Contract Management Specialist

Vertiv Co; Burnfoot; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv is seeking a Contract Management Specialist to join its Commercial Department in Burnfoot, Ireland. This hands-on role focuses on change orders, disputes, and commercial support to Project Managers during execution.

Ideal candidates will hold a relevant degree, have 3–5 years in contract management or QS within construction/engineering, and possess strong negotiation, communication, and ERP/MS Office skills. Some roles may be based in Zagreb, Croatia.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in commercial, contract management or quantity surveying in construction/engineering.
• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Law, Engineering, Commercial Management or related field.
• Experience in preparing and recovering Change Orders/variations on projects.
• Experience handling customer disputes, back-charges or claims.
• Strong understanding of contractual notification requirements.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently and build cross-disciplinary relationships.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with high accuracy.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for contractual correspondence.
• ERP knowledge and document management tools; proficient IT incl. MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Identify change events, variations, and deviations from contract scope across projects.
• Prepare and substantiate Change Order submissions with commercial/quantum justification.
• Notify change events promptly per contractual notices; protect entitlement.
• Maintain Change Order registers and provide status updates to teams.
• Navigate Change Orders to agreement and recovery, including client negotiations.
• Support PMs with commercial assessment of instructions and scope changes.
• Prepare extension of time submissions where programme impact arises.
• Serve as commercial contact for PMs on Change Orders and claims.
• Guide project teams on notification requirements, entitlement positions, and risks.
• Assist PMs with understanding contractual obligations and variation mechanisms.
• Collaborate with planning to establish programme impact for time-related claims.
• Support monthly valuation and payment applications; ensure Change Orders are captured.
• Contribute to project reviews with clear Change Order reporting.

Skills

Contract management

Commercial awareness

Negotiation

Communication

ERP systems knowledge

Microsoft Office

Education

Quantity Surveying / related degree

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

Vertiv is seeking to recruit an ambitious and motivated Contract Management Specialist to join its Commercial Department. This is a hands‑on, execution‑focused role centred on the identification, preparation, and recovery of Change Orders across a portfolio of live projects, as well as the management of customer‑side disputes and claims. The successful candidate will assist project delivery teams, providing day‑to‑day commercial and contractual support to Project Managers throughout the execution phase.

Ideally with experience in the Electrical and/or Mechanical construction sector, the Contract Management Specialist will report to the Commercial Manager and Commercial Director. The successful candidate will hold a degree in a relevant subject, demonstrate strong contractual awareness, and possess excellent oral and written communication skills.

The role is based at Vertiv’s office in Burnfoot, County Donegal, Ireland. However, we could potentially facilitate this role being based in our Zagreb office in Croatia.

Responsibilities

Change Order Management

• Early identification of change events, scope variations, and deviations from the contracted scope of works across assigned projects
• Assisting with the preparation and substantiation of Change Order submissions including full commercial, and quantum justification
• Ensuring timely notification of all change events in accordance with contractual notice requirements — protecting entitlement at all times
• Maintaining accurate Change Order registers and trackers, providing regular status updates to project teams and senior management
• Following Change Orders through to agreement and recovery, including negotiation with clients and resolution of any valuation disagreements
• Supporting Project Managers with the commercial assessment of client instructions, drawing revisions, and scope changes to determine Change Order entitlement
• Preparing and submitting extension of time applications where programme impact arises from change events

Project Team Support

• Acting as the primary commercial point of contact for Project Managers on all Change Order and claims‑related matters during project execution
• Providing day‑to‑day guidance to project teams on contractual notification requirements, entitlement positions, and commercial risk exposure
• Assisting Project Managers in understanding key contractual obligations, timelines, and mechanisms relevant to variations and claims
• Working closely with planning teams to establish programme impact and cause‑and‑effect narratives to support time‑related claims
• Supporting monthly valuation and payment application preparation, ensuring all approved Change Orders are properly captured and valued
• Contributing to project commercial reviews and providing clear reporting on Change Order status, values, and recovery rates

Customer Disputes & Claims

• Managing and responding to customer‑side disputes, back‑charges, and contra‑charges with detailed technical and commercial analysis
• Preparing robust written responses to client claims, clearly setting out the company's contractual position
• Defending against unjust charges by building comprehensive evidence packages including contemporaneous records, correspondence, and programme data
• Liaising directly with clients to negotiate resolution of disputed matters in a professional and collaborative manner
• Supporting the preparation and prosecution of formal claims where amicable resolution cannot be achieved
• Maintaining detailed records and audit trails to support the company's position in any disputed matters

Expectations

• Minimum 3–5 years' experience in a commercial, contract management, or quantity surveying role within a Construction/Engineering business, preferably with Mechanical and/or Electrical project experience
• Degree‑level education in Quantity Surveying, Construction Law, Engineering, Commercial Management, or a related discipline
• Demonstrable experience in the preparation and recovery of Change Orders / variations on construction or engineering projects
• Experience in handling customer disputes, back‑charges, or claims
• Strong understanding of contractual notification requirements and their practical application
• Self‑motivated with an ability to work independently and build strong working relationships across multidisciplinary project teams
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent oral and written communication skills — capable of preparing clear, well‑structured contractual correspondence
• Functional working knowledge of ERP systems and document management tools
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite

#vertivireland

About The Team

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F‑1, H‑1, H‑2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability.