Commercial Contract Manager

Babcock & Wilcox; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Babcock & Wilcox BWCC is seeking a Senior Commercial Contract Manager to serve as the senior commercial leader, driving contract strategy, risk management, and formation for EPC projects and MSAs. This role collaborates with Legal, Executive Leadership, Business Development, Operations, and Estimating to align commercial positions with company objectives.

The position requires 10+ years in contract management and negotiation within power, industrial, renewables or oil & gas, and a Bachelor’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in lieu of degree.
• 10+ years of experience in the Power, Industrial, Renewable, and/or Oil & Gas industry(ies).
• 10+ years Contract management and/or negotiation experience with emphasis in legal terms and conditions.

Responsibilities

• Serve as BWCC’s primary commercial liaison between business operations and Legal to balance objectives and risk management.
• Lead development and execution of commercial strategies for EPC projects, MSAs, alliance agreements, and other complex contracts.
• Partner with Estimating and Business Development during proposal development to identify contractual risks and develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Perform detailed reviews of customer terms and conditions and negotiate markups, exceptions, and positions.
• Provide executive leadership with recommendations on contractual risk, exposure, and opportunities prior to bid submission and contract execution.
• Collaborate with Legal, Insurance, Finance, Operations, Procurement, and Executive Leadership to ensure alignment with policies and governance.

Skills

Commercial judgment

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Risk management

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder influence

Executive presence

Analytical skills

Regulatory awareness

Relationship building

Time management

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The Senior Commercial Contract Manager serves as BWCC’s senior commercial leader and subject matter expert for contract strategy, commercial risk management, and contract formation activities. Working within the framework of corporate policies and in coordination with Legal, Executive Leadership, Business Development, Operations, and Estimating, this role is responsible for developing commercial strategies that support the company’s business objectives while appropriately managing contractual, financial, operational, and legal risks associated with EPC projects, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), and other complex industrial construction contracts. This position leads the review, evaluation, negotiation, and markup of customer terms and conditions during the proposal and contract formation process. The Senior Commercial Contract Manager partners closely with Estimating and business leaders to assess risk allocation, develop negotiation strategies, recommend commercial positions, and support executive decision‑making on major opportunities involving utilities, industrial manufacturers, power producers, and other sophisticated owner organizations.

• Serve as BWCC’s senior commercial authority for contractual risk management, commercial strategy, and contract formation activities.
• Lead the development and execution of commercial strategies for EPC projects, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), alliance agreements, and other complex industrial construction opportunities.
• Partner with Estimating and Business Development during proposal development to identify contractual risks, evaluate commercial opportunities, and develop risk mitigation strategies.
• Perform detailed reviews of customer terms and conditions and develop contract markups, exceptions, qualifications, and negotiation positions that align with BWCC’s commercial objectives and risk tolerance. Lead commercial negotiations with customers and other external stakeholders regarding contractual terms, commercial provisions, and risk allocation frameworks.
• Provide executive leadership with clear recommendations regarding contractual risk, commercial exposure, and strategic opportunities prior to bid submission and contract execution.
• Collaborate with Legal, Insurance, Finance, Operations, Procurement, and Executive Leadership to ensure commercial positions align with company policies, governance requirements, and business objectives.
• Establish and maintain commercial contracting standards, negotiation playbooks, risk assessment tools, and contract review processes across the organization.
• Evaluate and negotiate key commercial provisions including indemnification, limitations of liability, liquidated damages, warranties, payment terms, insurance requirements, schedule obligations, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

DUTIES

• Serve as the primary commercial liaison between BWCC business operations and Legal to ensure contractual positions appropriately balance commercial objectives and risk management requirements.
• Support strategic reviews of high-value, high-risk, or non-standard contractual opportunities and provide recommendations regarding acceptable commercial risk levels.
• Advise Contract Management, Project Management, and Operations personnel on complex contractual matters, commercial risks, contract interpretation issues, and dispute avoidance strategies.
• Support the development of commercial training, contracting best practices, and risk management awareness throughout the organization.
• Monitor industry trends, contracting practices, and emerging commercial risks to continuously improve BWCC’s commercial management capabilities.
• Mentor and develop Contract Management and Proposal Management personnel while promoting consistency in commercial practices and contractual governance across the organization.
• Maintain final commercial review authority for all significant customer contracts, terms and conditions, commercial qualifications, and contractual risk assessments prior to execution, ensuring alignment with corporate policies, governance requirements, risk tolerance, and delegated authority limits.
• These duties are not meant to be all-inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

Preferred Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in lieu of degree
• 10+ years of experience in the Power, Industrial, Renewable, and/or Oil & Gas industry(ies)
• 10+ years Contract management and/or negotiation experience with emphasis in legal terms and conditions

Specific Skills Or Business Competencies

• Demonstrates exceptional commercial judgment, business acumen, and strategic thinking in evaluating contractual risks, opportunities, and business objectives.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills with the ability to effectively engage field personnel, project teams, executive leadership, customers, and external partners.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented professional with a proactive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while effectively navigating a highly matrixed and collaborative organization.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex commercial and contractual issues to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Advanced negotiation skills with a proven ability to achieve favorable commercial outcomes while maintaining strong business relationships.
• Demonstrates a collaborative leadership style and works effectively across functional teams to achieve organizational objectives.
• Strong planning, prioritization, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple high-priority initiatives and meet demanding deadlines.
• Maintains current knowledge of industry trends, contracting practices, regulatory requirements, and legal developments impacting the construction and EPC industries.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with customers, industry partners, subcontractors, suppliers, and key stakeholders.
• Exceptional analytical skills with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple complex commercial matters simultaneously.
• Demonstrates executive presence, professional credibility, and sound judgment when interacting with senior leadership, customers, legal counsel, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively assess risk, develop commercial strategies, and provide recommendations that balance business objectives with contractual and financial considerations.
• Maintains the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct in all commercial and business dealings.