Head of Contracts & Claims

About the Role

Terracotta Outsourcing is seeking an experienced Head of Contracts & Claims on behalf of a leading UAE organization specializing in power and energy infrastructure. This role is critical to successfully delivering major capital projects by providing strategic oversight in contract management, governance, and commercial support throughout the project lifecycle. The position reports to senior leadership and requires close collaboration with key stakeholders at both corporate and project levels.

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE (On-site)
Employment Type: Long-term Consulting Assignment until August 2027 with potential for extension.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the contract management framework for a portfolio of major infrastructure projects from the corporate and head office perspective.
• Implement proactive risk monitoring, governance, and escalation processes to ensure sponsor and shareholder interests are protected.
• Critically evaluate EPC contractor claims and dispute strategies to defend the owner's commercial and contractual positions.
• Produce governance-level reports and provide contractual guidance to senior management and stakeholders.
• Serve as interim Project Company Contract Manager on the owner's side during early project phases, operating autonomously and with seniority.
• Manage contract administration comprehensively, including drafting notices, assessing claims, handling contractual interfaces, ensuring compliance, maintaining records, and supporting dispute resolution.
• Perform effectively in fast-paced and high-pressure project environments with changing priorities and minimal structure.
• Support business and project development by reviewing EPC term sheets and critical contractual documents.
• Evaluate contractual risk allocation, project bankability, including alignment between EPC and PPA/WPA agreements, Liquidated Damages regimes, Force Majeure and Excusable Delay clauses, interface management, and performance risk.
• Lead or contribute significantly to contract management aspects of project and business development initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Law or equivalent field.
• Over 15 years of experience managing contracts for large-scale infrastructure or energy projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in administering EPC contracts through all project phases.
• Comprehensive knowledge of FIDIC contracts, claims management, contract administration, variations, and dispute resolution.
• Preferred experience representing owners, developers, sponsors, or project companies.
• Strong knowledge of contractual risk allocation and commercial governance principles.
• Proven ability to support executive decision-making and governance reporting.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Capacity to work independently in dynamic, high-pressure environments.

Preferred Industry Experience

• Power generation
• Utilities
• Renewable energy
• Transmission and distribution sectors
• Major infrastructure projects
• EPC contract projects