Quantum Associate Director

A leading national and international claims consultancy is looking to hire a candidate with significant experience of managing construction project advisory and dispute resolution strategies for clients.

You will have the opportunity to work for a globally recognised brand name with an excellent reputation for delivering excellent service. You will join as an Associate Director within their London office and be responsible for managing internal and external staff and providing strategic contractual and dispute resolution advice to clients.

If you are an experienced construction disputes professional who would be interested in operating at a senior level with a market leading claims and disputes consultancy, this role could be a perfect fit for you.

Project Details

This role would particularly suit candidates who enjoy variety in their work life. Within this role you will carry out a variety of services to clients who need expert assistance on contentious projects.

Due to the nature of work, you can also expect to gain exposure to working with clients on projects across the full breadth of sectors within the construction industry. Therefore, a well-rounded project background could be advantageous when applying for this role.

Typically, you work with main contractors, subcontractors and client organisations providing expert strategic and contractual advice relating to their projects, and when required manage the disputes process on behalf of the client.

Responsibilities and Duties

As Associate Director, you will be part of the senior management team in London and the national business, reporting to national Directors. Some of your key responsibilities within this role will include but are not limited to:

• Providing strategic and contractual advice to clients in relation to disputes that arise on their projects
• Giving sound advice to clients in relation to their true contractual position and recommending the most appropriate dispute resolution techniques based on their unique situation
• Managing dispute proceedings on behalf of the client such as adjudications, and acting as the expert witness where required.
• Supporting one of the businesses expert witnesses on arbitration and litigation cases. This will include carrying out forensic analysis and drafting sections of the expert report.
• Performing contract administration duties on behalf of the client
• Applying robust and methodical analytical skills to all aspects of the construction claims work, and adopting a flexible and adaptable approach to problems encountered and to client requests

Desired Skills and Experience

• Significant experience of managing dispute proceedings such as adjudications, mediations, arbitrations and litigations. A combination of the above would be desirable.
• A strong understanding of contractual law and common disputes that arise on projects and how best to effectively resolve them.
• The client has a clear preference to hire a candidate who has acted in a similar role for a specialist disputes consultancy previously.
• A good variety of complex project and contract exposure would be beneficial. i.e. exposure to complex projects across multiple projects as well as exposure to numerous forms of contract such as JCT, NEC and FIDIC.
• Excellent communicator and able to operate confidently and with authority in client facing roles
• Excellent report writing skills
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to manage internal and external members of staff
• A keen motivation to progress your career specifically in a specialist claims and disputes orientated role
• The ability to spot opportunities to generate new business for the hiring company. However, this is less of a factor than your ability to actually carrying out work at a high level. Despite other employers who put a huge emphasis on business development at this level, this employer is generating a lot of work through their reputation alone and whilst the ability to generate business would be advantageous, it is not essential.

Qualifications/Educational Requirements

• A Degree in a relevant subject
• A higher qualification in Construction Law such as an MSc/LLM is strongly desired
• Professional membership to a relevant professional body such as the RICS or CIArb would be advantageous.

Employing Company Overview and Profile

The hiring company is a blue chip, global consultancy specialising in claims and disputes services in the construction industry. They have an established brand name which continually generates work on the highest profile, complex projects and disputes both in the UK and overseas.

They have been rapidly expanding as a business over the last 2 years and they also have a very young senior management team, which should provide confidence to potential applicants that there are fantastic opportunities to progress your career within the business. They also offer market leading training and support towards your continued personal development.

Additional Benefits Package and Incentives

Basic salary in the region of £80k - £95k (negotiable)

+ Car allowance in the region of £5k

+ Contributory pension scheme (up to 5%)

+ 24 days annual leave

+ Permanent Health Insurance

+ Private Medical Insurance (plus half price for dependants)

+ Life Insurance