Wajdi Nawaleh
Contracts Manager
Khobar
Summary
Results-driven and detail-oriented Contracts Manager with over 20 years of experience in the construction and real estate industries, specializing in contract administration, negotiation, risk management, claims resolution, and Dispute Avoidance. Proven track record of managing high-value contracts, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in full compliance with contractual obligations. Exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills, with extensive experience collaborating with senior management, legal teams, and key stakeholders to drive strategic contract management initiatives. A decisive and proactive leader, adept at fostering strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, and project teams while effectively mitigating contractual risks.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
7
7
Certifications
Work History
Contracts & Procurement Manager
Innovest Group
12.2022 - Current
- Company Overview: Real Estate Development, Contracting
- NHC Housing Projects – (Riyadh, Jedah, Madinah and Khobar) Mix – Use projects
- Led end-to-end contract and procurement operations for projects exceeding SAR 1 billion, ensuring compliance with legal, financial, and project-specific requirements
- Developed and enforced contractual frameworks that effectively managed claims, variations, and disputes, minimizing project risks and securing financial recoveries
- Negotiated and finalized high-value contracts and procurement agreements, achieving an average 15% cost reduction through strategic subcontractors and suppliers negotiations
- Created and implemented comprehensive contract and procurement policies, ensuring alignment with FIDIC principles and industry best practices for mega construction projects
- Oversaw the preparation and submission of variation orders claims and dispute resolution
- Implemented risk mitigation strategies that reduced potential disputes
- Led cross-functional collaboration with legal, finance, and engineering teams to assess contract risks, claims justifications, and commercial liabilities
- Spearheaded supplier negotiations and contract awards across multiple categories, from raw materials to subcontractor services, ensuring optimal pricing and quality
- Streamlined vendor onboarding, reducing process time by 50%, enhancing procurement agility, and expediting critical project requirements
- Managed an annual procurement and contracts budget of over $500 million, ensuring cost-efficient procurement while maintaining project integrity
- Developed long-term procurement business plans, setting department-wide KPIs and ensuring continuous improvement in cost control and resource allocation
- Maintained a zero-audit finding record for two consecutive years, ensuring full compliance with corporate, governmental, and international procurement regulations
- Ensured that all contractual obligations were effectively transferred to subcontractors, safeguarding the company's legal and financial position
- Led and mentored a cross-functional team of 50+ professionals, improving team efficiency through modern motivation techniques and structured training programs
- Designed and launched procurement and contract management training programs, enhancing team expertise and compliance awareness
- Develop team KPIs for subcontract compliance, such as dispute resolution timelines and variation approval rates, driving accountability and efficiency
- Build high-performing teams by recruiting, training, and mentoring contract administrators and QS professionals, fostering expertise in claims management, negotiation, and compliance
- Conduct performance reviews and create individualized development plans to enhance team capabilities in contract law, risk management, and stakeholder communication
- Promote cross-functional collaboration by organizing regular alignment sessions between legal, finance, and project teams to address contractual bottlenecks
- Review and approve Monthly Progress Reports, providing strategic insights to senior leadership on contractual performance and exposure
- Real Estate Development, Contracting
- NHC Housing Projects – (Riyadh, Jedah, Madinah and Khobar) Mix – Use projects
Contracts Manager
Carve Contracting
11.2020 - 11.2022
- Administer the Main Contract with the Main contractor, ensuring 100% adherence to obligations, terms, and conditions while aligning with project timelines, deliverables, and risk mitigation frameworks (e.g., FIDIC)
- Lead a cross-functional team of contract administrators, legal advisors, and project controls specialists to implement compliance protocols, resolve ambiguities, and mitigate risks
- Mentor junior contract staff in preparing, negotiating, and submitting Variation Orders and Claims, ensuring technical accuracy, commercial defensibility, and alignment with project objectives
- Maintain a dynamic Variation Register to track changes, approvals, and financial impacts, delegating updates to team members while ensuring audit readiness
- Facilitate collaboration between engineering, procurement, and execution teams to ensure contractual obligations are understood and met across all disciplines
- Chair Joint Venture (JV) alignment meetings to harmonize contractual obligations, resolve disputes, and ensure unified compliance with project requirements
- Delegate risk monitoring tasks to junior staff while overseeing the identification and mitigation of contractual risks at project interfaces
- Lead subcontract negotiation teams, guiding QS and procurement specialists to draft agreements that balance risk, cost, and compliance
- Train subcontract administrators on best practices for incorporating Main Contract terms into vendor agreements, ensuring consistency and enforceability
- Collaborate with procurement teams to align subcontracting procedures with company policies, delegating tasks while maintaining oversight of critical deliverables
- Conduct team workshops to flow down Main Contract liabilities to subcontractors, ensuring risk allocation aligns with company objectives
- Supervise subcontract administrators in enforcing terms, resolving disputes, and certifying payments, ensuring alignment with project milestones and budgets
Subcontracts Manager
Salini Impregilo Ltd.
02.2017 - 11.2020
- Guided compliance and risk mitigation by advising on contractual obligations, liabilities, and risk exposure for high-value projects, ensuring adherence to legal frameworks, project specifications, and industry standards
- Led a team of Quantity Surveyors (QS) and Contract Administrators, overseeing the preparation of cost estimates, contract reviews, and payment validations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and alignment with project budgets
- Coordinated cross-functional scope definition with technical and site teams to eliminate ambiguities in subcontractor deliverables, preventing disputes and maintaining alignment with critical project milestones
- Managed complex subcontract variations, evaluating change impacts, negotiating claims, and securing client approvals to protect project profitability and stakeholder interests
- Mentored and developed QS/Contract Administrators, conducting performance reviews, training on best practices (e.g., FIDIC clauses, claims management), and fostering a culture of precision and proactive problem-solving
- Proactively monitored project disruptions, documenting delays, and submitting time/cost extension claims with robust evidence to maximize client approval rates and minimize schedule impacts
- Streamlined payment processes by validating subcontractor invoices against contractual milestones and progress, ensuring timely approvals and accurate budget tracking
- Established team KPIs, such as compliance audit pass rates and claims resolution timelines, driving accountability and continuous improvement in subcontract management workflows
Sr. Contract Administrator
Arail Contracting
06.2014 - 01.2017
- Managed and coordinated the award of contracts worth over SAR 100 million, ensuring compliance with procurement policies and project requirements
- Drafted, reviewed, and standardized contract documents (RFPs, SOWs, T&Cs), reducing legal risks through precise clause alignment and compliance audits
- Conducted technical, financial, and risk assessments for 50+ bids, achieving vendor reliability and reducing post-award disputes via rigorous pre-qualification
- Negotiated terms, pricing, and payment schedules to secure 12–15% average cost savings per contract, while aligning cash flow with project milestones
- Cross-Functional Collaboration, partnered with procurement, legal, and finance teams to streamline approvals, cutting approval cycle times and ensuring on-time submission of contract packages
- Oversaw the end-to-end administration of large-scale contract lifecycles across multiple concurrent contracts, mitigating complex disputes through proactive claims management, mediation strategies, and collaborative stakeholder engagement to ensure contractual alignment and minimize project
- Acted as the primary liaison between contractors, clients, and internal teams, boosting stakeholder satisfaction through transparent communication
- Reduced contract approval times by 30% via workflow automation and trained 10+ team members on updated protocols, improving departmental efficiency
Contract Engineer (Subcontractor Pre-Award)
Al Arrab Contracting Co.
11.2010 - 05.2014
- Oversee the pre-award procurement lifecycle for subcontractors, managing 15–20+ subcontractor packages annually while ensuring 100% adherence to project timelines, budgets, and quality standards
- Conduct pre-qualification assessments for 50+ subcontractors annually, evaluating technical competency, HSE compliance, and alignment with project requirements
- Perform technical and commercial bid analysis for 30–50 proposals per project, identifying cost variances and ensuring compliance with contractual terms
- Lead negotiations to achieve 10–15% cost savings on subcontractor agreements while mitigating
- Validate 100% compliance with project schedules, and quality protocols for all awarded subcontractors to minimize disputes
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, legal, finance) to align evaluation criteria, reducing subcontractor approval cycle time
- Issue 100+ purchase orders (POs) and subcontract agreements annually, ensuring 98% on-time delivery of procurement deliverables
- Cultivate partnerships with strategic subcontractors, improving procurement efficiency through long-term collaboration
Project coordinator
Kellog Brown & Root
09.2008 - 08.2010
Project Engineer
Xpress Telecom Co.
05.2006 - 08.2008
Site Supervisor
Abdul Azeez Contracting Co.
06.1998 - 09.2002
Education
Bachelor's Degree - Electrical Engineering
Jordan University of Science and Technology
10.2002 - 03.2007
Skills
Contract Management & Administration
Certification
Practical Use of FIDIC Rules And Conditions (FIDIC Module 1)
Training
- Arbitration in Saudi Arabia
- FIDIC Forum – Saudi Arabia
- BOT contracts, Risks And arbitration
Signature Skills
- Contract Management & Administration
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- Contract Negotiation & Execution
- Vendor Management
- Claims & Dispute Resolution
- Legal & Regulatory Compliance
- Strategic Sourcing & Cost Control
- Procurement Process
- Change Management & Adaptability
- Performance Monitoring & Reporting
- Process Improvement & Automation
- Variation Management
- Commercial & Financial Acumen
Timeline
Contracts & Procurement Manager
Innovest Group
12.2022 - Current
Contracts Manager
Carve Contracting
11.2020 - 11.2022
Subcontracts Manager
Salini Impregilo Ltd.
02.2017 - 11.2020
Sr. Contract Administrator
Arail Contracting
06.2014 - 01.2017
Contract Engineer (Subcontractor Pre-Award)
Al Arrab Contracting Co.
11.2010 - 05.2014
Project coordinator
Kellog Brown & Root
09.2008 - 08.2010
Project Engineer
Xpress Telecom Co.
05.2006 - 08.2008
Bachelor's Degree - Electrical Engineering
Jordan University of Science and Technology
10.2002 - 03.2007
Site Supervisor
Abdul Azeez Contracting Co.
06.1998 - 09.2002
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