About this role
Why RLB? At RLB, we live by four simple ideas: Truth, Trust, Together, Tomorrow. Four values that live at the heart of RLB. A place where People Make Progress. We value your skills, talents and unique perspectives – we think they are priceless. Bring them to RLB and you’ll be empowered to shape our future and your career in new and meaningful ways. We’ll give you opportunities to work on some of the most ambitious and exciting projects currently being designed and developed in the built environment sector. You’ll continue to learn and advance as everyone who works for us is provided with a tailored training programme. Our mentoring and reverse mentoring schemes will enable you to share your expertise while gaining fresh insights. What makes RLB unique is our inclusive culture. As an independent, employee-owned business, teamwork and collaboration lies at the heart of everything we do. Hybrid and flexible working arrangements and family-friendly policies are just some of the ways we invest in employee wellbeing. Join us and you will thrive personally as well as professionally. Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Senior Contracts Manager (12 months FTC) to oversee the commercial and contractual aspects of data centre construction and infrastructure programmes. Responsibilities include overseeing the entire contract lifecycle, from pre-award strategy and tender documentation to post-award administration, claims management and final account settlement, ensuring that commercial risk is effectively managed and contractual obligations are upheld across hyperscale and mission-critical infrastructure projects. The role requires in-depth knowledge of FIDIC contracts and expertise in the data centre construction environment. Administer FIDIC contracts in strict accordance with the relevant conditions set out in the applicable book and the project's particular conditions. Ensure that all notices, instructions, claims, contractual correspondence, clarifications of scope gaps, payment certificates and approvals are issued accurately and within the contractual timeframe. Support the development of a contracting strategy, a pricing model and a risk allocation framework. These should all be aligned with the project's and the client's objectives. Draft and manage RFPs, ITTs, and contract documentation; oversee bid evaluations and lead contract award negotiations with contractors, consultants, and key suppliers. Manage the full variation and change control process, assessing contractor submissions for scope, time, and cost impact and providing commercial recommendations to the project team. Evaluate, negotiate and settle contractor claims, including EOT requests, delay damages, loss and expense claims, and final accounts, in accordance with the dispute resolution provisions of the FIDIC contract. Maintain robust contract administration records, including correspondence logs, RFI tracking, instruction records, and claims files to ensure full audit trail compliance. Identify and mitigate contractual risks at pre- and post-award stages, collaborating with legal, finance, engineering, and project management teams to embed contractual requirements into project governance. Ensuring that the client/team adheres to the contractual obligations and advising on the contractual steps and procedures under the FIDIC and the client's requirements. Develop and maintain KPIs and commercial reporting to track contract performance, cost variances, programme compliance, and risk exposure.