Contract Specialist

Our client is an Abu Dhabi group with core operations in beverage and nicotine product manufacturing and distribution. Supported by strategic investment, the group prioritizes modern production technology, regulatory adherence, and portfolio diversification. They are currently broadening their footprint in the UAE through expansion into general construction.

What we offer
Your salary is tax free! You will have the opportunity to expand your network and be a part of a dynamic and growing company. Our client offers you healthcare insurance, annual tickets and other benefits befitting the position.

Who you are
As a Contract Specialist, you are a strategic risk manager and commercial steward who protects business interests and ensures total compliance across every stage of the project lifecycle, from pre-contract drafting through final close-out. You act as an authoritative link across departments, driving end-to-end compliance with UAE law, ensuring back-to-back alignment, and supporting procurement.

Skills & Competencies
Strong contract drafting, reviewing, and negotiation skills in English.
Disciplined control of deadlines, notices, and time bars; detail-oriented.
Ability to clarify obligations for technical and site teams.
Proficient in MS Office and document management; fluent English (Arabic is a plus).

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Law, QS, Construction Management, or Civil Engineering (postgraduate, MCIArb, or MRICS is a plus).
• 5–7 years of contract administration experience with UAE general contractors (Abu Dhabi preferred).
•  Knowledge of FIDIC, Abu Dhabi standard conditions, bespoke forms, and UAE construction laws.
• Experience with guarantees, claims, EOTs, close-out, and procurement.

Description
Contract Specialist will prepare, negotiate, execute and administer all contracts, subcontracts, supply and service agreements of the Contractor, and to monitor and enforce every obligation arising from their conditions. The role covers the full contract lifecycle: pre-contract, design, construction, testing and commissioning, handover, the defects liability period and final close-out.

Role & Responsibilities 

1. Pre-Contract Stage

• Review Main Contract tender documents, Employer’s Requirements, specifications, general and particular conditions; identify contractual risks, ambiguities and onerous clauses; prepare risk reviews, clarifications and qualifications.

• Prepare and maintain the contract register of the Main Contract obligations that must flow down to subcontractors and suppliers.
• Define the contract strategy and contract form for each subcontract, supply and service package in coordination with the Procurement Specialist and project management.
• Prepare the contractual sections of tender documents (conditions of contract, special conditions, form of agreement, required securities and insurances) for issue by the Procurement Specialist.
• Review bidders’ contractual deviations and qualifications; participate in negotiations on contract terms, liabilities, securities, payment terms and dispute resolution.

2. Contract Drafting and Execution

• Draft, review and finalize subcontract agreements, supply agreements, service and maintenance agreements, consultancy and design agreements, rental and framework agreements, letters of intent, letters of award, NDAs, variations and amendments.
• Work with all contract forms used in UAE practice: FIDIC , Abu Dhabi Government standard conditions where applicable, Employer and master developer bespoke forms,  freely negotiated agreements governing relations between the Employer, the Contractor and counterparties.
• Ensure subcontract agreements reflect back-to-back obligations with the Main Contract: scope, programme, liquidated damages, payment terms, retentions, notices, time bars, warranties, defects liability, insurances and dispute resolution.
• Verify counterparties’ legal details: trade licences, legal entity, authorised signatories, powers of attorney and VAT registration.
• Manage the internal review and approval workflow in line with the company delegation of authority; control versions, execution, numbering, distribution and archiving of signed contracts

3. Securities, Guarantees and Insurances

• Maintain a register of all securities given and received: advance payment guarantees, performance bonds, retention bonds, warranty bonds, parent company guarantees and letters of credit.
• Verify the wording of guarantees received from subcontractors and suppliers against contract requirements; coordinate with Finance and banks on guarantees issued by the Contractor.
• Track validity and expiry dates; request extensions, reductions or releases in time; ensure that subcontractor securities remain valid at least for the matching period of the Contractor’s own obligations under the Main Contract.
• Verify insurance policies of subcontractors (CAR, third party liability, workmen’s compensation, professional indemnity) and track their validity.

4. Post-Contract Administration

• After signing, prepare contract summaries for project teams and other departments: scope, key dates, obligations, payment terms, retentions, liquidated damages, caps, notices, time bars, securities and insurances.
• Brief project, site, engineering, finance and cost teams on contractual obligations and keep them informed of any changes.
• Monitor compliance of subcontractors and suppliers with contractual obligations related to time, cost, quality and scope.
• Prepare and review contractual correspondence, notices, instructions, notices of delay, default and termination.
• Maintain a time-bar and notice register for both the Main Contract and subcontracts, so that no contractual deadline is missed.
• Manage variations, claims and extensions of time with subcontractors; assess their entitlement and maintain variation and claim registers.
• Ensure that Main Contract variations and instructions are correctly passed down to subcontractors and that subcontractor claims are reflected in the Contractor’s claims to the Employer where justified.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution: negotiation, amicable settlement and support to legal counsel in adjudication, arbitration or litigation.

5. Coordination with the Cost Manager

• Work closely with the Cost Manager on contract values, payment terms, payment applications, interim payment certificates, advance payment recovery, retentions and their release, back-charges, contra-charges, liquidated damages, deductions and set-off.
• Confirm that every payment, deduction and release complies with contract conditions and the status of securities.
• Provide contractual input for cost reports, forecasts, cash flow and final accounts.
• Jointly prepare and negotiate subcontract final accounts and settlement agreements

6. Contract Administration by Project Stage

• Design stage: design and consultancy agreements, design responsibility and liability, intellectual property, professional indemnity, design submission and approval obligations.
• Construction stage: full administration of subcontracts and supply agreements; progress against contractual programmes; variations, claims, notices, payments and securities.
• Testing, commissioning and handover: completion certificates and taking-over; collection of as-built documentation, O&M manuals, warranties, guarantees and training records; assignment or transfer of warranties and maintenance obligations to the Employer or operating entity as required by the Main Contract.
• Defects liability period: tracking defect notifications and their rectification by subcontractors; back-to-back enforcement of subcontractor defects and warranty obligations; management of retention release and reduction or release of bonds.
• Final completion and close-out: performance or final completion certificates, final accounts, release and discharge, return or cancellation of guarantees, closure of insurances, archiving; tracking of long-term warranties and decennial liability obligations under UAE law.

7. Compliance, Risk and Documentation

• Ensure compliance with UAE legislation applicable to contracts, including the Civil Transactions Law, Commercial Transactions Law, VAT and Abu Dhabi authority requirements.
• Identify contractual risks and maintain the contracts risk register with mitigation measures.
• Develop and maintain standard contract templates, purchase order terms and checklists for the company.
• Maintain complete, accessible and audit-ready contract files and registers.
• Issue regular contract status reports to commercial and project management.

8. Coordination with the Procurement Specialist and Mutual Substitution

• The Contract Specialist and the Procurement Specialist work as one integrated procurement and contracts function. Full coordination between them is a mandatory part of this role.
• Fully coordinate all contract activities with the Procurement Specialist, from procurement planning and tendering through award, contract execution, delivery, handover and close-out.
• Provide the Procurement Specialist in good time with approved contract conditions, templates and purchase order terms for each package, so that tenders are not delayed.
• Receive awarded packages from the Procurement Specialist and prepare contracts promptly, so that procurement and contract processes for different packages run in parallel without gaps.
• Inform the Procurement Specialist without delay of contractual matters affecting supply: notices, default, termination, expiring securities, warranty claims or changes in scope.
• Keep contract files, registers and correspondence complete, up to date and accessible to the Procurement Specialist at all times.
• Substitution: during any absence of the Procurement Specialist (annual leave, sick leave, business travel or other reasons), assume the Procurement Specialist’s duties in full for the period of absence, including running tenders, issuing RFQs and purchase orders, negotiating with suppliers, expediting deliveries and managing service providers.
• Before any planned absence, prepare a handover note listing open items, deadlines and priorities, and receive the same from the Procurement Specialist.