Contract Manager

Petroplan; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Petroplan is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to support major LNG capital projects in the United States. You will lead negotiations and oversee the full contract lifecycle for OFE packages, coordinating with project teams and legal counsel.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree and 10+ years in contract management, with proven ability to draft, negotiate, and manage high-value agreements with OEMs and contractors. Reports to the Director of Contracts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Law, Engineering, or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, redline, and negotiate complex commercial agreements with OEMs and suppliers.
• Lead contract administration for strategic agreements and business areas.
• Mentor contract administration professionals.
• Manage change orders, amendments, and scope, cost, schedule impacts.
• Maintain contract files and CLM documentation; report milestones.

Skills

Contract management

Commercial negotiations

Contract lifecycle

OFE agreements

EPC/major capital projects

Leadership/mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in related discipline

Tools

CLM systems

Job description

Petroplan is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to support major capital projects on behalf of a US-based LNG Operator.

This role requires extensive expertise in contract formation, negotiation, administration, and execution of large, complex equipment and services agreements with major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and contractors.

The Contracts Manager will lead commercial and contractual negotiations for strategically important agreements and oversee the full contract lifecycle for Owner-Furnished Equipment (OFE) packages.

Responsibilities will include contract administration, change and variation management, claims, reporting, project acceptance, and contract closeout.

The successful candidate will work as part of a multidisciplinary project organization, partnering closely with project management, engineering, procurement, legal, commercial, project controls, and other subject matter experts to ensure contractual obligations, commercial objectives, and project requirements are effectively managed.

This position reports to the Director of Contracts and will provide contractual support to assigned project teams.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Law, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in contract management, commercial management, and contract negotiation within the LNG, power, energy, or other major capital project environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in drafting, reviewing, redlining, negotiating, and leading commercial negotiations for complex, high-value strategic agreements.
• Experience managing the full lifecycle of major equipment, services, EPC, OEM, or similar commercial agreements.
• Previous experience leading, managing, and mentoring contract management or contract administration professionals.
• Strong understanding of change management, claims, warranties, acceptance, commercial risk, and contract closeout processes.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, construction, procurement, project controls, legal, finance, commercial, and executive leadership teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to identify contractual risks, evaluate commercial impacts, and escalating issues appropriately.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare sophisticated contractual correspondence and commercial documentation.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet demanding project deadlines.
• Exceptional attention to detail and discretion when handling commercially sensitive and confidential information.
• Ability to work independently while also operating effectively within a fast-paced, multidisciplinary project environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, redline, and negotiate complex commercial and contractual agreements with strategic OEMs, suppliers, and contractors in coordination with project teams and legal counsel.
• Lead contract administration activities for assigned strategic agreements and business areas.
• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship to contract administration professionals.
• Partner with internal subject matter experts to develop contracting, commercial, risk management, controls, and tax strategies for assigned OFE agreements.
• Work closely with project teams to evaluate, negotiate, and administer change orders, task orders, amendments, and other contractual modifications.
• Oversee the complete change management process, including evaluation of scope, cost, schedule impacts, contractual language, internal reviews and approvals, contract management system updates, and execution.
• Ensure changes are managed in accordance with established contracting policies, procedures, and delegated authority requirements.
• Support project teams in developing strategies and contractual positions related to claims involving defects, recurring or serial defects, warranties, acceptance, performance, and other commercial matters.
• Prepare formal contractual correspondence, notices, and responses in collaboration with technical, commercial, legal, and senior leadership stakeholders.
• Ensure contractual documentation, requisitions, approvals, and supporting records are properly maintained within the organization’s contract lifecycle management (CLM) system.
• Advise project teams on contractual matters by conducting contract reviews, interpreting commercial terms, identifying obligations, and developing appropriate action plans.
• Coordinate project acceptance and contract closeout activities in accordance with contractual requirements and in collaboration with project controls, legal, and project stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate and organized contract files, records, and documentation repositories.
• Monitor and report the status of contractual activities, changes, claims, and other key milestones through established tracking systems.
• Participate in internal and external management meetings as required.
• Participate in project kickoffs, progress reviews, cost reviews, commercial meetings, quality reviews, and other project meetings as appropriate.
• Provide additional contract management and administration support as directed by the Contracts Director.