Contract Advisor

Role Overview

Contract Advisor at IOTA GROUP, based in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The role supports a global multi-energy company operating large-scale refining and petrochemical facilities.

Company Overview

The client is a global multi-energy company that transforms crude oil into fuels and essential industrial products through highly integrated and technologically advanced operations. The organisation is recognized for its strong HSE culture, operational excellence, and commitment to reducing environmental impact.

Role Purpose

To ensure robust contract management, auditable record-keeping, and effective contractor performance oversight across major refining and petrochemical projects. The role provides negotiation support, contract administration, and expertise on EPC contract management issues to the Package Management team.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Administration & Documentation

• Ensure all contracting initiatives, decisions and commitments are recorded in an auditable manner.
• Prepare and administer contract correspondence with Contractors, in line with Package Manager direction.
• Prepare amendments to Contracts for Project Services Manager's approval and Project Director's approval.
• Verify the final financial statement with support of the Package Manager for final completion certificates validation before presenting to the Project Services Manager and Project Director for review and approval.
• Maintain and develop contracting knowledge, lessons learned (REX) and market knowledge on contracting execution.

Performance Monitoring & Compliance

• Ensure implementation of Contractor HSSE practices in accordance with requirements laid down by Package Manager.
• Monitor contract and Contractor performance and assess the effectiveness and application of Contracts.
• Initiate the Contractors performance evaluation document.

Negotiation & Claims Management

• Provide negotiation support to Package Management team on contract deviations including development and maintenance of deviation register.
• Study all justifications given by Contractors for any extra work orders or claim requests.
• Follow up on Contractor's Change Order or claims, preparing claim defense strategy and documents.
• Prepare systematic answers to Contractors' correspondence on a claim-wise basis.
• Prepare any notice of Default for approval by Project Services/Package Manager.
• Prepare any Liquidated damages applications.

Cost & Value Management

• Deliver robust contract management with hands-on implementation and support to Package Management.
• Deliver and manage contracts and cost management and value improvements targets.

Stakeholder Communication & Governance

• Inform Project Control about any action, facts or decision which could be the basis for Contractor's potential claim.
• Provide to Package Management the required expertise on EPC contract management related issues.
• Prepare the hand over to operations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree qualified with a professional contracts and procurement background and prior commercial experience.
• Knowledge of refining and petrochemicals technologies.
• Knowledge of TotalEnergies – Saudi Aramco technical referential is a plus.
• At least 10 to 15 years' experience in Oil & Gas industries.
• Experience in projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or Middle East.
• Experience in EPCC phase of large projects.
• Experience in negotiating contracts on behalf of operators, contractors, suppliers and consultants.
• Knowledge of safety and environmental aspects of major construction projects.

Skills & Competencies

• Good oral and written communication abilities and writing skills in English.
• Ability to liaise at all organizational levels and represent the Project on contract-related matters.
• Experience with multinational and multicultural task force team environments.
• Ability to adapt to changes and work in an international multi-cultural project environment in a positive and productive manner within an intensive environment.
• Interpersonal skills, rigor and analytical mind.
• Ability to work as a member of a project team, liaise, coordinate and positively communicate with involved different parties including Contractors, project entities, auditors, other disciplines representatives, experts, project people and PMT EPCC packages.

Additional Information

• Place of work: Jubail, Saudi Arabia.