Associate Director or Senior Principal Consultant

Company / Organisation : A.Q.S Consultancy Services Pty Ltd | Cost Claim and Dispute Management

A.Q.S | CCDM | EPCISL

Engagement: Independent Associate | Principal Consultant | Secondment | Project-Based

Location/mode of work: Australia (Hybrid)

Sector: Health Infrastructure, Commercial, & Infrastructure Advisory

A.Q.S Consultancy Services Pty Ltd (Australia) is an independent consultancy specializing in Cost, Claim, and Dispute Management (CCDM) and related professional and training services across infrastructure, construction, commercial, investment, and legal sectors. The firm integrates Quantity Surveying and Appropriate Dispute Resolution expertise with advanced governance, branding, and compliance frameworks, licensed by A.Q.S Consultancy (Pvt) Ltd (Sri Lanka) under the A.Q.S Global platform. A.Q.S is recognized for institutionalizing CCDM globally through modular systems, technical troubleshooting, and legally defensible communications tailored to multi-jurisdictional environments. Its governance and training framework is designed to adapt to evolving CCDM complexities, supported by an Advisory Lead Board and Specialist Training Academy that promote professional standards, neutrality, trust, and measurable value for clients. Team members may engage in specialist services such as cost and claim management, contract administration, project controls, industry-focused training, and expert roles on panels, dispute boards, and advisory councils.

A.Q.S are establishing a multidisciplinary network of recognised industry experts, time to time, to support government agencies, asset owners, infrastructure organisations and private sector clients across Australia.

We are seeking accomplished professionals who are recognised leaders in their respective disciplines and who can provide strategic advice, independent technical expertise and trusted commercial leadership across complex infrastructure and major capital programmes.

Role Description

The Associate Director or Principal Consultants based in NSW/Australia, leading complex cost, claim, and dispute management engagements across infrastructure and construction projects. This role will involve overseeing contract administration and commercial services, preparing and reviewing technical documentation, and guiding project controls and advisory activities for multiple contracts, claims and contracts are matters. The individual will provide strategic direction to CCDM assignments, ensure governance and compliance frameworks are effectively applied, and deliver legally robust communications, reports, and recommendations.

Day-to-day responsibilities include managing client relationships, mentoring team members, coordinating with A.Q.S’s Advisory Lead Board and Specialist Training Academy and infrastructure teams (health/construction/mining/digital), and contributing to industry-focused training and CPD programs. The role also offers opportunities to act as an expert, panel or dispute board member, trainer, or faculty contributor, helping strengthen professional standards and community-focused initiatives.

This role is ideally suited to senior professionals who wish to complement their existing professional practice through high-value consulting assignments. Appointments are on a flexible, project-by-project/ program-by-program basis and may include participation in government advisory panels, independent reviews, expert commissions, strategic infrastructure initiatives, procurement activities, commercial assurance, project controls, and major project delivery support.

As an Associate Director and/or Principal Consultant, you will act as a trusted adviser to clients by providing independent professional judgement, strategic insight and specialist technical expertise.

You will contribute to multidisciplinary advisory teams, influence executive decision-making, and support clients in achieving successful commercial, procurement and project delivery outcomes.

The position is not focused on day-to-day operational management; rather, it centres on leadership, innovation, collaboration and the delivery of high-value professional advisory services.

Qualification

• Strong expertise in cost, claim, and dispute management, including quantity surveying, contract administration, and commercial services within infrastructure and construction sectors.
• Proficiency in project controls and technical documentation, including risk analysis, scheduling, reporting, and preparation of legally defensible claims and advisory deliverables.
• Demonstrated experience with dispute resolution processes (e.g., mediation, adjudication, arbitration support) and application of governance, compliance, and professional standards frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead client engagements, manage stakeholders, and provide strategic consulting at senior levels, with clear, neutral, and well-structured communication skills.
• Experience in mentoring, training, or delivering CPD programs, with the ability to contribute to specialist academies or professional development initiatives.
• A recognised university degree in a relevant discipline such as Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Commerce, Economics, Law, Project Management, Risk Management, Information /health Systems. Relevant postgraduate qualifications (desirable).
• Membership of recognised professional institutions appropriate to their discipline (e.g. AIQS, RICS, CIArb, Engineers Australia, CIOB, AIPM, MCIPS, CPA Australia or equivalent).

Desired Experience

Applicants should typically demonstrate:

• 10–20+ years of professional experience within their specialist discipline.
• Experience on major capital projects or infrastructure programmes.
• Experience advising government agencies, public sector organisations or large private sector clients.
• Proven capability in strategic advisory, commercial leadership or technical assurance.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary environments.
• A track record of delivering measurable value on complex projects.

Experience in health, digital, transport, utilities, education, defence, justice, social infrastructure or other major public infrastructure sectors will be highly regarded.

What success looks like

You will be recognised for your ability to:

• Deliver independent, objective and commercially sound advice.
• Improve governance and decision-making.
• Reduce commercial and delivery risk.
• Enhance project certainty and value for money.
• Support successful infrastructure outcomes.
• Build trusted long-term relationships with clients and industry partners.
• Contribute to the reputation and growth of A.Q.S/CCDM as a leading Specialist Commercial Delivery Partner.

Engagement Model

Appointments are non-exclusive and assignment based.

Experts may participate through:

• Independent consultancy agreements.
• Associate Director appointments.
• Principal Consultant appointments.
• Secondment arrangements.
• Strategic advisory engagements.
• Government panel appointments.
• Expert witness or independent review assignments.

Assignments are offered based on expertise, availability, project requirements and conflict-of-interest considerations.

Why join A.Q.S/CCDM?

Joining A.Q.S/CCDM provides an opportunity to become part of a carefully selected network of senior professionals delivering independent advice on some of Australia's most significant infrastructure and capital investment programmes.

You will collaborate with recognised experts across commercial advisory, quantity surveying, procurement, governance, project controls, digital intelligence, industrial/sector expert and dispute resolution while retaining the flexibility to continue your own professional practice.

Our vision is to build a trusted multidisciplinary advisory practice that helps clients make better decisions, manage risk effectively and deliver successful infrastructure outcomes through technical excellence, commercial integrity and innovative thinking.

Application Requirements

Please submit:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Cover Letter

Areas of Specialist Expertise

Professional Registrations and Memberships

Availability and Preferred Engagement Model

Daily/Hourly Consulting Rates (optional, if requested)

Two Professional Referees

Applications should be submitted via LinkedIn or emailed to:

arunselva@aqscons.com / admin@aqscons.com.au

A.Q.S Consultancy Services Pty Ltd / Cost Claim and Dispute Management

A.Q.S/CCDM Australia

www.aqscons.com.au / www.costclaimanddisputemanagement.com.au