Contracts Advisor (Ref: NESCA)

Salary / Rate:

GBP 45,000.00-55,000.00 ( Car Allowance, 25 days annual leave, Private Healthcare, Permanent Health Insurance...) 

Location:

Strathclyde 

Rate:

Yearly 

Job Type:

Permanent 

Sector:

Contracts Administration / QS 

Date Posted:

27/03/2008 

Reference:

NESCA 

Our client is a blue chip engineering and environmental design consultancy with a current annual turnover of $5.38 billion in fees and over 56,000 staff worldwide

The Contracts Advisor role for the Scottish Region is a newly created position identified as being key to contributing to the success of the Scottish Business. The successful candidate will report into one of the two Scottish Business Managers and will work closely with Scottish Department Heads, and the European Legal Department, based in our Wimbledon Office

With a headcount of c.250 employees, the Scottish Region is multidisciplinary, providing engineering, environmental and strategic facilities management services in the public and private sector. The business serves public and private sector clients throughout the whole of Scotland. The projects that we undertake range from a few thousand pounds to seven figures and the project contracts cover the whole spectrum in terms of complexity from the simple to the highly complex. There is a small but growing number on standard industry forms. 80% of our contracts are engineering and 20% environmental and commercial contracts

The need for a Contracts Advisor in Scotland has arisen primarily due to increased workload and a need to have a dedicated individual located in Scotland that understands Scottish Contracts and Scottish business issues. This key individual will work alongside the Scottish senior managers on a day-to-day basis, coaching them in identifying and managing contractual risk.
The post will be located in either our Glasgow or Edinburgh office

To provide specialist commercial, contractual, and risk advice in support of senior managers.
To review proposed professional appointment documents, identifying those aspects that are disadvantageous or unacceptable to our client, suggesting alternatives and/or deletions. To provide the information to senior managers and negotiate improved contractual terms. This could be with the prospective clients solicitors or with the clients themselves and will be by e-mail, phone or in meetings
To advise on issues and disputes arising during and after the performance of the appointments.
To work with senior managers in compiling information to support disputes.
To support the Corporate Legal Department in researching and investigating negligence disputes

Excellent understanding of contract law as applied within the Scottish construction industry
Experience of working within engineering, surveying, construction or a similar professional consultancy and an understanding of the contractual terms used and the commercial/legal risks that a consultancy faces
Experience of reviewing and advising on commercial contracts
Commercial acumen; an understanding of the type of things that can go wrong, and how they can be managed
Ability to coach the senior managers in terms of what makes a commercially viable contract and in risk assessment
Excellent negotiating skills
Good interpersonal skills with ability to communicate at all levels
Attention to detail
Good organisational skills
Numerate; ability to review formulas and spot problems with them
Ability to work with limited supervision
IT literate; Microsoft word