Summary
Veolia Water Technologies in Saudi Arabia is seeking a Contract Manager for its project in Dammam. The role leads contractual strategy, client and consortium negotiations, contract administration, variations, claims, disputes, and subcontract oversight. It also advises project leadership on risk and compliance and mentors project managers and engineers. Applicants should have a degree in engineering, law, or a related field and 10–15 years of experience managing contracts on large EPC or industrial projects, including knowledge of FIDIC forms.
The posting
As published on veolia.com. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
Company Description
About Veolia
Veolia aims to be the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Our mission to “Resource the world” demonstrates the unwavering commitment of our 220,000 employees to creating a positive impact for our planet.
By joining Veolia Water Technologies, not only will you become a Resourcer, but you will also take part in providing complete solutions for water treatment. By innovating in key areas such as sustainable development, resource and product recovery, we want to offer water related solutions suited for every application.
At Veolia Water Technologies, Saudi Arabia, we are committed to empowering our employees, to make their own decisions and to make a real difference.
Become a player in ecological transformation by joining us!
Job Description
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.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Law, or a related field. A postgraduate qualification in Construction Law or Contract Management is preferred.
- Executive-level communication and presence - able to represent the VWT's contractual position credibly and persuasively to senior Client and consortium stakeholders as applicable.
- Advanced negotiation skills, with sound judgment on when to hold a firm position and when to prioritize the relationship for long-term project health.
- Strong strategic and analytical thinking - able to see contractual issues in the context of overall project and commercial objectives, not in isolation.
- Political and organizational awareness, with the ability to navigate multi-party consortium dynamics and sensitive Client relationships.
- Ability to lead and develop a contracts team while remaining hands-on for the project's highest-value and highest-risk items.
- Comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment.
- Proficiency in contract management tools / software and MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Experience:
- Minimum 10–15 years of experience in contracts management on large-scale EPC/industrial projects, including at least 4–5 years in a senior, Client-facing contractual leadership role, ideally within water treatment, oil & gas, or infrastructure sectors.
- Proven track record leading contractual negotiations directly with Client senior leadership, and/or consortium partners on major EPC projects.
- Deep working knowledge of international contract forms (FIDIC Yellow/Silver Book) and demonstrated experience shaping contractual strategy, not just administering it.
- Demonstrated experience leading the preparation and defense of significant EOT and cost claims, including experience in formal dispute resolution or dispute board proceedings.
- Prior experience managing or mentoring a contracts team is highly desirable.
- Extensive experience working within Middle East regulatory and labor environments is highly desirable (e.g., Saudi Arabia, GCC).
Additional Information
Additional information
QHSE Commitments:
- Comply with applicable ethics and legislation referred to in Veolia Code of Conduct policy, particularly in the fight against corruption and influence peddling.
- Ensure the applicable QHSE Policies and standards/requirements/procedures are being applied and maintained
- Liaise with the internal or external interested parties during the QHSE audits/inspections
- Ensure that all the work activities at site/plant/project are controlled with the help of QHSE procedures, risk assessment (or LMRA) & the valid work permit
- Ensure the implementation of customer satisfaction requirements
- Ensure to report Incidents (near misses, unsafe conditions, unsafe actions &, etc.)
- Keep the documented information as evidence ensuring the compliance to QHSE Management System.
Veolia Code of Conduct
- Comply with applicable ethics and legislation referred to in Veolia Code of Conduct policy, particularly in the fight against corruption and influence peddling.
As an inclusive company, Veolia is committed to diversity and gives equal consideration to all applications, without discrimination.