Job description

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 51st 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.

Our newest opportunity is for a talented Contracts Administrator to join our award-winning team based in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.

The role requires that the individual will act as the commercial backbone of the project by managing the contract life-cycle and safeguarding the client’s financial and legal interests. On a daily basis, you will evaluate contractor payment applications against actual site progress and rigorously assess any incoming variation orders or delay claims. By collaborating closely with site supervision engineers, you will verify that all executed works strictly align with contractual obligations before any funds are released. You will also manage critical project risk by tracking the validity of performance bonds, insurances, and contractual notices to prevent costly disputes. Ultimately, your job is to drive the project toward a smooth close-out, ensuring every milestone is met in full compliance with the client’s approved procedures.

We envisage success in this role to include:

• Reviewing and ensuring that contracts, agreements, and related documents submitted to the Contracts and Agreement Section are comprehensive, concise, and compliant with the contracting procedures and guidelines agreed upon by the client.

  
  

• Assisting the Project Management Team in reviewing, tracking, and updating the status of ongoing tenders and contracts.

  
  

• Monitoring compliance with contract requirements and internal procedures, ensuring all contractual conditions and milestones are fully satisfied.

  
  

• Providing detailed analysis of historical contract data, variations, and trends to offer strategic recommendations and corrective actions to the Project Director.

  
  

• Maintaining and updating the contract management information system (CMIS) and retaining original, secure records of all contract-related documents.

  
  

• Preparing periodic contract status and progress reports to effectively communicate the Section’s activities and performance metrics to executive management.

  
  

• Establishing and updating comprehensive logs and records of all correspondence, claims, and documentation related to contract and tendering activities.

  
  

• Performing other assigned duties with regards to contract administration, tendering works, and general commercial support.

  
  

• Evaluating and processing contractor payment applications, interim payment certificates (IPCs), and final accounts against actual site progress and verified quantities.

  
  

• Assessing and managing variation orders, change requests, and claims submitted by the contractor, providing independent cost/time impact assessments and recommendations to the client.

  
  

• Collaborating with the site supervision engineers to verify that executed works align with contractual specifications, quality standards, and approved drawings before releasing payments.

  
  

• Administering and tracking contractual notices, extensions of time (EOT), and liquidated damages to safeguard the client's commercial and legal interests.

  
  

• Facilitating and documenting close-out procedures, including the issuance of taking-over certificates, defects liability monitoring, and the release of retention bonds.

  
  

• Mitigating and resolving contractual disputes or ambiguities between the client and the contractor through proactive risk management and contractual interpretation.

  
  

• Reviewing and verifying the validity and adequacy of contractor insurances, performance bonds, and advance payment guarantees throughout the project life-cycle.

  
  

To be successful in this dynamic opportunity, we envisage that you will bring a minimum of 10 years' experience from a similar role within a PMC, partnered with a Bachelor’s Degree in Quantity Surveying or Engineering.

MRICS / RICS affiliation and or qualification is a strong advantage 

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.