Big Tech DaaS
Mr. John Panikulam - BTPE Expert
Tittle : Senior Consultant
Nationality: Indian
Base: Middle East (Saudi Arabia / Qatar)
Language: English, Hindi, Arabic and Malayalam
Qualification: B.E. Civil Engineering | PMP (Project Management Professional) | FIE (Fellow, Institution of Engineers)
About John Panikulam
John Panikulam is a highly accomplished Senior Contracts Manager with over two decades of progressive experience in contracts management, procurement, claims, and commercial administration across major infrastructure, real estate, and energy projects in the Middle East.
Currently serving at Bechtel Corporation as Senior Contracts Manager for the NEOM Regional Infrastructure Project in Saudi Arabia — one of the world's most ambitious development programmes — John leads the full commercial and contractual management of highways and roads packages under Bechtel's Executive Program Manager (EPM) mandate.
His career spans landmark projects including NEOM Spine Infrastructure, Hamad Port in Qatar, Qatar Foundation, and major real estate developments, giving him deep expertise in FIDIC-based contracts, claims analysis, variation management, dispute resolution, and contract closeout across Construction, Consultancy, and Equipment procurement.
Specialization
• Contracts administration & commercial management — large-scale infrastructure and construction projects
• Claims management — variations, extension of time (EOT), prolongation, acceleration, and disruption
• Procurement & tendering — ITT management, pre-qualification, bid evaluation, contract award
• Dispute resolution — preparation of determination recommendations and dispute reports
• Contract closeout — final accounts, BOQ reconciliation, TOC and SCC preparation
• Risk management — identification, mitigation, and contractual risk response
• FIDIC contract expertise — Red, Yellow, and Silver Books
• Systems — Unifier, SAP, Oracle EPM/ERP, SharePoint
Business Experience:
Bechtel Corporation | Senior Contracts Manager — NEOM Regional Infrastructure
Period: January 2024 – December 2025 (2 years) | Tabuk / Sharma, Saudi Arabia
• Senior Contracts Manager for NEOM Regional Infrastructure Project (Highways & Roads division), reporting to Lead Senior Contracts Manager under Bechtel's EPM mandate.
• Administration and management of contracts for assigned highways and roads packages across NEOM's backbone infrastructure programme.
• Managed all commercial issues including Payment Applications, Progress Statements, Recommendations for Payment, and payment processing in Unifier/SAP.
• Analysed merit of claims for Variations and Extension of Time; prepared Letter of Recommendations (LOR), Variation Order Approval Forms (VOAF), and concluded Variation Orders.
• Led contract closeout including variation conclusions, BOQ reconciliation, EOT claims, Taking Over Certificates (TOC) and Services Completion Certificates (SCC).
• Prepared Determination Recommendations and dispute recommendation reports.
• Previously managed NEOM Spine Infrastructure Project (170 KM corridor including High-Speed Rail, Mountain Running Tunnels, Mass Excavation, Highways, Flyovers, and Pipeline works).
Hill International, Inc. | Contract Manager
Period: July 2021 – December 2023 (2 years 6 months) | Doha, Qatar
• Ensured implementation and maintenance of all contract document requirements throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Reviewed contractual notices and claims; provided contractual advice to Engineering and Administration teams.
• Facilitated preparation of contract changes, variation orders, engineer's instructions, and claim logs.
• Ensured all warranties, bonds, insurances and guarantees were in place and maintained per contract requirements.
• Prepared monthly progress reports and recommendations for release of retention and bonds.
• Coordinated with client representatives, PMC, and contractors on all contractual matters.
Hamad Port Project Steering Committee (via SPIE Oil & Gas Services) | Contracts Manager / Contracts Specialist
Period: November 2015 – February 2020 (4 years 4 months) | Mesaieed, Doha, Qatar
• Managed procurement for Construction, Consultancy, and Equipment packages covering Channel Deepening, Reclamation, Dredging, Marine Construction, Quay Walls, Terminal Buildings, Security Systems, Master System Integration, Data Centres, and Port Equipment.
• Prepared tender documents (ITT), managed tendering process, pre-qualification, bid evaluation, and contract award.
• Administered contracts including payments, change control, and contractual correspondence.
• Defended claims for Variations, EOT, Prolongation, Acceleration, and Disruption.
• Led negotiation and closeout of final accounts; supported legal team for litigation matters.
• Utilised Oracle EPM for contract and procurement management.
Qatar Foundation | Services Contracts Coordinator
Period: December 2013 – September 2015 (1 year 10 months) | Doha, Qatar
• Prepared ITT documents for construction works and consultancy services; managed complete tendering process from strategy to award.
• Guided end-users on scope of work, bid evaluation criteria, cost estimation, and pre-qualification.
• Conducted commercial evaluations using sensitivity analysis and life-cycle costing; participated in negotiations and issued Letters of Award.
• Monitored contract execution, administered bonds and performance guarantees, and recommended stage payments.
• Utilised Oracle ERP for contracts and procurement management.
Towers Real Estate Services | Sr. Contracts Manager
Period: January 2009 – July 2013 (4 years 7 months) | Doha, Qatar
• Established and maintained procurement policies and procedures; managed full Plan-Conduct-Administer-Close procurement cycle.
• Managed tendering, selection, and award for designers, consultants, and contractors; conducted technical and commercial evaluations.
• Prepared contract agreements, managed variations, cost and time impact settlements, and claims resolution.
• Reviewed design consultant outputs for completeness; led cost estimation, budget preparation, and cost control.
• Supported integrated change control, risk management, and provided full client representation for select projects.
Qatar Real Estate Investments Company (Alaqaria) | Contracts Manager / Senior Quantity Surveyor
Period: December 2001 – December 2008 (7 years 1 month) | Doha, Qatar
• Contracts Manager (2007–2008): Led Contract Department managing 5 Senior Quantity Surveyors; oversaw all pre-contract and post-contract quantity surveying and procurement.
• Drafted MOUs and MOAs with major entities including Qatar Petroleum, Ministry of Interior, Mowasalat, and Ministry of Health.
• Managed variations, cost and time impacts, claims resolution, and tendering process end-to-end.
• Set annual KPIs for the contracts section; evaluated and mentored team members.
• Senior Quantity Surveyor (2001–2006): Handled all Alaqaria projects independently — contract documentation, administration, tender management, and review and recommendation on contractor claims and valuations.
Amcon Industrial Services | Quantity Surveyor / Planning Engineer
Period: June 2001 – December 2001 (7 months) | Doha, Qatar
• Managed quantity take-offs, monthly invoicing, and variation/claim initiation for specialist coating works (Steel Pipelines and Structures) at Dukhan Field Gas Lift Project (CCIC/SnamProgetti/QGPC).
• Prepared and updated construction programmes; supported tender department in quantification and pricing.
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Meet Mr. John Panikulam