Senior Associate (Contract Manager)
Department: Infrastructure
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: G&T Ireland
Description
Gardiner & Theobald is an independent construction and property consultancy committed to providing world class service to our clients. Our dedicated team of over 1,500 people delivers Cost Management, Project Management and Specialist Consultancy services from a network of UK, Irish and US offices bound by a common purpose - to build a better tomorrow.
We define our success by the value we create for our clients, the fulfilling careers we build for our people and our contribution to the communities we work in. Our own long-term business performance aligns profit with purpose, taking social and environmental responsibility for our actions and the legacy we leave behind.
People are central to our mission. Rewarding individuals based on their unique abilities, talent and hard work, we believe in the quality of experiences and investing in a collaborative culture where all can thrive.
About the Role
Gardiner & Theobald are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Senior Contract Manager with deep expertise in NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract (ECC) to lead contract strategy, administration, and commercial management across major infrastructure projects in Ireland.
This role is pivotal in ensuring proactive contract management in line with NEC principles, including collaboration, early warning, and effective risk management. The successful candidate will drive best practice in administering NEC4 ECC contracts, ensuring successful project outcomes and strong client and supply chain relationships, from pre‑contract tender stages through to execution and close‑out.
What You Will Do
NEC4 Contract Management
Lead the administration of NEC4 contracts, ensuring full compliance with contractual processes and timelines
Act as a subject matter expert on NEC4 clauses, including compensation events, early warnings, programme acceptance, and communications
Ensure contracts are managed in the spirit of mutual trust and cooperation
Proactive Risk & Early Warning Management
Establish and manage the Early Warning Register and Risk Reduction Meetings
Drive proactive identification and mitigation of risks in collaboration with project teams and contractors
Ensure timely and accurate notification of early warnings and compensation events
Compensation Events & Change Control
Lead the assessment, negotiation, and agreement of compensation events in accordance with NEC4 ECC requirements
Ensure robust and auditable change management processes
Provide commercial guidance on time and cost implications
Programme & Performance Management
Review and assess contractor programmes for compliance with NEC4 requirements
Monitor progress against Accepted Programme and advise on corrective actions
Support project teams in understanding programme implications of compensation events
Stakeholder Engagement
Act as the key contractual interface between Employer, Project Manager, Supervisor, and Contractor
Support collaborative working relationships aligned with NEC principles
Provide strategic contractual advice to senior stakeholders
Claims Avoidance & Dispute Resolution
Promote a proactive, dispute avoidance culture through effective contract management
Support resolution of issues in real‑time, minimising escalation
Manage formal dispute processes if required, including adjudication
Governance & Reporting
Ensure accurate and timely contract communications in line with NEC requirements
Maintain comprehensive records to support audit and dispute resolution
Provide regular reports on contractual/commercial status to senior management
Team Leadership
Mentor and support contract management and commercial team members in NEC best practices
Deliver training and guidance on NEC4 ECC processes and procedures
Location / Working Arrangements
This role is based in Greater Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The successful candidate will need to either reside within daily commute of Greater Dublin, or be in a position to travel to Dublin to work on a full time Monday to Friday basis. Hybrid and remote working will be entertained on a case‑by‑case basis but is largely at our clients’ discretion to entertain.
About You
Qualifications
Degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Law, or related discipline
NEC Accreditation (e.g., NEC4 Project Manager or ECC accreditation) strongly preferred
Professional membership (e.g., MRICS, MCIPS, or equivalent) desirable
Experience
Significant experience of contract/cost management and administration
Experience in administrating contracts, in particular, extensive hands‑on experience administering NEC contracts, specifically within Ireland
Experience in developing individual contract management strategies, and implementing those strategies
Knowledge of monitoring Contractors and/or Consultants performance
Significant experience in, and understanding of, claims management
Experience of establishing Contractors and/or Consultants performance management frameworks
Knowledge of Key Performance Indicators for Contractors and/or Consultants organisations, and experience in building a Key Performance Indicators library
Essential Skills
Expert knowledge of NEC4 ECC contract mechanisms and philosophy
Strong commercial awareness and negotiation capability
Excellent understanding of programme management within NEC frameworks
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
Ability to foster collaboration and drive performance across multidisciplinary teams
Extensive numeracy and analytical skills
Able to lead a team
Excellent report writing & presentation skills
Understanding of Project & Contract Management software, such as Primavera P6 and CEMAR
What We Offer
Opportunity to work on Ireland’s nationally significant infrastructure projects
Competitive salary and benefits package
Hybrid working and flexible arrangements
Career progression within a growing partner led infrastructure team
About Us
Collaboration, innovation, and support are at the core of everything we do. You will be joining a diverse team led by one of G&T’s partners. Our partner‑led model allows us to adopt bespoke approaches both in the service we offer to clients and in the development opportunities we offer our people. Within your team you will be given clear direction and positive encouragement at every turn, whilst our commitment to your career development and lifelong learning programmes ensures you have the support, as well as the tools to thrive.
We define our success by the value we create for our clients, the fulfilling careers we build for our people and our contribution to the communities we work in. Our own long‑term business performance aligns profit with purpose and the legacy we leave behind.
Forward thinking and future focused, we champion social mobility, ethical governance, equality and diversity and creating an inclusive environment. Our ESG goals are at the forefront of our business plan, and we are proud to have created social value worth over 27 million since 2021. Our initiatives include the G&T ESG Committee, dedicated to increasing opportunities and removing barriers for social mobility and equality within the firm, as well as our Next Gen programme which focuses on nurturing the next generation in the industry. We are a business with purpose- to find out more about our ESG goals and how we are achieving them, visit our website.
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