Contracts Director

• Position Title :Contracts Director

• Department :Operations

• Reports To :Managing Director – Construction

• Direct Reports :Contracts Managers, Surfacing Manager, Chief Surveyor, Commercial managers

• Location :Harare, Zimbabwe

Overall Purpose

The Contracts Director is responsible for the leadership, operational performance, commercial success and profitable delivery of the Company's construction project portfolio.

The role translates the Construction Division strategy into operational execution by ensuring all projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, to the required quality standards and in accordance with contractual obligations. The incumbent is accountable for achieving project revenue, profitability, cashflow, productivity and client satisfaction targets while managing operational, technical, commercial and contractual risks.

The Contracts Director provides executive leadership across project delivery, contract management, construction operations, resource optimisation, stakeholder engagement and organisational capability development to ensure sustainable business performance, market competitiveness and long-term growth of the Construction Division.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership and Operational Execution

• Implement the Construction Division strategy and annual business plans.

• Translate strategic objectives into operational plans and measurable performance targets.

• Lead the successful delivery of the Company's construction project portfolio.

• Drive operational excellence, productivity improvement and profitability across all projects.

• Support business development initiatives, tender strategies and client acquisition efforts.

• Identify opportunities for operational improvement, innovation and competitive advantage.

• Provide operational input into divisional strategic planning processes.

• Contribute to annual budgeting, forecasting and business planning activities.

Technical Leadership

• Provide technical oversight and governance across all projects.

• Ensure compliance with approved designs, specifications, engineering standards and statutory requirements.

• Review and approve construction methodologies and temporary works proposals.

• Resolve complex engineering, operational and construction challenges.

• Drive value engineering and constructability initiatives across projects.

• Promote adoption of best-practice construction methods and technologies.

• Project Delivery and Operations Management

• Direct all construction operations from project mobilisation to project close-out.

• Ensure projects achieve agreed targets for Safety, Quality, Programme, Cost and Productivity.

• Review project performance on a weekly and monthly basis.

• Ensure adequate allocation of labour, plant, equipment, materials and subcontractors across projects.

• Lead project recovery programmes where performance is below target.

• Monitor project execution risks and implement corrective actions.

• Drive operational consistency and standardisation across the project portfolio.

Commercial Management

• Lead commercial performance across all projects.

• Monitor revenue, profitability, cashflow and cost performance.

• Review and approve project budgets, forecasts and cost reports.

• Oversee variations, claims, payment certificates and final accounts.

• Ensure timely certification and collection of outstanding debtors.

• Drive margin enhancement and cost optimisation initiatives.

• Ensure effective commercial governance across the project portfolio.

Contract Management

• Provide executive oversight on all construction contracts.

• Manage contractual risk exposure across the business.

• Ensure timely submission of notices, claims, variations and extension of time requests.

• Lead major contractual negotiations and dispute resolution processes.

• Protect the Company's contractual and commercial interests.

• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations and statutory requirements.

Risk Management

• Establish and maintain construction risk management systems.

• Identify and mitigate operational, commercial, technical, financial and contractual risks.

• Review project risk registers and mitigation plans.

• Ensure project recovery strategies are implemented where necessary.

• Monitor business continuity risks affecting project delivery.

• Plant and Equipment Management

• Ensure optimal utilisation of Company plant and equipment assets.

• Monitor equipment productivity, utilisation and availability.

• Ensure effective maintenance and replacement planning systems are implemented.

• Drive plant efficiency and return on asset performance.

• Support strategic capital investment planning for fleet and equipment requirements.

SHEQ Leadership

• Champion and embed a zero-harm culture across all operations.

• Ensure compliance with Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality standards.

• Drive implementation of ISO management systems and SHEQ best practices.

• Monitor SHEQ performance across all projects.

• Lead investigations into major incidents and ensure corrective actions are implemented.

• Authorise work stoppages where significant safety, environmental or quality risks exist.

Resource and Productivity Management

• Ensure projects are adequately resourced to meet delivery commitments.

• Optimise utilisation of personnel, equipment, subcontractors and materials.

• Implement productivity improvement initiatives across all projects.

• Monitor workforce performance and operational efficiency.

• Drive continuous improvement programmes throughout the Construction Division.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, consultants, suppliers, subcontractors and regulatory authorities.

• Represent the Company during high-level negotiations, project reviews and dispute resolution forums.

• Ensure effective communication of contractual obligations and project requirements.

• Support client retention and business development initiatives.

• Enhance the Company's reputation through professional stakeholder engagement.

Leadership and Organisational Development

• Provide leadership and direction to Contracts Managers and project leadership teams.

• Develop and implement succession planning programmes across the operations function.

• Conduct performance reviews and leadership development initiatives.

• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, teamwork and operational excellence.

• Build organisational capability to support future business growth.

• Promote continuous professional development throughout the division.

Decision Making

• Approves project execution strategies and operational plans.

• Approves resource allocation across projects.

• Approves project budgets and forecasts within delegated authority.

• Approves major subcontract awards and procurement recommendations.

• Determines contractual positions on claims, variations and extension of time submissions.

• Approves project recovery plans and corrective actions.

• Authorises operational expenditure within delegated limits.

• Recommends strategic operational and commercial decisions to the Managing Director – Construction.

• Authorises SHEQ interventions, including work stoppages where safety, environmental, quality or contractual risks threaten project success or Company reputation.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervision Received

• Reports directly to the Managing Director – Construction and operates with a high degree of autonomy in managing the construction project portfolio.

• The role is accountable for delivering agreed operational, commercial, financial and SHEQ objectives and provides regular reports to the Managing Director – Construction on project performance, risks, opportunities and strategic initiatives.

Supervision Given

• Provides direct leadership and oversight to:

• Contracts Managers

• Surfacing Manager

• Chief Surveyor

• Plant Manager

• Project Controls Manager

• Site Agents

• Project Engineers

• Commercial Teams (functional oversight)

• SHEQ Teams (functional oversight)

• Responsible for:

• Strategic direction and operational leadership.

• Performance management and accountability.

• Resource allocation and utilisation.

• Leadership development and succession planning.

• Mentorship and coaching.

• Organisational capability development.

• Compliance and governance oversight.

Academic Qualifications Required

• Minimum Academic Qualification

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying or related discipline.

• Professional Qualifications

• Registered Professional Engineer, Quantity Surveyor or Construction Professional.

• Membership of EIZ, ECZ, CIOB, RICS or equivalent recognised professional institution.

• Project Management, Contract Management or Construction Law certification is advantageous.

• Additional Qualifications

• MBA or Master's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering Management or Business Administration is advantageous.

• Experience, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

Experience

• Minimum 15 years' construction industry experience.

• Minimum 10 years in senior project and operational leadership roles.

• Minimum 5 years managing multiple projects simultaneously.

• Proven experience managing large and complex construction project portfolios.

• Demonstrated track record of improving project profitability, cashflow and operational performance.

• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across multiple project locations.

• Knowledge

• Construction management and project delivery.

• Contract administration and construction law.

• Commercial and financial management.

• Construction planning and scheduling.

• Risk management and business continuity.

• Plant and equipment management.

• SHEQ management systems.

• Corporate governance principles.

• Roads, bridges, mining, earthworks, infrastructure and building construction methodologies.

Skills

• Executive leadership and people management.

• Strategic planning and execution.

• Commercial and financial management.

• Contract negotiation and dispute resolution.

• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management.

• Operational performance management.

• Risk management and decision making.

• Communication and influencing skills.

• Change management and organisational development.

Abilities

• Ability to lead large-scale construction operations.

• Ability to translate strategy into operational execution.

• Ability to manage multiple high-value projects simultaneously.

• Ability to resolve complex commercial and operational challenges.

• Ability to build high-performing teams.

• Ability to drive sustainable business growth and profitability.

• Ability to influence stakeholders at executive and client level.

Other Characteristics

• Commercially astute.

• Strategic and results-oriented.

• High integrity and professionalism.

• Strong leadership presence.

• Resilient and adaptable.

• Customer-focused.

• Innovative and forward-thinking.

• Accountable and decisive.

• Business Contacts

• Business Contact

• Reason for Contact

• Managing Director – Construction

• Strategic alignment, performance reporting and operational governance

• Executive Management Team

• Coordination of divisional and corporate objectives

• Clients

• Executive relationship management and project delivery

• Consultants

• Technical and commercial coordination

• Government Agencies and Regulators

• Compliance and stakeholder engagement

• Financial Institutions

• Project funding and commercial matters

• Suppliers and Subcontractors

• Strategic procurement and contract management

• Professional Bodies

• Industry leadership and professional development

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