Contracts Manager

Job Location- Botswana Job Summary: We are seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to lead and manage all contractual and commercial matters associated with the development and execution of the Project, with particular focus on the EPC Contract, the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the Project's insurance program and other major project agreements. The successful candidate will act as the Project Company's principal contractual and commercial focal point, protecting the Project Company's contractual position, minimizing exposure to contractor claims and delays, ensuring full compliance with contractual obligations, and proactively pursuing the Project Company's contractual entitlements. The role combines strong contract administration and claims-management capability with a proactive, owner-side commercial mindset to support successful project delivery. Key Responsibilities: Act as the Project Company's principal focal point for administration of the EPC Contract, the PPA and other major project agreements. Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of all EPC contractual obligations, milestones, guarantees, deliverables, notice requirements and commercial mechanisms. Monitor the EPC Contractor's compliance throughout engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, testing and project completion, tracking key milestones including Notice to Proceed, energization, commissioning, reliability testing, Provisional Acceptance, Commercial Operation Date and Final Acceptance. Maintain a contractual obligations register identifying obligations, responsible parties, notice periods, deadlines and current status. Identify potential EPC non-compliance, delay, default and contractual exposure at an early stage and advise project management on mitigation measures; preserve the Project Company's rights through timely notices, reservations of rights and formal contractual correspondence. Manage the variation/change order process end-to-end: review Contractor-submitted variation proposals and quotations, verify the contractual basis and pricing methodology, negotiate valuation, and process approvals through the Project Company's authorization levels; maintain a Variation/Change Order register. Assess, on a case-by-case basis, whether the EPC Contractor or other project counterparties are contractually entitled to take a particular action, issue an instruction, claim relief, invoke a specific contractual mechanism or make a given change, and advise the Project Director and Execution Project Director accordingly before the Project Company responds. Establish and maintain a proactive claims-avoidance strategy; identify potential claims before they crystallize and coordinate mitigation actions with the project team. Review and assess contractor claims relating to Extension of Time (EOT), additional cost, variations, disruption, acceleration, changes in law, force majeure, site conditions, employer-caused delay and other contractual entitlements; recommend acceptance, rejection, negotiation or settlement positions, including assessment of contractual time bars and substantiation requirements. Identify circumstances giving rise to Project Company claims and proactively pursue contractual entitlements against contractors; coordinate calculation of damages, delay costs, Liquidated Damages and other contractual compensation. Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of the PPA and the obligations of the Project Company and the Offtaker; monitor compliance with PPA milestones, performance obligations, payment mechanisms, reporting, force majeure, default and termination provisions. Prepare contractual notices and formal correspondence to the EPC Contractor, the Offtaker and other counterparties in accordance with the applicable Requirements Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Law, Construction Management, Commercial Management or a related discipline; a professional qualification in contracts, commercial management, construction law or quantity surveying is advantageous. Minimum 10–15 years of relevant experience, including significant experience managing EPC contracts on utility-scale power, renewable energy or major infrastructure projects; previous experience with utility-scale Solar PV and/or Battery Energy Storage System projects is highly desirable. Strong knowledge of EPC contractual structures and international contracting practices; familiarity with FIDIC or similar international forms of contract is advantageous. Demonstrated experience managing contractor claims, EOT submissions, variations/change orders and contractual disputes, including experience administering Power Purchase Agreements or other major offtake agreements. Working knowledge of project insurance programs for construction and operational assets (Construction All Risks, Delay in Start-Up, Third-Party Liability, Operational All Risks), including policy-wording review and coordination with brokers and insurers. Strong commercial and contractual judgment with an owner/SPV mindset; ability to identify contractual risks and entitlement opportunities before they become formal disputes. Excellent contract interpretation and risk-assessment capability, with the ability to determine, on a reasoned contractual basis, whether a contractor is entitled to take a particular action or invoke a specific contractual mechanism. Excellent written contractual correspondence and notice-drafting capability; strong attention to contractual deadlines, notice requirements, records and time bars.