Legal Manager

Department: Legal
Industry: Construction / Data Center Construction / MEP
Employment Type: Full-time
Work Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and business-oriented Legal Manager with extensive knowledge of the construction industry, particularly in construction contracts, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) works, and large-scale construction projects.

The ideal candidate must have a comprehensive understanding of the legal aspects of construction projects, from contract negotiation and project execution to claims management, dispute resolution, and project completion. This role requires strong legal expertise, commercial awareness, and the ability to provide practical legal solutions while protecting the company's interests.

The candidate must be fluent in English, both written and spoken, and confident in handling legal matters, negotiations, and contractual discussions with international stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

1. Construction Contracts & Commercial Legal Matters

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage construction-related contracts, including main contracts, subcontract agreements, consultancy agreements, supply and procurement contracts, and service agreements.

• Ensure contractual terms and conditions adequately protect the company's legal and commercial interests.

• Provide legal advice on contract variations, extensions of time (EOT), liquidated damages (LD), payment terms, retention, performance bonds, warranties, indemnities, and termination clauses.

• Review and advise on FIDIC-based contracts and other international construction contract frameworks, where applicable.

• Identify contractual risks and recommend mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle.

2. Construction Project Legal Support

• Provide end-to-end legal support for construction projects, from tendering and contract award through execution, handover, and final account settlement.

• Work closely with Project Managers, Engineering, Procurement, Commercial, Quantity Surveying (QS), Finance, and other departments to address project-related legal matters.

• Advise on construction claims, variations, delays, defective works, payment disputes, and contractual non-compliance.

• Review project correspondence, contractual notices, claims submissions, and other formal communications to ensure legal and contractual compliance.

• Understand construction project operations, including MEP installation, testing and commissioning, subcontractor management, and project handover.

3. Legal Compliance & Regulatory Affairs

• Ensure compliance with applicable Indonesian laws and regulations related to construction, including construction services regulations, licensing requirements, building regulations, employment law, and other relevant legal frameworks.

• Advise on construction business licensing, certifications, permits, and regulatory obligations applicable to the company's operations.

• Monitor changes in legislation and assess their impact on business operations and ongoing projects.

• Coordinate with external legal counsel, notaries, government authorities, and other relevant parties when necessary.

4. Claims, Dispute Resolution & Litigation

• Manage construction-related disputes, including contractual disagreements, payment disputes, delay claims, defects, and subcontractor disputes.

• Develop strategies for dispute prevention, negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.

• Coordinate with external counsel and represent the company's interests in legal proceedings where authorized.

• Assess potential legal exposure and financial implications arising from construction claims and disputes.

5. Corporate Legal & Risk Management

• Oversee corporate legal documentation, including corporate agreements, powers of attorney, resolutions, and other legal instruments.

• Establish and maintain contract management procedures, legal documentation systems, and risk control mechanisms.

• Conduct legal risk assessments for projects, commercial transactions, and business partnerships.

• Provide legal guidance to management on business decisions, contractual commitments, and potential liabilities.

• Support internal audits, corporate governance, and compliance initiatives.

6. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead and develop the legal team, ensuring effective legal support across departments and projects.

• Provide practical, commercially sound legal advice to senior management and project stakeholders.

• Manage external legal advisors and control legal service costs.

• Communicate complex legal issues clearly to non-legal stakeholders.

• Work effectively with international management, clients, consultants, contractors, and suppliers.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Law (S.H.); a Master's degree in Law (LL.M.) is an advantage.

• Advocate license or relevant professional legal qualification is an advantage, particularly for litigation and dispute resolution responsibilities.

• Minimum 8–10 years of legal experience, with substantial experience in the construction, engineering, EPC, MEP, or infrastructure-related industries.

• Previous experience in a construction contractor, general contractor, MEP contractor, EPC company, or data center construction environment is highly preferred.

• Strong understanding of the full construction project lifecycle and the legal and commercial aspects of construction operations.

• Demonstrated expertise in construction contracts, subcontracting, claims management, variations, EOT, liquidated damages, and dispute resolution.

• Good knowledge of Indonesian construction laws and regulations, with experience handling complex commercial contracts.

• Familiarity with FIDIC contracts and international construction practices is highly desirable.

• Fluent in English, both written and spoken, with the ability to draft, review, negotiate, and explain complex contractual provisions in English.

• Strong negotiation, analytical, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, and provide practical solutions in a fast-paced construction environment.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Has hands-on experience handling the legal aspects of construction projects rather than solely corporate legal or general commercial matters.

• Understands how construction projects operate in practice, including the relationships between clients, main contractors, subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and project teams.

• Able to identify legal and contractual risks before they escalate into claims or disputes.

• Comfortable dealing with international clients and management, particularly in English-language contract negotiations.

• Commercially minded, detail-oriented, decisive, and capable of balancing legal protection with project delivery requirements.

Key Success Indicators

• Effective management and reduction of contractual and legal risks across construction projects.

• Timely review and negotiation of contracts and commercial agreements.

• Successful prevention, management, and resolution of construction claims and disputes.

• Strong compliance with applicable Indonesian laws and contractual obligations.

• Improved contract management processes and effective legal support for project execution.

• Clear, practical, and timely legal advice to management and operational teams.