastructure project with significant national impact and the chance to build lasting capacity within a growing infrastructure programme in Southeast Asia.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reporting to Team Lead;
• Support the drafting, negotiation, and finalization of DBF contracts, subcontracts, consultancy agreements, and procurement packages in coordination with legal and commercial advisors.
• Administer and manage contracts throughout the lifecycle of the project including claim management, change orders, variations, and payment terms.
• Ensure compliance with international construction contract frameworks (e.g., FIDIC, NEC, or bespoke forms), and local laws and regulations.
• Advise project management and engineering teams on contractual obligations, deliverables, risks, and opportunities.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date contractual documentation and correspondence logs.
• Liaise with internal teams and external stakeholders (contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and government agencies).
• Lead and coordinate the resolution of contractual disputes and claims and assist in mitigation planning.
• Monitor milestone achievements, deliverable tracking, and enforce commercial close-out protocols.
• Prepare reports and summaries for internal and external audits or reviews.
• Maintaining a culture of continuous improvement across all aspects of the working environment and projects.
• To ensure maximum flexibility and to reflect the Company's evolving needs, additional tasks and responsibilities will form part of this role as it evolves.
• Perform other such duties as may be reasonably required.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:

• Minimum of 20 years of related to Project/Contract Experience Management of large construction projects;
• Preferably has expertise in preparing /managing /overseeing implementation of infrastructure contracts under FIDIC Conditions of Contract;
• Previous experience in a similar capacity on at least 2 (two) supply bases or port construction projects of similar nature with each project of 200 (two hundred) million USD or more construction cost;
• Relevant international experience and working experience of at least 2 (two) years in developing countries;
• Minimum of BSc degree qualified in Civil Engineering or other related fields;
• Proficiency in contract management tools or enterprise systems;
• Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English;
• Excellent communication, reporting and computer skills;
• Experience on projects funded by international financing institutions;
• Experience on Contract Conditions such as FIDIC Yellow Book;
• Member of Professional Institution / Registered Engineer;
• Competent in office packages, Microsoft, excel PowerPoint etc.;
• Good time management skills, with the ability to prioritise work and manage many tasks concurrently;
• Excellent clear and concise communication skills and the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team;
• Strong cultural awareness and understanding of working in developing countries;
• You will have an agile and “Can Do” mindset;
• Ambitions self-starter with high self-standards;
• Motivated to be part of a Company with a real purpose, improving the quality of people’s lives and communities;