Contract Manager – Commercial Projects

About the role

COLAS Australia is seeking two commercially‑driven Contract Managers to support large‑scale road and civil construction projects across the country. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, each manager will oversee the full commercial and contractual lifecycle of major projects, ensuring robust governance, risk allocation and protection of the company’s contractual rights.

Key responsibilities

• Lead all contractual and commercial activities from project initiation through completion, aligning with company procedures and project goals.
• Collaborate with project, finance, legal and procurement teams to maximise commercial opportunities and support decision‑making.
• Track financial performance, prepare payment claims, variations and contractual notifications, and evaluate work against contract rates.
• Identify and manage contractual risks, issue timely notices, and prepare client claims for delay, disruption or other impacts.
• Negotiate and administer subcontractor and supplier agreements, supporting tender evaluations from a contractual perspective.
• Maintain comprehensive records of all contractual correspondence, claims, guarantees and liabilities.
• Train and mentor staff in contract management as required.

Required profile

• Tertiary qualification in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Law or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of construction industry experience, including at least 5 years in contract management.
• Strong background in major road or civil infrastructure projects.
• Deep understanding of construction contract forms used in the road and transport sector.
• Knowledge of the SOPA process and experience preparing variation and EOT claims.

Required skills

• Cost control
• Contract risk management
• Claims preparation and negotiation