Head, Contract Management

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers

Key Deliverables

• The incumbent will establish enterprise-wide contract governance frameworks aligned with international EPC contracting standards, Nigerian regulatory requirements, and Oilserv’s operational risk management objectives.
• The role safeguards the company’s commercial position by ensuring contractual compliance, proactive claims management, disciplined change control, and effective dispute mitigation throughout the project lifecycle.
• The Head, Contract Management is responsible for the strategic management of all client contracts, consortium agreements, subcontract agreements, and commercial obligations across Oilserv’s EPCIC portfolio.

Key Roles & Responsibilities
Contract Strategy & Commercial Governance:

• Ensure contractual terms appropriately allocate risk, protect margins, and align with approved commercial strategies.
• Lead the development, review, negotiation, and administration of complex EPCIC contracts, framework agreements, service contracts, and subcontract packages.
• Advise executive management on contractual exposure, liabilities, and commercial risk implications.
• Establish contract management procedures, templates, delegation matrices, and governance protocols across all projects.

Claims, Variations & Dispute Management:

• Drive proactive management of variations, extension of time (EOT) claims, compensation events, and contractual notices.
• Support dispute avoidance through structured negotiation and commercial resolution mechanisms.
• Interface with Legal, Project Controls, Planning, and Finance teams in dispute adjudication, arbitration, or litigation support.
• Coordinate preparation and defence of claims relating to delays, disruptions, scope growth, productivity losses, and liquidated damages.

Project Commercial Management:

• Support bid clarification, tender review, and commercial evaluation processes during project acquisition stages.
• Review project correspondence to ensure preservation of contractual rights and entitlements.
• Ensure strict implementation of contractual obligations, deliverables, milestones, and commercial reporting requirements.
• Monitor contract performance indicators including revenue leakage, claims exposure, retention status, guarantees, bonds, and insurance compliance.

Subcontract & Supply Chain Oversight:

• Ensure subcontract agreements to maintain appropriate back-to-back obligations with prime contracts.
• Overseesubcontractors commercial performance, payment certifications, claims administration, and compliance obligations.
• Collaborate with Procurement and SCM teams to strengthen commercial controls across the supply chain.

Compliance, Risk & Regulatory Assurance:

• Ensure compliance with the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, DPR / NUPRC requirements, fiscal regulations, and client contractual standards.
• Contribute to enterprise risk management processes relating to contractual and commercial exposure.
• Support internal and external audits relating to contract administration and commercial governance.
• Maintain alignment with international contracting frameworks including FIDIC, LOGIC, NEC, and bespoke oil & gas contract structures.

Leadership & Capability Development:

• Drive digitalisation of contract administration processes through integration with ERP and project controls systems.
• Develop commercial awareness and contract administration capability across project delivery teams.
• Build and mentor a high-performing contract management team across corporate and project environments.

Job Requirements & Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years in a senior commercial or contract leadership role.
• Preferred:
  • RICS
  • IACCM / WorldCC Certification
  • PMP or equivalent commercial/project certification.
  • CIArb
• 12 – 15 years of experience in contract management within the oil & gas, EPCIC, infrastructure, or energy sector.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Law, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Commercial Management, or related discipline.
• MBA, master’s degree, or professional commercial qualification is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience managing high value offshore / onshore EPC projects and complex subcontracting structures.