Location
Central London | United Kingdom
Job description
You will work as part of an established team of industry leading experts including Who’s Who Legal (WWL) recommended Expert Witnesses and Future Leaders.
Cultural fit, technical excellence and the ability to think independently and produce and deliver quality analysis are the key qualities sought.
This is a great opportunity for a bright, motivated and ambitious construction professional that has some practical experience of carrying out elementary delay analysis and/or forensic planning work.
You will work closely with Delay Analysis experts and expert witnesses and will help them to prepare and provide forensic analysis on numerous projects in report form. You will receive training and support to develop your skills and capabilities.
The client’s office is in central London and the employer is happy to discuss flexible working arrangements, which will include regular days in the office as well as some home working where appropriate.
Project Details
Within this role you will gain significant experience supporting a lead testifying expert on a variety of dispute proceedings. Types of work that you will gain exposure to supporting the expert witness on include:
- Arbitration
- Adjudication
- Mediation reports
- General claims and disputes advisory work
Responsibilities and Duties
Your primary role will be to provide support to the lead delay expert in carrying out methodical and thorough forensic analysis related to multiple ongoing disputes. Specific duties may include but are not limited to:
- Compiling as-built progress data
- Investigating causes of delay
- Developing factual chronologies of events
Whilst working with the expert, you will develop your skills and experience in a structured way with the long-term view of training you to eventually be able to carry out the lead delay expert role yourself in the future.
Desired Skills and Experience
- Candidates will be required to have built up some technical knowledge in a relevant preparatory role such as a construction engineer, planner or project manager. During this time, you will have gained exposure to several complex projects, the ability to use programmes, related planning software and understand key elements relating to disputes that arise on projects.
- Able to show an ability to gain a clear and comprehensive understanding of the nature of the dispute being analysed based on a review of the claim documents / adjudication or arbitration submissions, factual witness statements and other briefing documents.
- Able to demonstrate an appreciation of the common methods of delay analysis, as set out in the Society of Construction Law Delay and Disruption Protocol.
- Ability to forensically investigate and analyse baseline and progress updated programmes using the industry standard programming software packages, including making appropriate logic changes to the programmes, as necessary, to analyse the nature and extent of both critical and non-critical delay.
- Ability to conduct methodical, thorough and detailed investigations and analysis (using a range of contemporaneous documents) to establish facts relevant to the nature, extent and causes of delay to all stages of the construction process on a wide range of construction and engineering project types, including (but not limited to) residential & commercial buildings, stadiums, conference centres, power plants, oil & gas-related projects, roads & bridges, schools, hospitals, hotels, railways, airports, pharmaceutical & research buildings and marine related projects.
- Able to demonstrate a high quality of presentational skills, both written and oral. It is essential that all work generated is presented in a clear and structured manner (in the form of chronologies of events, internal file notes and spreadsheets), supported by clear cross-referencing to the relevant documents analysed. This is not only to ensure clear communication during the delay analysis process, but also to produce documents that can be used as appendices to the expert report that will stand up to scrutiny by the opposing party and Tribunal / Court.
- An appreciation for the time and cost constraints under which expert witness work is carried out. This requires the candidate to manage work delegated to him/her to ensure the timely completion of tasks (to the quality expected) having regard to the overall timescale for the delay analysis dictated by instructing solicitors / clients.
- Ability to take on board, and react positively to, constructive criticism. In this regard, the candidate should be driven and passionate about developing their skills and delivering a high standard of work.
- The ability to engage with confidence with solicitors and clients once suitably trained and experienced.
Qualifications/Educational Requirements
- A Degree in a relevant subject - probably relating to construction or civil engineering
- Membership of the appropriate professional body or working towards membership is desirable
- Familiar with the Society of Construction Law Delay and Disruption Protocol.
Employing Company Overview and Profile
The hiring company is a highly reputable disputes consultancy with numerous industry experts including WWL recommended experts and future leaders. A full company profile will be provided to shortlisted candidates.
The client can offer flexible working arrangements to allow some work to be carried out at home. However, this role will require regular visits into London and candidates will need to be prepared to typically be in London a minimum of 2-3 days per week.
Additional Benefits Package and Incentives
Basic Salary in the region of £55k - £90k p/a dependant on experience
+ Contribution to personal pension
+ Mobile phone
+ Relevant professional fees paid
+ Annual discretionary bonus
Job tags
Salary
£55k - £90k per annum
