Contract Manager

Planet Pharma; Vacaville (CA); On-site; USD 96,432 - 117,096; Full time

Job summary

Planet Pharma, Vacaville, CA, seeks a Senior Contracts & Claims Manager to oversee commercial management of CAPEX projects, min 5m USD spend. You will mitigate contract risk, ensure obligations are fulfilled, optimize value, and drive on-time delivery while controlling costs across global suppliers.

The role works with Global Engineering, project teams, and external counsel, leading negotiation of major contracts, managing claims, change orders, and supplier performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree or higher in a commercial field.
• 10+ years with major contractors/consultants in change management, cost, claims and disputes.
• Experience developing and implementing contract strategies.
• Senior-level experience on large projects; pharma/regulatory exposure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Define risk mitigation and contracting strategies.
• Lead execution of contracts, changes and variations.
• Coordinate change orders, delay and dispute management.
• Oversee supplier performance and periodic commercial audits.
• Engage internal stakeholders across functions.

Skills

Contract management

Cost control

Risk mitigation

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Sourcing strategy

Supplier relations

Project management

EPCMV experience

Education

Bachelor degree

Master degree preferred

Tools

E-procurement systems

Contract management tools

Job description

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 rights and entitlements as provided in the contracts, ensure the Contractors’ obligations are fulfilled, ensure 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 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 approach to suppliers.

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 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) 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 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.

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.

Degree (required)* 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

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.

Skills:

• Business and financial acumen;
• Contracting strategy & execution, strategic sourcing expertise, procurement/sourcing knowledge/experience for large CAPEX projects;
• A strong understanding of construction technology, sequencing and practices;
• Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated project management skills;
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing sourcing strategies that have yielded measurable business results
• Ability to work cross functionally in project work and project management
• Has overseen, sourced from or worked for EPCMV contractors
• Skills in all procurement processes including commodity management, supplier management, negotiations, contract management and e-procurement systems.
• Research, analysis, summary recommendation skills.
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills on international level.
• Experience managing global relationships, both internal and external;
• Experience with international commercial contracts and agreements
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills and ability to build business relationships and to work in multifunctional team

Pay ranges between 70-85/hr based on experience