Contract & Claims Manager

Overview:

Our client is an established international consultancy with a strong presence across the Middle East, providing contract management, claims advisory, expert support, and dispute resolution services to major infrastructure, energy, and industrial projects.

They have recently been instructed to provide Contracts & Claims Management support into a newly awarded, multi million dollar desalination project in Abu Dhabi. This is a critical role embedded within the project environment, acting as a proactive commercial and contractual lead on behalf of the client.

The Middle East water and utilities sector continues to expand rapidly, with desalination forming a key pillar of long term infrastructure strategy across the UAE. This assignment offers exposure to a technically complex, high value EPC environment where strong contractual leadership will be essential to project success.

Job Description:

The Contracts & Claims Manager will be embedded into the project team, operating in a senior, site based capacity. This is not a passive contract administration role. The successful individual will be expected to:

• Lead contract management strategy
• Identify and drive entitlement positions
• Proactively manage claims (both defensive and offensive)
• Direct and influence client side stakeholders
• Establish robust commercial governance processes

You will act as a key contractual authority on the project, reporting to senior project leadership while liaising closely with contractors, legal advisors, and executive stakeholders. The project is being delivered under an EPC structure, likely incorporating FIDIC based conditions.

Job Responsibilities:

• Full lifecycle contract management under EPC/FIDIC based contracts
• Identification, preparation, and defence of contractual claims
• Drafting and issuing contractual notices and formal correspondence
• Evaluation of contractor claims including EOT, disruption, prolongation, and cost claims
• Development of commercial strategy aligned to project risk profile
• Leading negotiations on contractual matters and settlement discussions
• Advising senior project leadership on entitlement, exposure, and mitigation
• Establishing structured claims management procedures within the project team
• Driving proactive contract compliance and risk mitigation
• Coordinating with legal counsel on contentious matters where required

Profile Required:

• 15-30+ years' experience in contract and commercial management within infrastructure, power, water, or major EPC environments
• Strong working knowledge of FIDIC (Red, Yellow, Silver Books)
• Demonstrable experience managing large scale claims and dispute processes
• Experience on power, water, desalination, heavy civil, or major industrial projects preferred
• Ability to operate independently and embed within live project teams
• Confident, authoritative communicator capable of influencing senior stakeholders
• Proven negotiation capability in high value contractual environments
• Chartered or professionally accredited status (e.g., MRICS, MICE, MCInstCES or equivalent) advantageous

What Sets This Opportunity Apart:

• Direct involvement in a strategically significant UAE desalination scheme
• Embedded leadership role within a live EPC project
• Opportunity to shape contract and claims management culture from the outset
• High visibility with executive stakeholders
• Backed by an established global advisory platform
• Competitive Middle East package

What Sets This Opportunity Apart:

• Rapidly expanding UAE fit out market with sustained project pipeline
• Exposure to premium commercial and corporate interior mandates
• High visibility role within a growing regional platform
• Clear pathway toward senior commercial leadership
• Entrepreneurial yet structured business environment
• Competitive tax free package aligned to experience

Who Are We?

Anzurra is a specialist recruitment, executive search, and talent advisory firm focused on Commercial, Contract Management, Claims, Disputes, Legal, and Advisory talent across the global construction, infrastructure, and energy markets.

We work as an embedded partner to ambitious organisations, supporting them not only to hire exceptional people, but to build, structure, and scale high performing teams.

With offices in London and Copenhagen and an international client base, we provide retained, in house, and flexible recruitment solutions that go far beyond transactional hiring. Our work sits at the intersection of projects, contracts, risk, and people - supporting contractors, consultancies, developers, law firms, and expert practices to secure the specialist talent that protects projects and drives performance.