Contracts and Claims Manager (EPCM)

Role Overview:

The Onsite Contracts and Claims Manager will be responsible for leading and administering all contractual and commercial aspects of a €1.7 billion EPCM project in Dunkirk. This role is critical in ensuring effective contract execution, proactive claim prevention, and robust management of all subcontract and vendor relationships.

The position requires a commercially astute professional with deep knowledge of FIDIC-based construction contracts, fluent French communication skills, and proven experience managing large-scale industrial EPCM projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the execution, administration, and performance of all project contracts in accordance with FIDIC principles and corporate governance standards.
• Ensure full compliance with contractual obligations, proactively identifying potential risks and developing claim prevention and mitigation strategies.
• Manage the full lifecycle of subcontracts, including drafting, negotiation, administration, and performance monitoring.
• Lead change management processes, ensuring proper evaluation, documentation, and approval of variations, claims, and change orders.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution efforts, maintaining comprehensive and accurate records, correspondence, and contract documentation.
• Provide contractual and commercial guidance to project teams, ensuring alignment with project delivery objectives and timelines.
• Collaborate closely with engineering, procurement, construction, and legal teams to ensure consistency and transparency in contract execution.
• Represent the project’s commercial interests in meetings with contractors, consultants, and stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Law, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10–15 years of experience in contracts and claims management within large-scale (€500m+) EPC/EPCM industrial or infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC contract forms and EPCM commercial frameworks.
• Demonstrated expertise in subcontract management, claims avoidance, and dispute resolution.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluency in spoken and written French is essential; proficiency in English is also required.
• Strong analytical and documentation skills with a proactive, problem-solving mindset.