Contract Performance Leader, SEA

Johnson Controls; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering and technology company is seeking a Contracts Manager responsible for managing the end-to-end contract lifecycle for project-based contracts. The ideal candidate will focus on contract governance, commercial risk management, and the negotiation of contract changes. A Bachelor’s degree and 7-12 years of relevant experience is required, preferably within Data Centre or Energy Performance Contracting projects. The role offers competitive salary and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Paid vacation/holidays/sick time

Comprehensive benefits package

On-the-job training opportunities

Collaborative team environment

Dedication to safety through Zero Harm policy

Qualifications

• 7–12 years of experience in contracts management, commercial management, or project controls.
• Experience in negotiating and securing Variation Orders in project contracts.
• Experience managing contracts across multiple South East Asia countries.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end‑to‑end contract lifecycle from contract award through archiving.
• Lead commercial negotiations for contract amendments and Variation Orders.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, risk governance frameworks, and regulations.

Skills

Commercial negotiation skills

Understanding of change management

Ability to interpret technical-commercial clauses

Commercial and financial acumen

Stakeholder-management skills

Organizational skills

Pragmatic solution-focused mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Business, Law

Job description

What you will do:

The Contracts Manager is responsible for managing the end‑to‑end contract lifecycle for project‑based contracts related to Data Centre, Energy Performance Contracting (EPC/EPCo), and Building Management System (BMS) projects across South East Asia. The role focuses on contract governance, commercial risk management, negotiation of contract changes, and securing Variation Orders, ensuring contract compliance while supporting project delivery, profitability, and operational excellence.

How you will do it:

Key Responsibilities

Contract Lifecycle & Governance

• Manage the end‑to‑end contract lifecycle from contract award through execution, changes, closure, and archiving.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of new contracts, amendments, renewals, and variation documentation in accordance with corporate and regional governance frameworks.
• Review, interpret, and administer EPC, D&B, Energy Performance Contracts, BMS MSAs, framework agreements, and service contracts.
• Maintain contract registers, repositories, and audit‑ready documentation across SEA projects.

Contract Negotiation, Variation Orders & Change Management

• Lead and support commercial negotiations for contract amendments, claims, and Variation Orders (VOs) arising from changes in scope, design development, system integration requirements, site conditions, energy performance refinements, or client‑initiated changes.
• Review, evaluate, and secure approval of Variation Orders in line with contractual entitlement, ensuring timely notice, accurate pricing, and clear documentation of scope, cost, schedule, and performance impacts.
• Collaborate closely with Project Management, Engineering, Energy Performance, BMS, Finance, and Legal teams to validate variation justification, cost build‑ups, baseline or performance adjustments, and risk exposure.
• Ensure all approved variations are formally negotiated, contractually executed, and accurately reflected in contract documentation, project controls, and financial systems.
• Proactively identify and pursue change management opportunities to recover costs, protect margins, and mitigate commercial and contractual risk.
• Support avoidance and resolution of disputes related to variations, claims, delays, performance guarantees, commissioning, and system acceptance through structured negotiation and contractual analysis.

Commercial Risk, Compliance & Reporting

• Identify and manage contractual risks related to delay damages, performance guarantees, interface coordination, system availability, and acceptance criteria.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, risk governance frameworks, and applicable regulations across South East Asia.
• Generate and maintain contractual and commercial reports, including VO trackers, claims status, renewals, and risk exposure summaries.
• Support internal and external audits by providing complete, accurate contract and amendment documentation.

Process Excellence & Documentation

• Develop, implement, and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and process flow documentation for contract and VO management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance contract governance, efficiency, standardization, and commercial outcomes.
• Promote consistent regional practices while accommodating local market and regulatory requirements.

Stakeholder Support & Advisory

• Act as a trusted advisor to Sales, Project Delivery, Engineering, Energy Performance, Procurement, and Finance teams on contract interpretation and negotiation strategy.
• Support training and knowledge‑sharing initiatives related to project contracting, change management, and commercial risk.
• Coordinate with regional and global stakeholders to ensure alignment with enterprise contract standards.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial negotiation skills with a proven track record of securing Variation Orders and contractual recoveries
• In‑depth understanding of change management, claims, and VO mechanisms in EPC, EPCo, and BMS contracts
• Ability to interpret and negotiate technical‑commercial clauses, including energy performance guarantees, baseline adjustments, commissioning, and acceptance requirements
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to assess cost, schedule, performance, and risk impacts
• Excellent stakeholder‑management and communication skills across cross‑functional and multicultural teams
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and able to manage multiple concurrent projects in a regional matrix environment
• Pragmatic, solution‑focused mindset with strong appreciation for risk management and governance

Success Measures (KPIs)

• Value, approval rate, and timeliness of secured and executed Variation Orders
• Reduction in unapproved scope changes, commercial leakage, and margin erosionCycle time for VO negotiation, approval, and execution
• Compliance with contract governance standards, internal policies, and audit requirements
• Effective mitigation of contractual risks related to delay damages, performance guarantees, and system acceptance
• Stakeholder satisfaction across Project Delivery, Engineering, Energy Performance, Sales, and Finance team

What We Look For:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Business, Law, or a related discipline
• 7–12 years of experience in contracts management, commercial management, or project controls, preferably within:
  • Data Centre projects
  • Energy Performance Contracting / ESCO environments
  • BMS / smart building / controls projects
• Demonstrated experience in negotiating and securing Variation Orders in project‑based contracts
• Experience managing contracts across multiple South East Asia countries

What we offer:

• Competitive salary
• Paid vacation/holidays/sick time
• Comprehensive benefits package
• On the job/cross training opportunities
• Encouraging and collaborative team environment
• Dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy