Senior Contract Administrator

Downer; Australia; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

20 days on, 8 days off FIFO roster

Competitive remuneration with a major,

Health and wellness benefits

Retail discounts

Tier 1 ASX-listed company

Structured career paths

EAP Beyond Blue

Job summary

Downer is seeking a Senior Contract Administrator to lead commercial and contractual activities on major power projects across Australia. You will manage head contracts, draft and negotiate subcontract terms, and drive risk management and reporting for project success.

With 7+ years in similar roles, you will advise stakeholders, coordinate variations and payments, and support procurement and project close-out activities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business, Quantity Surveying, Law, Engineering or equivalent industry experience.
• 7+ years' experience in contract administration within construction, infrastructure or power.
• Strong knowledge of Australian construction contracts and contract management principles.
• Experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating contract terms and conditions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day to day commercial and contractual administration of major power projects.
• Manage head contract obligations and downstream subcontractor agreements, ensuring contractual compliance.
• Draft, review and negotiate subcontract terms and conditions.
• Prepare and manage contractual correspondence, variations, claims and extensions of time.
• Develop and implement commercial and risk management strategies across the project lifecycle.
• Monitor project risks and maintain key commercial registers including variation, delay and risk registers.
• Coordinate payment claims, invoicing and contract administration activities to support project performance.
• Provide commercial leadership in the resolution of contract issues and disputes.
• Prepare monthly commercial reports and deliver accurate project performance insights.

Skills

Contract administration

Construction contracts

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Risk management

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Project environment

Australian contracts knowledge

Proactive mindset

Education

Business or Law or Engineering degree

Job description

The opportunity

Join Downer's Energy & Utilities business and play a key role in delivering critical power infrastructure projects across Australia. As a Senior Contract Administrator, you will provide commercial leadership, manage complex contractual matters and help drive successful project outcomes in a dynamic and collaborative project environment.

What you’ll do

• Lead the day to day commercial and contractual administration of major power projects.
• Manage head contract obligations and downstream subcontractor agreements, ensuring contractual compliance and protection of Downer's commercial interests.
• Draft, review and negotiate subcontract terms and conditions.
• Prepare and manage contractual correspondence, notifications, variations, claims and extensions of time.
• Develop and implement commercial and risk management strategies across the project lifecycle.
• Support project teams with procurement activities, subcontractor management and commercial decision making.
• Monitor project risks and maintain key commercial registers including variation, delay and risk registers.
• Coordinate payment claims, invoicing and contract administration activities to support project performance.
• Provide commercial leadership in the resolution of contract issues, disputes and stakeholder negotiations.
• Prepare monthly commercial reports and deliver accurate project performance insights to stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, suppliers and internal project teams to drive successful outcomes.
• Support project close out activities and contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives.

What we offer

• Opportunity to work on significant power infrastructure projects
• 20 days on, 8 days off FIFO roster
• Competitive remuneration with a significant ASX-listed company
• Structured career paths with the opportunity to work in different areas of the Utilities business, supported by a robust Commercial Operating Model
• A suite of health and wellness benefits and initiatives, including EAP Beyond Blue
• Retail discounts with major retailers, Dell, Good Guys, Samsung, Specsavers & ANZ
• We are a Tier 1 ASX listed company with in-house capabilities that far exceed traditional contractor environments

What we’re looking for

• A degree in Business, Quantity Surveying, Law, Engineering or equivalent industry experience.
• More than seven years' experience in a similar Contract Administration role within construction, infrastructure, power or related industries.
• Strong knowledge of Australian construction contracts and contract management principles.
• Experience preparing, reviewing and negotiating contract terms and conditions.
• Proven ability to manage contractual correspondence, claims, variations, risk registers and project reporting requirements.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to identify risks, develop commercial strategies and support successful contract outcomes.
• Experience working with project management, risk management and financial management processes.
• Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and relationship building skills.
• Strong analytical, planning and prioritisation skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• A proactive, results focused approach and the ability to perform in a fast paced project environment

About Energy & Utilities

Downer's Energy & Utilities business unit is an integrated trans-Tasman team, providing services and solutions that connect communities to essential networks and infrastructure. We design, build, operate and maintain today's critical assets and networks, delivering complete services across the water, electricity, telecommunications, industrial and power generation sectors. Our expertise spans in-house technical smarts, specialist engineering, integrated OEM partners, and dedicated crews of qualified tradespeople.

Downer Group is an employer that acknowledges and embraces the importance of our people's diverse experiences, talents, and cultures. As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from everyone.