Senior Contract Specialist

Horizon Recruitment Inc.; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 131,000 - 186,000; Full time

Job summary

Horizon Recruitment Inc. is seeking a Senior Construction Contract Manager to support a portfolio of large-scale capital projects in Canada. The role focuses on managing construction contracts, negotiating terms, and advising project teams on complex commercial matters.

You will review contractor submissions, assess claims and prepare evidence-based recommendations for senior leadership. Strong scheduling, attention to detail and ability to work with multidisciplinary teams are required.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in construction contract administration, commercial management or related major-project discipline.
• Degree or diploma in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Business, Law, Finance or related field; equivalent education considered.
• Proven experience managing construction contracts and resolving contractual issues during project execution.
• Strong ability to interpret complex contracts and apply terms to real project situations.
• Experience reviewing changes, contractor claims and commercial correspondence.
• Strong analytical skills to assess information and develop recommendations.
• Understanding of construction costs, pricing and financial impacts of changes.
• Familiarity with scheduling concepts and critical-path methods is an asset.
• Professional training in contracts, claims, scheduling or dispute resolution is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage major construction contracts through project execution, ensuring compliance with terms and approval requirements.
• Interpret complex contract terms and provide practical commercial advice to project teams.
• Review contractor claims, change requests and submissions to assess entitlement and exposure.
• Investigate contractual issues by reviewing records, schedules and construction documentation.
• Evaluate cost and schedule impacts of changes, delays and extensions of time.
• Develop change orders, notices and formal correspondence.
• Coordinate input from engineering, finance, procurement and legal to support decisions.
• Maintain contract records and support dispute resolution when required.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation

Analytics

Written communication

Scheduling (Primavera P6)

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Construction Management or related

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Horizon Recruitment is recruiting for an experienced Senior Construction Contract Manager to support the delivery of a portfolio of complex, large-scale capital construction projects.

This position plays a key role within the organisation, managing construction vendors for multi-billion dolar projects. Working closely with Project Management, Construction, Engineering, Project Controls, Finance, Procurement and Legal teams, you will help resolve complex contractual issues and provide practical recommendations that support informed business decisions. This is an excellent opportunity for a construction contract professional who enjoys digging into the details, challenging assumptions and finding fair, well-supported solutions to significant commercial issues.

Responsibilities

• Manage major construction contracts throughout project execution, ensuring compliance with contract terms, procedures and approval requirements.
• Interpret complex contract terms and provide practical commercial advice to project teams.
• Review contractor claims, change requests and commercial submissions to assess contractual entitlement, supporting evidence and potential financial exposure.
• Investigate complex contractual issues by reviewing project records, correspondence, schedules, cost information and construction documentation.
• Evaluate the cost and schedule impacts of construction changes, delays, disruptions and extension-of-time requests.
• Identify gaps or inconsistencies in contractor submissions and request additional information where needed.
• Prepare clear, evidence-based assessments and recommendations for project leadership and senior management.
• Develop, review and administer change orders, change directives, contractual notices and formal correspondence.
• Work with Project Controls and other technical teams to assess contractor pricing, claimed costs and schedule impacts.
• Identify emerging contractual risks and recommend practical strategies to protect the organization's interests.
• Develop negotiation strategies and participate in discussions with contractors to resolve claims, changes and commercial disagreements.
• Coordinate input from Engineering, Construction, Finance, Procurement, Legal and other specialists to support commercial decisions.
• Maintain accurate contract records, track key obligations and deadlines, and support dispute resolution when required.
• Build productive relationships with contractors and internal stakeholders while maintaining strong commercial oversight.
• Contribute to consistent contract management practices and continuous improvement across the major projects portfolio.

Requirements

• 7+ years of relevant experience in construction contract administration, commercial management, claims, quantity surveying, project controls or a related major-project discipline.
• A degree or diploma in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Business, Commerce, Law, Finance, Project Management or a related field. Equivalent education and significant practical experience will be considered.
• Proven experience managing construction contracts and resolving contractual and commercial issues during project execution.
• Strong ability to interpret complex construction contracts and apply contract terms to real project situations.
• Experience reviewing construction changes, contractor claims, contractual notices and commercial correspondence.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess conflicting information, identify key facts and develop sound recommendations.
• Good understanding of construction costs, contractor pricing and the financial impacts of project changes.
• Working knowledge of construction scheduling, critical-path concepts and the impacts of delays and disruptions.
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear and well-supported contractual assessments and correspondence.
• Effective negotiation, problem-solving and commercial decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex issues independently while working closely with multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience with major infrastructure, mining, utilities, heavy civil, transportation or industrial construction projects is an asset.
• Exposure to high-value claims, alternative project delivery models, dispute resolution, contractor-side commercial management or settlement negotiations is an asset.
• Experience with Primavera P6 or other critical-path scheduling software is an asset.
• Professional designations or specialized training in construction contracts, quantity surveying, claims, scheduling or dispute resolution are considered assets.

Remuneration

• $115 hourly rate

Only candidates eligible to work in Canada will be considered.

Horizon Recruitment Inc. is a specialized recruitment and search firm with two complimentary practice areas: Finance & Supply Chain.