About the job:
Kent is looking for a Senior Subcontract Manager to be based in Khobar
Skills and Responsibilities:
Subcontract Strategy & Pre-Award
- Develop and implement the project Subcontracts Execution Plan (SEP) in alignment with the overall project contracting strategy, schedule, and risk profile.
- Define subcontract packaging strategy, identifying appropriate contract forms (lump sum, reimbursable, unit rate) suited to scope, market conditions, and risk allocation.
- Manage the preparation and issue of Invitations to Tender (ITTs), Requests for Quotation (RFQs), and associated bid documentation.
- Conduct rigorous commercial evaluation of bids, lead clarification meetings, and prepare award recommendations for internal and client approval.
Contract Award & Post-Award Management
- Negotiate and execute subcontract agreements in line with the prime contract flow-down provisions, company policy, and applicable law.
- Oversee the administration of awarded subcontracts, including progress monitoring, payment certification, variation management, and schedule compliance.
- Manage the subcontractor change order process — evaluating entitlement, pricing, and impact — to protect project commercial position.
- Identify and mitigate subcontract risks; maintain the subcontract risk register and coordinate closely with Project Controls and Legal functions.
- Ensure all correspondence received from subcontractors is reviewed, responded to in a timely manner, and that all replies are contractually sound and protect the company's position. The Subcontracts Manager shall maintain close liaison with the Commercial Manager to align on responses, escalate issues, and ensure contractual obligations and entitlements are managed proactively throughout the subcontract period.
- Ensure subcontractors' compliance with HSE, quality, and contractual obligations, escalating non-conformances as required.
Claims & Dispute Management
- Proactively manage the early identification, assessment, and resolution of subcontractor claims and disputes.
- Prepare or review substantiation and defence documents in relation to subcontractor time and cost claims.
- Coordinate with Legal, commercial, and project leadership on dispute resolution strategies including mediation, adjudication, or arbitration proceedings.
Close-Out & Final Accounts
- Lead the structured close-out of all subcontracts including settlement of final accounts, release of retention, and demobilisation.
- Compile and maintain comprehensive contract records and close-out reports for audit, lessons learned, and post-project review purposes.
SYSTEM, PROCEDURES & Governance
- Ensure full compliance with the company's Commercial governance framework, delegation of authority (DOA) matrix, and internal approval procedures.
- Maintain accurate and complete subcontract records using the company's ERP and contract management systems (e.g., Oracle, or equivalent platform).
- Develop, maintain, and continuously improve project-specific subcontracts procedures, templates, and standard forms in alignment with company and client requirements.
- Apply robust change management controls — ensuring all subcontract variations are formally instructed, evaluated, and approved prior to execution.
- Manage the subcontract obligations register, ensuring key milestones, deliverables, insurance certificates, bonds, and warranty obligations are tracked and fulfilled.
- Support internal and external audits related to subcontracting activities, providing documentation and responses as required.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
- Act as the primary commercial interface between the project team and subcontractors, fostering professional, collaborative, and commercially sound relationships.
- Liaise closely with the Client (Saudi Aramco, SABIC, or equivalent NOC) on subcontracting strategy, approvals, and compliance — including IKTVA reporting obligations.
- Collaborate with internal project functions — Engineering, Construction, Procurement, Project Controls, Finance, Commercial, Legal, and HSE — to ensure subcontract requirements are aligned with project objectives.
- Provide timely and accurate subcontract commercial reporting to the Project Director, KSA Contracts Director, and senior leadership including exposure reporting and forecast final cost.
- Engage with the company's Group Procurement, Commercial and Legal teams on risk escalations, framework agreements, and dispute management.
- Represent the company in subcontractor meetings, negotiations, and formal correspondence at a senior level.
TEAM LERDERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT
- Reporting to the Senior Commercial Manager and functionally to the Commercial Director KSA , lead, manage, and mentor a team of subcontracts professionals (Subcontract Engineers, and Administrators) across all project phases.
- Define team resourcing requirements, working with the KSA Contracts Director and HR to recruit and onboard qualified subcontracts personnel.
- Set clear performance objectives for direct reports, conduct regular performance reviews, and support career development planning.
- Foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture with a strong emphasis on commercial integrity, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
- Provide coaching, on-the-job training, and technical guidance to develop the capability and competence of junior team members.
- Promote knowledge sharing and lessons-learned practice across the subcontracts team and broader project organisation.
- Act as a subject matter expert (SME) within the contracts function, contributing to the wider professional development of the contracting community within the company.
- Ensure adequate succession planning and knowledge transfer for critical subcontracts roles throughout the project lifecycle.
GENERAL
- Ensure compliance with Project and Kent Procedures and processes
- Actively participate in HSSE Reporting including Hazard Observations, Safety Interventions & HSSE Inspections.
- Provide support for Bids as requested
- Contribute to team efforts by accomplishing related results in a cooperative and supportive manner.
- In addition to the responsibilities listed herein, the employee may be required to perform other ad-hoc tasks as needed or directed by management. These tasks will be within the reasonable scope of the employee's skills, capabilities, and role within the organization. The intent of this provision is to allow for flexibility and adaptability in meeting the dynamic needs of the organization, ensuring that operational requirements can be met efficiently. All such tasks will be assigned considering the employee's current workload and with respect to their professional development.
Your knowledge/ Skills, Education, and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Law, Business, or a related discipline. Equivalent professional qualification considered.
- Minimum 15 years' experience in contracts/subcontracts management within the Oil & Gas sector.
- Demonstrable experience of working in KSA — knowledge of local regulatory environment, IKTVA requirements, and Saudi Aramco/SABIC contracting frameworks.
- Proven senior-level experience on large-scale EPC projects in the energy, petrochemical, or infrastructure sectors.
- Strong knowledge of FIDIC, NEC, or bespoke EPC subcontract forms.
- Exceptional negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.
- Significant experience in Oil & Gas EPC subcontract management
- Demonstrated in-country experience working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
- Proven track record on large-scale EPC Subcontracts (typically $5m-$50M)
- Familiarity with Saudi Aramco, SABIC, or equivalent national oil company (NOC) frameworks
- Preferred Membership of CIPS, RICS, or equivalent professional body
- Preferred Arabic language skills
Communication:
- Excellent command of the English language in both oral and written communication and skills.
Behavior/ Core Competencies:
- Proactive approach, attention to details, commitment to continuous learning
HSSEQ:
- The Employee shall observe the Health, Safety, Sustainability, Environment and Quality rules of the Company; it’s clients and the governing authorities of the host country. Exhibit exemplary HSSE behaviour.
About you: Join us. Unleash your energy within. If you have world-class ambitions to reach the stars while keeping your feet on the ground, we’re the team for you. We've created a new breed of company – future-focused with reimagined ambition across all disciplines within the energy sector.
We love people who know their own potential and are not afraid to use it. We know that together, we’re far more than the sum of our parts. So, we celebrate people who want to grow and develop as we work together on some of the largest projects on the energy world stage.
We are committed to our diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. From day one, we offer a range of family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds.
As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.
We’re a disability-friendly employer and can make adjustments to support you to perform at your best during the recruitment process.
Our purpose and beliefs: As Kent, we’re tackling the greatest challenge of our time - to bring our world the energy it needs in the most responsible way ever imagined.
It’s the energy of every member of our team driven by our beliefs that is making this happen. Whatever our skill, our language, or our culture. These beliefs define and direct us every day to be the very best - for ourselves, our clients, our key stakeholders, the communities we operate in and the planet:
We PLAY BIG
We thrive on EMOTIONAL AGILITY
We are FANATICAL ABOUT PERFORMANCE
We are built on INFINITE THINKING
Read more about the Purpose, Beliefs and Guiding Principles that drive us:
Our vision for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging: We recognise that diversity & inclusion are catalysts for success. We’re heightening awareness on the benefits of people diversity, diversity of experiences and diversity of our perspectives. Creating a culture of inclusivity where all employees feel a sense of belonging.
Our combined energy is fueled by different nationalities, across 6 continents and 24 countries. Our commitment is to celebrate character – no matter what ethnic background, gender, age, religion, identity, or disability.
RINA Consulting (formerly D'Appolonia)
