Management Advisor - Contracts & Commercial (Infrastructure & Transportation)

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Job Description:

The Management Advisor – Contracts & Commercial will provide specialist advisory services on complex contractual and commercial matters for major infrastructure and transportation projects, with a particular focus on metro and mass transit operation and maintenance contracts.

This role requires a rare combination of:

• International legal education and practice (UK-qualified, GCC-experienced).

• Hands-on leadership on high-value, complex O&M contracts (e.g. Riyadh Metro).

• Deep familiarity with contractual risk, claims, and performance-based payment mechanisms in public transport.

What You’ll Be Doing

1. Strategic Contract & Commercial Advisory

• Advise senior management on contractual strategies, risk allocation, and commercial positions for complex operation and maintenance and related service contracts.

• Translate international best practice in contracts and commercial management into locally applicable procedures and governance frameworks.

• Provide expert interpretation of sophisticated contractual provisions (including change of law, performance regimes, and claims mechanisms) to protect the organization’s commercial and operational interests.

2. Advanced Contract Administration & Claims Management

• Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of critical contractual correspondence, including notices, responses to claims, variation proposals, and performance-related communications.

• Direct the evaluation of contractual entitlements, cost and schedule impacts, and negotiation strategy for variations, claims, and dispute avoidance.

• Oversee the review and certification of contractor monthly statements, payment applications, and KPI-based payment mechanisms, ensuring contractual accuracy and alignment with performance requirements.

3. Performance Monitoring, Risk & Insurance

• Monitor contractor performance against detailed contractual obligations and KPIs and advise management on early identification of risks, non-compliance, and potential disputes.

• Develop risk mitigation strategies for contractual, commercial, and regulatory issues and support management in implementing corrective actions.

• Manage insurance aspects under major contracts, including policy renewals, compliance reviews, and claims coordination, ensuring adherence to contractual and market standards.

4. Subcontract & Stakeholder Management

• Support the prequalification, evaluation, and contractual management of specialized subcontractors, ensuring clear allocation of responsibilities and risk.

• Coordinate with operations, finance, legal, procurement, and technical teams to ensure consistent and integrated management of contractual and commercial matters.

• Represent the organization in negotiations with contractors, subcontractors, and external stakeholders on complex contractual issues, claims, and variations.

5. Legal & Regulatory Advisory (GCC Focus)

• Provide legal and regulatory guidance on contracts, licensing, and corporate structures within Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, drawing on multi-jurisdictional experience.

• Review and advise on leases, service agreements, and other commercial contracts linked to infrastructure project delivery and operations.

• Ensure compliance with relevant Saudi and GCC laws and regulations while integrating international contractual standards and practices.

What Required Skills You’ll Bring

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Business or equivalent legal/commercial degree from a recognized international institution.

• Master of Law (LLM) or equivalent postgraduate qualification in law/legal practice.

• Minimum 6–8 years’ post-qualification experience in:

  • Contracts and commercial management for large-scale infrastructure/transportation projects, and
  • Legal advisory roles in reputable international or regional law firms.

• Demonstrated experience on complex operation and maintenance contracts (metro/rail or similar) in Saudi Arabia or the GCC.

Desirable

• Experience working on the Riyadh Metro or comparable mega-projects.

• Exposure to both civil law and common law environments.

• Track record of mentoring and developing local staff in contracts and commercial disciplines.

Skills & Competencies

• High-level expertise in contract administration, variations, claims, and dispute avoidance/resolution on mega-projects.

• Strong analytical skills for interpreting complex contracts, evaluating entitlement, and formulating robust commercial strategies.

• Excellent drafting skills for contractual correspondence, legal opinions, and claims documentation.

• In-depth understanding of KPIs, performance regimes, and associated payment mechanisms in O&M contracts.

• Proven ability to manage subcontractor prequalification, evaluation, and contract administration.

• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills in multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary teams.

• Fluency in English; Arabic language skills are an advantage and support knowledge transfer to Saudi colleagues.

Market Context & Localization Contribution

• The role requires specialized experience in metro/rail operation and maintenance contracts, international legal training, and GCC-specific practice, a combination currently scarce among Saudi nationals in the labor market.

• The Management Advisor will play a key role in:

  • Establishing robust contractual and commercial frameworks.
  • Training and mentoring Saudi professionals to progressively assume similar responsibilities.
  • Supporting the long-term objective of increasing Saudi participation and leadership in complex contracts and commercial management roles.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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