Contracts / Claims Specialist

Overview

KEO is a creative enterprise, where innovation is a way of life. We are uniquely resourced with end-to-end services to take clients from inspiration – through conceptualization – to realization of planning, design or project delivery in the built and natural environments. For over 60 years we’ve led with vision, contributing to many of the world’s most ambitious projects, iconic places, remarkable experiences and prosperous communities.

 

As a highly integrated and agile AEP/PMCM firm, KEO is recognized by ENR as one of the Top 225 International Design Firms and one of the Top 20 International PM/CM Firms. We are also ranked by World Architecture as the 51^st largest global architecture firm and the #1 Firm in the Middle East Region in their 2024 WA100 Survey.

 

We invite you to join us. Why?

 

When you join KEO, you’ll discover more than just a job – you’ll find a supportive environment that fosters your professional development through internal global mobility and career development and does so within a culture that supports company-wide health and well-being through on-demand counselling services and regular workplace clinics. You will be invited to celebrate community events such as sports days, fun-runs, in-house sports teams and beach clean ups. In addition to your competitive package and benefits you will have access to a suite of policies that include hybrid working arrangements, individual athletic sponsorship, study assistance sponsorship, employee referral rewards.

Responsibilities

Our newest opportunity is for a Contracts & Claims Specialist to join our award-winning team based in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

 

This position will play a critical role in safeguarding contractual entitlements, managing commercial risk, administering contract obligations, and providing expert claims support throughout the project lifecycle.

 

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience in contract administration, claims management, and dispute avoidance under FIDIC-based contracts and other internationally recognized forms of contract. Working closely with project leadership, commercial teams, clients, consultants, and contractors, the role requires a proactive and strategic approach to contractual matters, ensuring the project's commercial and contractual interests are effectively protected.

 

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially astute professional with strong analytical, negotiation, and drafting skills who thrives in complex, fast-paced project environments.

 

We envisage success in this role to include;

Contract Administration & Commercial Advisory

• Administer and manage contracts in accordance with the applicable Conditions of Contract, with particular emphasis on FIDIC forms of contract.
• Interpret and advise project stakeholders on contractual rights, obligations, risks, and remedies.
• Review and analyze contract documents including Conditions of Contract, Employer's Requirements, Specifications, Drawings, Schedules, and related project documentation.
• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations and identify potential risks, exposures, and opportunities.
• Maintain comprehensive contract administration systems, registers, risk logs, notices trackers, and obligations schedules.
• Provide strategic contractual guidance to project leadership and commercial teams to support informed decision-making and risk mitigation.
• Monitor and administer contractual notification requirements, including early warning notices, advance warnings, compensation events, and contractual determinations.

Claims & Entitlement Management

• Lead or support the preparation, assessment, substantiation, and negotiation of contractual claims, including:
  • Extension of Time (EOT) Claims
  • Additional Cost Claims
  • Variations and Change Orders
  • Delay and Disruption Claims
  • Acceleration Claims
  • Prolongation Cost Claims
  • Loss and Expense Claims
  • Constructive Change Claims
  • Consultant and Contractor Claims
• Conduct detailed entitlement assessments based on contractual provisions, project records, and factual evidence.
• Support the preparation of claim narratives, contractual analyses, cause-and-effect assessments, and supporting documentation.
• Evaluate contractor and consultant submissions and provide recommendations regarding entitlement, liability, and quantum.
• Coordinate with planning, cost management, engineering, and project controls teams to support claims evaluation and substantiation.
• Assist in the preparation of dispute avoidance and dispute resolution strategies where required.

Contractual Correspondence & Documentation

• Draft, review, and manage contractual correspondence, notices, instructions, determinations, and formal communications.
• Ensure all communications are contractually compliant and preserve the project's commercial and legal position.
• Prepare responses to claims, requests for extension of time, variations, commercial submissions, and contractual disputes.
• Establish and maintain robust document management and record-keeping systems to support contractual entitlement and audit requirements.
• Ensure contractual deadlines and notification requirements are monitored and adhered to.

Change Management & Commercial Support

• Administer variation and change management processes in accordance with contractual procedures.
• Manage and monitor Provisional Sums, Prime Cost Sums, Contingency Allowances, and related contractual provisions.
• Support the review and assessment of payment applications, interim valuations, final accounts, and commercial submissions.
• Assist with contract amendments, supplemental agreements, and commercial negotiations.
• Participate in commercial, progress, and contractual meetings, providing expert advice on contractual matters and risk exposure.

Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

• Identify emerging contractual and commercial risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Support dispute avoidance initiatives through proactive contract administration and early intervention.
• Assist in the preparation of documentation for dispute boards, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, or litigation proceedings where necessary.
• Collaborate with legal advisors, commercial leadership, and project stakeholders on complex contractual matters.

 

 

Qualifications

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that you will bring a minimum of 10 / 15 years' career experience partnered with a Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Law, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.

Professional certifications and memberships such as:

• MRICS
• FRICS
• MCIArb
• MCInstCES
• CCP
• PMP
• Equivalent internationally recognized qualifications

 

KEO’s performance is founded upon integrity, results, innovation, safety and our people. We embrace diversity and recognise its’ contribution to client success wherever we work.

 

We are excited to hear how you can partner with our award-winning team and treat all expressions of interest confidentially.

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envision that you will bring a minimum of 10 / 15 years' career experience partnered with a Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Law, Commercial Management, or a related discipline.

Professional certifications and memberships such as:

• MRICS
• FRICS
• MCIArb
• MCInstCES
• CCP
• PMP
• Equivalent internationally recognized qualifications

 

KEO’s performance is founded upon integrity, results, innovation, safety and our people. We embrace diversity and recognise its’ contribution to client success wherever we work.

 

We are excited to hear how you can partner with our award-winning team and treat all expressions of interest confidentially.

Our newest opportunity is for a Contracts & Claims Specialist to join our award-winning team based in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

 

This position will play a critical role in safeguarding contractual entitlements, managing commercial risk, administering contract obligations, and providing expert claims support throughout the project lifecycle.

 

The successful candidate will possess extensive experience in contract administration, claims management, and dispute avoidance under FIDIC-based contracts and other internationally recognized forms of contract. Working closely with project leadership, commercial teams, clients, consultants, and contractors, the role requires a proactive and strategic approach to contractual matters, ensuring the project's commercial and contractual interests are effectively protected.

 

This is an excellent opportunity for a commercially astute professional with strong analytical, negotiation, and drafting skills who thrives in complex, fast-paced project environments.

 

We envisage success in this role to include;

Contract Administration & Commercial Advisory

• Administer and manage contracts in accordance with the applicable Conditions of Contract, with particular emphasis on FIDIC forms of contract.
• Interpret and advise project stakeholders on contractual rights, obligations, risks, and remedies.
• Review and analyze contract documents including Conditions of Contract, Employer's Requirements, Specifications, Drawings, Schedules, and related project documentation.
• Monitor compliance with contractual obligations and identify potential risks, exposures, and opportunities.
• Maintain comprehensive contract administration systems, registers, risk logs, notices trackers, and obligations schedules.
• Provide strategic contractual guidance to project leadership and commercial teams to support informed decision-making and risk mitigation.
• Monitor and administer contractual notification requirements, including early warning notices, advance warnings, compensation events, and contractual determinations.

Claims & Entitlement Management

• Lead or support the preparation, assessment, substantiation, and negotiation of contractual claims, including:
  • Extension of Time (EOT) Claims
  • Additional Cost Claims
  • Variations and Change Orders
  • Delay and Disruption Claims
  • Acceleration Claims
  • Prolongation Cost Claims
  • Loss and Expense Claims
  • Constructive Change Claims
  • Consultant and Contractor Claims
• Conduct detailed entitlement assessments based on contractual provisions, project records, and factual evidence.
• Support the preparation of claim narratives, contractual analyses, cause-and-effect assessments, and supporting documentation.
• Evaluate contractor and consultant submissions and provide recommendations regarding entitlement, liability, and quantum.
• Coordinate with planning, cost management, engineering, and project controls teams to support claims evaluation and substantiation.
• Assist in the preparation of dispute avoidance and dispute resolution strategies where required.

Contractual Correspondence & Documentation

• Draft, review, and manage contractual correspondence, notices, instructions, determinations, and formal communications.
• Ensure all communications are contractually compliant and preserve the project's commercial and legal position.
• Prepare responses to claims, requests for extension of time, variations, commercial submissions, and contractual disputes.
• Establish and maintain robust document management and record-keeping systems to support contractual entitlement and audit requirements.
• Ensure contractual deadlines and notification requirements are monitored and adhered to.

Change Management & Commercial Support

• Administer variation and change management processes in accordance with contractual procedures.
• Manage and monitor Provisional Sums, Prime Cost Sums, Contingency Allowances, and related contractual provisions.
• Support the review and assessment of payment applications, interim valuations, final accounts, and commercial submissions.
• Assist with contract amendments, supplemental agreements, and commercial negotiations.
• Participate in commercial, progress, and contractual meetings, providing expert advice on contractual matters and risk exposure.

Dispute Resolution & Risk Management

• Identify emerging contractual and commercial risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Support dispute avoidance initiatives through proactive contract administration and early intervention.
• Assist in the preparation of documentation for dispute boards, mediation, arbitration, adjudication, or litigation proceedings where necessary.
• Collaborate with legal advisors, commercial leadership, and project stakeholders on complex contractual matters.