Key details
Mode of delivery: Classroom-based
Course code: PCM28B
Duration: 8 days
Fee: £6,900.00 + VAT
CPD Hours: 48
Course Overview
This course builds on foundational contract knowledge, focusing on strategic contract management, risk mitigation, and performance optimisation. Participants will explore contract variations, claims management, dispute resolution, and advanced negotiation techniques to handle complex contractual issues effectively. With a strong emphasis on performance monitoring, KPIs, and financial controls, this programme is ideal for mid-to-senior professionals in procurement, project management, and commercial roles who need to manage contracts proactively and enhance business outcomes.
This advanced course is also designed for professionals who manage high-value, complex contracts and need to refine their expertise in contract drafting, dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance. Participants will develop the skills to draft precise and enforceable contracts, handle complex negotiations, and navigate legal and ethical challenges. With a focus on real-world case studies and high-stakes commercial agreements, this programme is ideal for senior contract managers, legal professionals, and executives looking to master contract governance at an expert level.
Agenda
Day – 1 Contractual Obligations and Rights in a Typical Construction Contract
- Employer and Contractor rights and obligations (including warranties)
- Standards of work – Reasonable skill and care, Fitness for purpose in design
- Relationships between contracts and negligence
- Case study of a model agreement – NEC/FIDIC templates
Day – 2 Claims, Variations and Delay
- Managing contract variations
- Consequences of delay, including delays by the employer or the contractor
- Handling contractor claims for extension of time and additional costs, acceleration or disruption
- Liquidated damages
Day – 3 Contract Negotiation
- Preparing to negotiate – planning, objectives, mandate, issues, strategies
- Positional bargaining and Interest-based negotiation styles
- Negotiator tactics and skills, making concessions
- Tools and techniques to enhance your negotiation, including BATNA and ZOPA
Day – 4 Effective Contract Monitoring and Performance Management
- Fundamentals of effective contract performance management
- Use of KPIs / Targets in performance and links to payment
- Contract performance reviews and benefits realisation
- Managing defects
Day – 5 Weekly Review
- Summary and recap of key learning objectives
- Action Planning
Day – 6 Contract Drafting
- What is effective drafting?
- The Three ‘C’s of drafting: Clarity. Conciseness, Consistency
- Negotiating the wording of terms and conditions
- Drafting best practices
Day – 7 Avoiding and Resolving Disputes
- Claims and disputes – what’s the difference?
- Conflict resolution styles
- Methods of resolving disputes, including Settlement by negotiation, Mediation, Expert determination, Adjudication, Arbitration, Litigation
Day – 8 Contract Administration and Processes
- Contract administration and change procedures
- Non-disclosure and confidential information
- Project completion, handover, and acceptance
- Contract kick-off and Contract close-out
Course Review
- Summary and recap of key learning objectives
- Action Planning
Post-Course
- Five (5) x hour-long Executive Coaching sessions at monthly intervals following Course Completion
Target Audience
This course is suitable for:
- Procurement managers and supply chain professionals responsible for contract strategy and risk assessment.
- Project managers who handle contract variations, delays, and performance issues.
- Legal and compliance professionals involved in contract review and risk mitigation.
- Contract and commercial managers who handle contract extensions, defects, contractor claims and disputes.
- Professionals in construction, oil and gas, energy, engineering, and manufacturing industries who manage contract performance.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to implement a successful strategy that enables you to:
- Explain key contractual rights and obligations of contractors and employers, including warranties and fitness-for-purpose requirements.
- Assess the standard of work expected in construction contracts and its relationship with negligence claims.
- Analyse a model agreement (NEC/FIDIC) to understand how contractual obligations and intellectual property rights are structured.
- Identify and evaluate different types of contract variations and their impact on project scope and cost.
- Analyse the consequences of delays caused by both employers and contractors and determine appropriate remedies.
- Apply legal and contractual principles to assess claims for additional time, costs, acceleration, and liquidated damages.
- Develop negotiation strategies by understanding planning, mandate setting, and stakeholder interests.
- Apply key negotiation concepts such as BATNA, ZOPA, and interest-based bargaining to contract discussions.
- Utilise effective negotiation tactics and tools to manage contract variations and achieve favourable terms.
- Implement contract monitoring techniques to track performance and ensure compliance with key deliverables.
- Use KPIs and evaluation frameworks to assess contract performance and link payments to performance outcomes.
- Apply defect management and collateral contract principles to improve contract enforcement and minimise disputes.
- Apply key principles of effective contract drafting, including structuring material and selecting appropriate drafting styles.
- Utilise definitions, schedules, and templates to enhance contract clarity and enforceability.
- Implement best practices in drafting by ensuring clarity, conciseness, and consistency in contractual language.
- Distinguish between claims and disputes and assess common causes of contractual disputes.
- Evaluate different conflict resolution styles and their application in contract management.
- Compare and apply key dispute resolution methods, including negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration, and litigation.
- Explain the fundamentals of contract administration, including managing changes and confidentiality requirements.
- Develop strategies for contract completion, handover, and renewal, ensuring seamless project transitions.
- Implement structured contract kick-off and close-out processes to enhance efficiency and compliance.
