Contract Manager

Zachry Group; Lake Charles (LA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction company based in Lake Charles, Louisiana is seeking a Contract Manager to oversee commercial and contractual aspects of various projects. This role requires managing risks, resolving claims, and ensuring project profitability while collaborating with joint venture partners. Candidates should have at least 8 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree in engineering or construction management. The position includes travel and potential relocation anywhere within the United States.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant commercial/contract/project management experience preferred.
• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree required; advanced management or law degree preferred.
• Proven effective communication skills in a multi-cultural environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage and influence commercial/contractual/risk aspects of projects.
• Develop and implement commercial execution processes for contracts.
• Coordinate with joint venture partners and manage claims/disputes.

Skills

Commercial/contract/project management

Negotiation skills

Written and verbal communication

Excel

Risk management

Document management

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or relevant field

Tools

Excel

SharePoint

Power Bi

Riskonnect

Job description

Job Description

Contract Manager takes a lead role in managing and influencing the commercial/contractual/risk aspects of EP, CM, C or EPC projects with the known clients/JV partners in a known industry with a moderately complex commercial model. Individual projects assigned are typically part of straightforward joint ventures with mostly domestic partners; however, the manager may be part of a larger contract management team on some of the most complex and challenging projects and may support divisions of the project, i.e. JV vs Owner coordination or a separate phase, i.e. OSBL vs ISBL. The Contract Management team primarily focuses on managing commercial risk and protecting/optimizing profitability of the project. The position is a key member of the PMT and acts as the project’s advisor regarding contractual, commercial and risk issues and is the main interface with Owner (and JV Partners) for contract and commercial issues. The position works under the supervision of a Director or Sr. Manager and requires moderate supervision.

Responsibilities

• Understands and internalizes the project scope, agreed terms, contractual deliverables, and commercial model and the basis of the “as-sold” margin.
• Understands and internalizes the “as-sold” strategy to win and any risks accepted during the bid process.
• Actively participates in developing execution plans and developing a protocol to ensure implementation and or deviation approvals.
• Collaborating with all support functions ensuring conformance with Zachry’s Deal Architecture.
• Understand Key Performance Incentives, Limitations of Liability, Liquidated Damages, Bonus Opportunities, Rate Escalations, etc… and develop and implement risk mitigation or opportunity capture strategies.
• Develop and implement commercial execution processes for the project or joint venture, such as management of change, third party flow down of risk terms, risk mitigation strategies and dispute management protocols.
• Responsible for formal contractual notices and follow up.
• Manage claims and disputes between Zachry and Owner, JV Partner, or Sub-tier contractors. Negotiate and implement solutions that resolve matters expeditiously and fairly with a goal of preserving Zachry’s interests.
• Support/Negotiate settlement agreements, document the proceedings and implement the results.
• Coordinate all formal PCN activities with client and JV including letter writing, identification, and narratives. Works directly with change management team for support.
• Interface, as part of the PMT, with joint venture partners and client counterparts in administration of the JV agreement and EPC Contract, respectively.
• Responsible for client and JV interaction/communication for all commercial matters in concert with project management.
• Participate in Owner and JV progress meetings.
• Work collaboratively with other Zachry managers and functional support (Legal/Risk, Accounting, JV Administration, Estimating, Change Management, etc.).
• Support procurement and subcontracts managers to help with:
• Recovery of vendor back charges through claims and revenue recovery.
• Proactively managing commercial content and any subsequent change orders associated with major vendors and subcontractors, including claim/risk mitigation.
• Administration of contractual flow downs, through negotiation assistance, deviation approvals, and risk identification.
• Work closely with home office to assist in administering commercial requirements of insurance program, bank guarantees, and other commercial project content.
• Provide regular updates to Project Manager, Steering and Sponsor Committees, and Home Office Executive Management.
• Reports functionally to Corporate Senior Director and day to day to Zachry assigned Project Manager.
• Contract Manager is the project contract advisor, and first line should there be any questions with the terms, conditions, or commercial mechanisms of a contract.
• Leads claim activities in concert with the Legal Team, PM, and Executive Leadership.

Requirements

• 8+ years of relevant commercial/contract/project management experience (or equivalent) preferred.
• Minimum of Bachelor of engineering, construction management, business, or other relevant degree required; advanced management or law degree preferred, but optional.
• Proven effective written and verbal communication skills while working in an international, multi-cultural team environment.
• Knowledge of document management, scheduling, advanced work packaging (AWP) and cost management techniques for major EPC projects needed.
• Ability and working knowledge of Excel, Word, SharePoint, Riskonnect, Teams, Power Bi and other similar database, programs, and communication software.
• Contract management, change management, and administration experience required.
• Proven negotiation skills a must.
• Proven experience with impact identification and calculation techniques for major EPC projects required.
• Forward-looking, proactive, self-motivated approach to work.
• International and domestic travel required.
• Willingness and acceptance of extended assignment to project site as part of the PMT a must.
• Citizenship that allows for unencumbered entry in and out of countries where partners, suppliers or customers may be domiciled.

Education

Minimum of Bachelor of engineering, construction management, or other degree required; advanced management or law degree preferred, but optional.

Work Environment

Employee will work in multiple environments including an office, trailer, or building on or off site. On work sites noise levels will be moderate to high. Job sites will contain: light to heavy equipment vehicles, small to large equipment, materials, communication equipment and tools, people standing, walking, sitting, signaling and talking, bells whistles and alarms.

Additional Information

Relocation Requirement: Must be willing and able to relocate to a project location anywhere within the United States.

Zachry is dedicated in providing a Safe and Drug Free work environment; and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.