Contracts Manager, In-house Legal Counsel

An exciting opportunity for a mid career Contracts Manager with QS, contracts administration, legal and financial experience to act as in house legal counsel for a major engineering consultancy across a portfolio of high profile projects in the East Asia region.

Further advance your career in a gifted community of engineers whilst working on some of the most iconic projects in the Asia region. Play a critical role in ensuring the commercial success of our projects in Hong Kong, Mainland China and elsewhere. Collaborate with a global community of stakeholders in the UK, Middle East, et al.

Project Details

A wide portfolio of high value and complex projects across East Asia.

Responsibilities and Duties

The Contracts Manager will work as part of the international team with particular focus on the Contractual and Commercial requirements of the Business Unit in Hong Kong.

Our project teams work in a number of contractual arrangements with both collaborating designers and for clients of different types including government organisations, owners/occupiers, developers and contractors. The complexity of this is added to by the different legal jurisdictions that the firm operates in. Many of our Contracts are in Chinese and appropriate experience and language skills are required.

Consequently the business requires support and guidance from a professionally qualified and pro-active commercial team to ensure that the interests of the firm are looked after and the best possible outcome is achieved from contract negotiations, commercial discussions and the management of potential claims against the firm.

Desired Skills and Experience

• As an experienced Contracts Manager, it is expected that you would be professionally qualified in construction discipline (Quantity Surveyor, Engineer etc.) or related legal qualification with sound foundation of experience in the negotiation and agreement of terms of business (appointments), in English and Chinese.
• Experience of adjudication, mediation and other forms of dispute resolution resulting in favourable settlement of claims and entitlement.
• Solid range of experience gained within a legal, commercial or financial role within the construction and property industry leading to demonstrable commercial acumen
• Proven experience of post-contract administration including change order control, notices and fee entitlements
• Expert hand during both non-contentious drafting/negotiation, as well as dispute avoidance/resolution
• Contract procurement for complex multi-disciplinary projects
• Experience and ability to negotiate terms directly with clients or their legal/commercial representatives to drive mutually beneficial outcomes
• A good working knowledge of the range of forms of contract such as NEC3, JCT, Govt Frameworks, FIDIC Understanding of a range of commercial instruments such as insurance, warranties and letters of reliance.
• Collaborative: willing to share knowledge, experience, ideas and expertise for the betterment of group and self
• Fluency in Cantonese and Mandarin a must.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• Degree in Quantity Surveying or engineering related discipline
• Professional qualification such as MRICS, LLB  is a distinct advantage

Employing Company Overview and Profile

Our client is a multi discipline design & engineering consultancy providing innovative, responsible and sustainable solutions to the construction and property industry in Hong Kong and throughout Asia.

From an extensive in country local knowledge and an unwavering focus to deliver on its promises to achieve the best outcomes in safety, cost, quality and time, the group has responsibly diversified to provide design, project and program management and a range of innovative supporting functions for both stand alone and large scale integrated construction projects.   

At the core of the group’s success, naturally, is it people and our client strives to create a fun, challenging and performance driven business culture where imagination, skill and high standards are rewarded and its people are constantly challenged to find and follow a better way and aspire to excel!. Career development resources, initiatives and tools are provided each step of the way to achieve these desired outcomes.

The group is seeking to appoint the very best talent to help its journey continue to become a major force in Asia and expand alliances across the region. Maxim has been requested exclusively to provide recruitment support and invites motivated and imaginative candidates to get in touch and explore this excellent career opportunity.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

• Attractive salary package on offer
• Excellent benefits