Senior Contracts Administrator

Catalpa Group; Perth; On-site; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Catalpa Group in Perth is seeking a Senior Contracts Administrator to own contract management across civil and energy projects. You’ll draft, negotiate and administer complex agreements, supporting multi‑million dollar contracts and mentoring the team.

You'll work closely with engineers, project managers and construction managers to align contracts with on‑site realities, uphold company objectives and regulatory requirements, and drive continuous improvements in contract processes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience drafting, negotiating and administering contracts, including complex agreements — civil (earthworks, concrete, reinforcement) and/or energy/transmission experience highly regarded.
• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field (business, law, construction management or similar).
• Solid working knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape around contract management.
• Leadership and communication skills that land at every level, from site teams to senior stakeholders.
• A track record of driving continuous improvement and getting better performance out of contract processes.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating contracts end-to-end, across civil and energy/transmission projects.
• Working closely with project teams — engineers, project managers and construction managers — to keep contracts aligned with what's actually happening on the ground.
• Making sure every contract stacks up against company objectives and legal requirements — minimising risk, maximising value.
• Leading and mentoring less experienced contracts administrators, building their capability as the team grows.
• Feeding into strategic planning around contract management, with real input into how we do business.
• Overseeing contract implementation and compliance, and staying close to performance so issues get caught early.
• Working with budgets, forecasts and cost controls to protect project profitability.
• Spotting opportunities to improve process, lift productivity, and bring better tools and workflows into the function.
• Representing Catalpa in negotiations, meetings and client conversations, building relationships that last beyond one project.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Contract management

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Job description

From the ground up to the grid — the contracts that hold it together.

Catalpa's project book spans bulk earthworks, concrete and civil packages through to major transmission line and energy works — and it isn't slowing down. We're looking for a Senior Contracts Administrator to take ownership of contract management across that full mix, someone who can draft it, negotiate it, and defend it, while mentoring the team coming up behind them.

This isn't a back-office box-ticking role. You'll be working hand‑in‑glove with our project teams — engineers, project managers and construction managers — as much as you are across the paperwork, shaping commercial terms on multi‑million dollar contracts, sitting in the room for negotiations, and giving our leadership team the strategic read they need to make good calls. If you want your fingerprints on how Catalpa does business — not just how it builds — this is your seat at the table.

What you'll be doing

Drafting and negotiating contracts end-to-end, across civil and energy/transmission projects.

Working closely with project teams — engineers, project managers and construction managers — to keep contracts aligned with what's actually happening on the ground.

Making sure every contract stacks up against company objectives and legal requirements — minimising risk, maximising value.

Leading and mentoring less experienced contracts administrators, building their capability as the team grows.

Feeding into strategic planning around contract management, with real input into how we do business.

Overseeing contract implementation and compliance, and staying close to performance so issues get caught early.

Working with budgets, forecasts and cost controls to protect project profitability.

Spotting opportunities to improve process, lift productivity, and bring better tools and workflows into the function.

Representing Catalpa in negotiations, meetings and client conversations, building relationships that last beyond one project.

What you'll bring

Extensive experience drafting, negotiating and administering contracts, including complex agreements — civil (earthworks, concrete, reinforcement, pours) and/or energy/transmission experience highly regarded.

A bachelor's degree in a relevant field (business, law, construction management or similar).

Solid working knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape around contract management.

Leadership and communication skills that land at every level, from site teams to senior stakeholders.

A track record of driving continuous improvement and getting better performance out of contract processes.

About us

We're a Perth-born, nationally‑active civil, energy and transmission contractor with our sights firmly set on the infrastructure that matters. We back our people with real autonomy, real projects, and a seat at the table — plus a competitive, industry‑leading salary package to match the scale of what you'll be delivering.