Lead Commercial (Senior Contracts Administrator)

Lead Commercial (Senior Contracts Administrator)

As the Lead Commercial (Senior Contracts Administrator) for Inland Rail, you will play a key role in assisting managing budgets, assessing variations and claims, overseeing Contract Administrators, and handling contractual correspondence. You’ll be part of a collaborative and supportive team, reporting to the Commercial Manager and partnering with the project delivery team to resolve contractual matters while ensuring adherence to established systems, procedures, and compliance standards.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Responsibility for and management of Contract Administrators, ensuring the day to day administration of Project contracts in accordance with established policies and procedures, including ensuring that Contract Administrators effectively and efficiently administer key contractual processes including progress claim verification and payments, variations and claims.
• Prepare contract documents that are commercially acceptable and on approved templates that reduce risk and conform to ARTC policy and procedures.
• Support with the contractual establishment and control mechanism that interface with ARTC Finance and other business units and systems as appropriate.
• Monitor contracts and contractors in conjunction with the Commercial and Project Delivery Teams to ensure they meet and respond to relevant contractual requirements.
• Process progress claims, variations and contract disputes in accordance with contractual requirements and aid in the resolution of disputes. Liaise with Legal Counsel where required to seek assistance.
• Ensure progress claims and payment certificates accurately reflect work undertaken by contractors and comply with contractual requirements.
• Ensure contractual documentation is accurate, recorded, approved and distributed in a timely manner and that contractual timeframes are adhered to.
• Provide support to Project Managers in the timely completion of monthly reporting requirements for the Project Management Office to include accruals, forecasting etc.

About You

To succeed as a Senior Contracts Administrator, you will need strong technical skills in contract management, budget control, and claims assessment, combined with key soft skills such as collaboration, clear and concise communication, leadership, problem-solving, attention to detail, and adaptability.

• Tertiary qualifications in fields such as business, commerce, law, quantity surveying, engineering or related discipline or relevant experience.
• A minimum of 8 year experience in a similar role for public or private organisations on major infrastructure projects.
• An excellent understanding of contract law with experience in various procurement strategies and contract types in a large business environment, ideally working in rail and on major infrastructure projects.
• Significant experience with purchasing, contracts or finance systems in a large national construction business and a good knowledge of the relevant process flows.
• Ability to effectively manage Contract Administrators and project delivery teams, work as part of a team and to step up, meet deadlines and provide additional support within the team as and when required to do so.
• Experience or exposure with early works civil construction design packages and knowledge of different forms of construction contracts.
• Experience in managing civil works contractors and suppliers against performance criteria.
• Ability to work as part of a team, to work under pressure, demonstrate resilience in conflict situations, meet deadlines and provide additional support within the team when required.

About Inland Rail

Inland Rail Pty Ltd is delivering a 1,600km freight line that is transforming how goods are moved around Australia. When fully operational, Inland Rail will connect Melbourne to Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. As one of the largest infrastructure projects in Australia, Inland Rail is helping to address the nation’s future freight needs and meet the demands of our growing population.

Delivering Inland Rail will help shift more goods onto rail which means safer, less congested roads and fewer emissions and a more resilient and sustainable national freight network.

What you’ll be joining

• You will join one of the largest infrastructure programs in Australia.
• This project will generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in local investment, boosting regional economies and communities right along the alignment.
• Inland Rail is proud to have over 40% female representation and we would like to see these numbers grow.
• Inland Rail is an Agile working environment in our State-of-the Art office embracing flexible working conditions.

Our Organisation and Culture

The values that drive us and the work we deliver in the program incorporate Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.  We welcome like-minded individuals who value our culture.

At Inland Rail, we celebrate, support, and thrive on attracting people from all horizons and walks of life for the benefit of our employees, our program, and our community. Inland Rail is proud to be an equal opportunity and an affirmative action employer. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to submit their details to us.

All employment is decided based on suitability to the role, cultural fit, merit, and business needs.

Apply Now

If this opportunity sounds like the challenge you have been looking for please apply online today.

As part of the application process, you will be required to undergo pre-employment criminal history, reference and medical checks, including drug and alcohol testing. Inland Rail is a drug and alcohol-free working environment.

Please note that applications are reviewed from point of advertising so don’t delay your application.