Pre-Contract Specialist (Contracts & Legal Support)

In brief

**Overview** Marvel Placement Consultant is seeking an experienced Pre-Contract Specialist on behalf of a leading platinum and chrome producer. This role, reporting to the Contracts Manager within the Contracts & Legal Support function, is responsible for managing all pre-contract activities. This includes the entire process from the initiation of procurement through to contract award and handover. The specialist will ensure that Scopes of Work, tender documentation, contractual terms, commercial requirements, and supplier/contractor qualifications are thoroughly reviewed, clarified, and aligned before contract award. The position requires close collaboration with Project Managers, Engineers, Procurement, and other relevant stakeholders to identify and manage contractual and commercial risks, facilitate clarifications and negotiations, and ensure contracts adhere to company governance requirements, approved strategies, and standard terms. **What you will do** * **Scope of Work & Tender Review**: * Review Scopes of Work prior to tender to ensure clear definition of scope, responsibilities, deliverables, interfaces, milestones, and contractual requirements. * Review and analyse tender, bid, and commercial documentation to identify contractual and commercial risks. * Review supplier and contractor qualifications, exclusions, assumptions, and proposed deviations from contractual requirements. * Review technical Scopes of Work from a contractual and commercial perspective and constructively challenge unclear or incomplete requirements. * **Contract Formation & Documentation**: * Prepare, review, and coordinate contract documentation for various project-related procurement packages (construction, services, equipment supply). * Ensure the application of the appropriate contract type and contracting strategy based on the nature and risk profile of the procurement package. * Ensure agreed contractual and commercial positions are accurately incorporated into final contract documentation prior to award. * Ensure contracts and purchase orders are aligned with the final negotiated and approved contractual position. * Assist with Letters of Intent, contract amendments, and addenda. * **Clarifications, Negotiations & Risk Management**: * Prepare and maintain contractual deviation and clarification registers. * Facilitate contractual clarification meetings and negotiations with tenderers, contractors, and suppliers. * Support Project Managers, Package Engineers, and Procurement during tender evaluations and contract negotiations. * Identify contractual risks and recommend appropriate mitigation measures to the Contracts Manager and relevant project stakeholders. * Review commercial provisions including payment terms, securities, retention, warranties, insurance, performance requirements, delay damages, and limitation of liability. * Ensure required Performance Guarantees, Advance Payment Guarantees, insurance requirements, and other contractual securities are appropriately addressed before contract award. * Interpret contractual provisions and identify associated commercial risks. * **Governance & Records**: * Ensure appropriate governance and approvals are obtained before contractual commitments are made. * Ensure contractual documentation complies with approved templates, procedures, and governance requirements. * Maintain proper contract records, registers, templates, and supporting documentation for audit and governance purposes. * Ensure all contractual documentation is appropriately controlled, traceable, and audit-ready. * **Handover & Post-Award Transition**: * Facilitate structured handover of awarded contracts to the responsible post-contract/project team. * Highlight key obligations, risks, milestones, securities, and outstanding actions during contract handover. * Coordinate with Procurement to ensure all contractual documentation is completed prior to contract award. * **Stakeholder Coordination**: * Support Project Managers, Package Engineers, Procurement, Finance, Legal, Commercial/Quantity Surveying, Safety, Operations, and other relevant Group stakeholders. * Liaise with tenderers, contractors, suppliers, OEMs, consultants, legal advisors, and other service providers regarding contractual matters. * Attend tender clarification, evaluation, and project progress meetings. * Provide contractual guidance and support to Engineers, Project Managers, Procurement, and other internal stakeholders. * Communicate contractual risks clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders. * Escalate material contractual and commercial risks to the Contracts Manager where required. * **Continuous Improvement**: * Support the continuous improvement and standardisation of contract templates, contracting processes, and pre-contract controls. * Support the Contracts Manager in ensuring consistent application of contracting principles across project packages. * Promote adherence to health, safety, environmental, and quality standards. * Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the pre-contract function. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * Bachelor's Degree, BTech or equivalent qualification in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, LLB or a related discipline. * A recognised qualification at NQF Level 7 or above is mandatory. * Demonstrable experience in contract preparation, tender and bid review, contractual clarifications, contract negotiations and contractual risk management within mining, EPCM, construction or project environments. * Practical working knowledge of construction and/or engineering contracts, including FIDIC or comparable standard forms of contract. * Experience reviewing tender and contract documentation and Scopes of Work. * Experience preparing and reviewing contracts and contractual schedules. * Experience managing contractual deviation and clarification registers. * Experience conducting contractual clarification meetings and supporting commercial and contractual negotiations. * Experience working with Engineers, Project Managers and Procurement teams and managing multiple contract packages concurrently. * Experience preparing contracts for execution and facilitating post-award handover. * A relevant postgraduate qualification would be advantageous. * Formal training or demonstrated experience in FIDIC and other construction or commercial contracts would be advantageous. * Professional registration or membership with a recognised professional body would be advantageous. * Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, sound commercial judgement and strong negotiation skills. * Attention to detail with excellent organisational and document control abilities. * Assertive and professional communication with strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills. * Ability to work independently, prioritise effectively and manage multiple priorities in a project environment. * Professional integrity, accountability and problem-solving ability. **Who should apply** This role is ideal for a seasoned professional with a Bachelor's Degree, BTech, or equivalent at NQF Level 7 or above in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or Law. The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience in all facets of pre-contract management, including contract preparation, tender/bid review, contractual clarifications, negotiations, and risk management, particularly within mining, EPCM, construction, or project environments. A practical working knowledge of construction and/or engineering contracts, such as FIDIC, is essential. Applicants should possess strong analytical, critical-thinking, commercial judgment, and negotiation skills, coupled with excellent organisational abilities and attention to detail. The role requires an assertive, professional communicator with strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills, capable of working independently, prioritising effectively, and managing multiple priorities in a project environment. Professional integrity, accountability, and problem-solving abilities are also key. Candidates with a postgraduate qualification, FIDIC training, or professional registration will have an advantage. **Deadline** 6 Nov 2026 **Reference** Original posting: https://www.myjobmag.co.za/job/pre-contract-specialist-contracts-legal-support-marvel-placement-consultant Source: myjobmag

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