Senior Manager, Operations & Maintenance Contract Management

SMRT Trains Ltd; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SMRT Trains Ltd is seeking a Senior Manager to lead the O&M contract management, including LTSS with LTA and governance across maintenance services. You will drive strategy, oversee contract lifecycles, and advise senior leadership on commercial outcomes.

The role requires 8–10 years in contract management, with strong leadership and procurement experience in large-scale infrastructure or public sector projects. Based in Singapore with on-site responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Business, Project Management, Procurement, or other relevant discipline.
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant experience in contract management, procurement, commercial management, project delivery, or maintenance operations.
• At least 3-5 years in a leadership or managerial capacity.
• Experience managing large-scale infrastructure, transportation, rail, engineering, facilities management, or public-sector contracts.
• Strong understanding of government procurement practices, contract administration, and commercial management principles.
• Experience dealing with government agencies, regulatory bodies, and major service providers is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the organisation's O&M contract management strategy.
• Provide overall oversight of LTSS agreements, O&M contracts, and common maintenance service agreements.
• Advise senior management on contractual, commercial, and procurement matters.
• Ensure contractual arrangements support organisational objectives, operational requirements, and long-term sustainability.
• Establish contract management frameworks, standards, and best practices across the department.
• Oversee the full lifecycle management of O&M-related contracts, including drafting, negotiation, execution, performance monitoring, variations, renewals, and close-out.
• Review and approve contract documents, procurement specifications, variations, extension proposals, and contractual correspondence.
• Ensure robust contract governance and administration processes are maintained.
• Monitor contractor performance against obligations, service levels, and KPIs.
• Lead procurement activities for maintenance and strategic contracts.
• Ensure procurement exercises comply with policies and regulatory requirements.
• Chair or participate in tender evaluation committees and procurement review panels.
• Review tender strategies, evaluation methodologies, papers, and award submissions.
• Drive value-for-money outcomes while maintaining transparency and fairness.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Governance

Risk management

Contract management systems

Analytical thinking

Education

Engineering

Quantity Surveying

Business

Project Management

Tools

Procurement processes

Reporting tools

Job description

Company description

SMRT Trains Ltd was incorporated in 1987 and operates Singapore's first mass rapid transit system. Today, we manage and operate train services on the North-South Line, East-West Line, the Circle Line, the Thomson-East Coast Line, and the Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit. With over 5,000 employees, more than 250 trains, and 141 km of rail tracks across 108 stations, we serve millions of commuters daily. We have set our core values to be Integrity, Service & Safety and Excellence. SMRT is committed to provide safe, reliable and comfortable service for our commuters.

Job description

Job Purpose

The Senior Manager, Ops & Maintenance Contract Management is responsible for leading and overseeing the administration, governance, procurement, and lifecycle management of Operation & Maintenance (O&M) related contracts, including Long Term Service Support (LTSS) agreements with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and other government agencies. The role provides strategic direction, ensures contractual compliance, optimises commercial outcomes, manages contractual risks, and drives continuous improvement in contract management practices across the organisation. The incumbent will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective contract performance, sound governance, and efficient delivery of maintenance and support services.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of the organisation's O&M contract management strategy.
• Provide overall oversight of LTSS agreements, O&M contracts, and common maintenance service agreements.
• Advise senior management on contractual, commercial, and procurement matters.
• Ensure contractual arrangements support organisational objectives, operational requirements, and long-term sustainability.
• Establish contract management frameworks, standards, and best practices across the department.
• Oversee the full lifecycle management of O&M-related contracts, including contract drafting, negotiation, execution, performance monitoring, variation management, renewals, and close-out.
• Review and approve contract documents, procurement specifications, contract variations, extension proposals, and contractual correspondence.
• Ensure robust contract governance and administration processes are maintained.
• Monitor contractor performance against contractual obligations, service levels, and key performance indicators.
• Lead procurement activities for maintenance services, consultancy services, and strategic contracts.
• Ensure procurement exercises are conducted in accordance with organisational policies and regulatory requirements.
• Chair or participate in tender evaluation committees and procurement review panels.
• Review tender strategies, evaluation methodologies, recommendation papers, and award submissions.
• Drive value-for-money outcomes while maintaining transparency and fairness.

The responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive and may be subject to change as required.

Qualifications & Work Experience

• Degree in Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Business, Project Management, Procurement, or other relevant discipline.
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant experience in contract management, procurement, commercial management, project delivery, or maintenance operations.
• At least 3-5 years in a leadership or managerial capacity.
• Experience managing large-scale infrastructure, transportation, rail, engineering, facilities management, or public-sector contracts.
• Strong understanding of Singapore government procurement practices, contract administration, and commercial management principles.
• Experience dealing with government agencies, regulatory bodies, and major service providers is preferred.

Skills

• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
• Excellent commercial acumen and contract negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex contractual matters concurrently.
• Strong governance, risk management, and compliance orientation.
• Proficient in contract management systems, procurement processes, and reporting tools.