We are seeking a seasoned Lead Variation Manager to take full ownership of all contract variation matters for a major EPC project. The successful candidate will lead project departments to identify potential variations, prepare substantiation and supporting documentation, negotiate with the client, and secure approvals. This role has a direct impact on project profitability, risk mitigation, and overall contract governance. The ideal candidate will possess deep professional expertise in EPC contracts, variation management, and proven experience with internationally recognized EPC contractors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end variation management process: identification, substantiation, submission, negotiation, and final agreement with the client.
• Analyse EPC contract terms to determine legitimate grounds for variations (e.g. scope changes, unforeseen conditions, client-driven changes).
• Develop well-documented variation claims and time-extension requests, ensuring compliance with contract procedures.
• Collaborate closely with project controls, engineering, and construction teams to quantify cost and schedule impacts of proposed variations.
• Serve as primary negotiator and point-of-contact for all variation-related discussions with the client.
• Prepare and present detailed variation status reports, exposure analyses, and opportunity statements for senior project and company management.
• Lead, mentor, and guide other commercial staff on best practices for variation management and contract administration.

Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive variation and contract management experience with major EPC offshore projects in the oil & gas industry.
• Proven track record of successfully managing variations for large-scale, complex EPC contracts. Experience with well-known international clients or contractors is an advantage.
• Deep knowledge of international contract forms (e.g. FIDIC) and bespoke EPC contract frameworks.
• Outstanding negotiation, communication, and analytical skills; assertive, proactive, result-oriented.
• Strong leadership skills, with ability to lead commercial teams and coordinate across multi-discipline project departments.
• Comfortable working in a high-pressure, multinational environment, with potential for multi-location assignments (Singapore, Qatar, China).

Optional / Preferred

• Prior experience with major global EPC contractors.
• Previous exposure to contract variation management under international oil companies.
• Multi-region / multi-cultural project coordination experience.
• Familiarity with offshore project lifecycle, including engineering, procurement, construction, installation, commissioning, and maintenance phases.