Contract Manager

JobDiva, Inc.; Portsmouth (NH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Lonza is seeking a Senior Contracts & Claims Manager to oversee commercial management of CAPEX projects ranging from greenfield to brownfield. The role focuses on protecting Lonza’s rights, optimizing value, and reducing contract risks across large-scale activities.

You will coordinate with Global Engineering, local project teams, and external stakeholders to ensure a common Lonza approach to suppliers. You will lead contract execution, risk mitigation, cost control, and complex negotiations,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in commercial, engineering, or legal field or equivalent.
• Minimum 10 years in contracts, claims, cost control or related roles.
• Experience with large industrial or EPCMV/EPC projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead contract strategy and risk mitigation for CAPEX projects.
• Negotiate major contracts, subcontracts and changes; manage reviews with suppliers.
• Coordinate change orders, delay and dispute processes; ensure contractual rights.
• Oversee supplier relationships and performance metrics.
• Report contracting plan status and variations to project stakeholders.

Skills

Cost control

Risk mitigation

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Claims management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Summary:

• As a member of the Global Capital Sourcing team, a Senior Contracts & Claims Manager is sought to be responsible for the commercial management of a variety of projects within large and medium green or brown field CAPEX schemes (CAPEX project sizes/spend of min 5 m USD). The aims are to protect LONZA's rights and entitlements as provided in the contracts, ensure the Contractors' obligations are fulfilled, ensure LONZA is fulfilling their obligations, optimizing value-for-money, reducing contract risks, lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), on time/schedule delivery, quality and in-cost project purchases to support the goal for Lonza's growth investments.
• He/she is in position to mitigate risks related to the contract creation / execution, identify cost benefit solutions to complex contractual matters (including regular delivery and close out of complex negotiations with extremal Stakeholders and Consultants).
• The position is expected to act as a commercial expert working in close cooperation and coordination together with the Global Engineering team (SGIE), the local project team and any other relevant internal or external stakeholder, ensuring a common LONZA approach to suppliers.

Job Description:

Project Procurement Execution Strategy:

• Support the definition of the Risk mitigation plan;
• Participate in development of contracting strategies;
• Involve Cost Control Group and ensure the implementation of cost control system e.g. progress measurement, remeasurement, bank guarantees, additional items, claims, cash flow and back-charges;
• Analyse the contract conditions and assist the project management in the preparation and conduction of the execution of those contracts;
• Involvement with the review of new tenders and contracts with Strategic Supplier;
• Support the negotiation of major contracts, subcontracts and own the final review and document preparation with Strategic Supplier;
• Ensure relevant Procurement & SGIE process and standards are followed.

Post Tender Award:

• Lead the execution of contracts to secure our Lonza contractual rights and entitlements;
• Responsible to report contracting plan status and variations to the Project & Procurement on a periodic basis;
• Manage the contracting plan during project execution, commissioning and evaluation stages, including the contractor's cost in cooperation with Cost Control;
• Prepare a summary of key contractual points (deviations from norms, identified risks, of concern to Lonza) generated by a review such that they can be readily identified and addressed;
• Negotiate and agree contract extensions & change request;
• Coordinate activities such as change orders, delay management, conflict management, preparation for potential litigation / arbitration / ADR in terms of proper documentation, timely responses to the contractor as per contract;
• Monitor and safeguards the legal right as per the provisions of the contract;
• Manage the Warranty and performance guarantees of the project assets;
• Ensuring all requirements of Lonza, are met with respect to contract review;
• Coordinating the involvement of legal counsel and/or Client legal counsel in reviews as required;
• Support in Arbitration and in Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures;
• Overseeing, managing, directing and supporting the project commercial teams to ensure optimization of project returns.

Claim Management:

• Identifying opportunities for outgoing claims, development of claim strategies, supporting/preparing notifications/correspondence as well as negotiation and settlement;
• Analysis of incoming claims, development of defense strategies, supporting/preparing response/correspondence, claim negotiation and settlement;
• Collection and registration of all claim related documentation in company's claim repository.

Supplier Relationship Management:

• Manage escalation of issues and claims management with supplier;
• Develop the supplier relationship according to the expectations per supplier segment;
• Support supplier relationship management and to ensure reliable high quality supply;
• Support the supplier performance, compliance and accountability through supplier scorecards and performance metrics;
• Involved in periodic commercial audits of main contractors.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Stakeholder Management:

• Identify and engage with internal stakeholders, including Project Management, Global SGIE, global Procurement and Corporate Functions (mainly Legal and Finance);
• Clarify stakeholder requirements;
• Drive proactive communications.

Education:

• A higher commercial background equivalent to a Bachelor (BSc/BA), preferably Master degree (MSc/MBA) or equivalent and a good thorough technical understanding and knowledge
• Purchasing, Engineering or Legal, Quantity Surveying or Cost Consulting

Work Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience with major contractors / consultants in roles dealing with management of project change procedures, cost management, claims and variations, negotiation and settlement of disputes with owners and subcontractors.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing contract strategies that have yielded measurable business results
• Ability to work cross functionally in project work and project management
• Has preferably overseen, sourced from or worked for EPCMV / EPC contractors
• Experience operating at a senior level on a major project or in a Commercial / Claims Manager role in a large construction company.
• Experience in a regulated industry (i.e. pharmaceutical, food) advantageous.