Contracts Legal Counsel

Wood; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Wood is recruiting a Contracts Lead to join its Legal team in Houston, TX. This hybrid role involves managing contract reviews, drafting agreements, and ensuring compliance with corporate policies.

The ideal candidate will have a JD, relevant experience in contract negotiation and drafting, and strong leadership skills. Wood emphasizes a diverse workforce and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in contract review, drafting and negotiation in a service company environment.
• Currently licensed to practice in the United States.
• Expert knowledge of contract terms and policies.

Responsibilities

• Manage and prioritise contract review workload across supported businesses.
• Provide guidance on client contracting and negotiation strategies.
• Support the timely provision of commercial deliverables.

Skills

Contract review

Negotiation

Leadership

Contract law

Client contract structures

Education

JD (or international equivalent)

Relevant industry experience

Job description

Overview

Wood is recruiting for a Contracts Lead to join its Legal, Contracts, Ethics and Compliance function. This opportunity is Hybrid in Houston, TX.

Responsibilities

At a high level the job objectives are, with limited supervision:

• Manage and prioritise contract review workload across supported business(es) in alignment with business(es) requirements
• Manage the application of relevant Group Legal and Commercial standards across the supported business, in conjunction with commercial lead(s)
• Assist / support the implementation of common ways of working to maximise value, gain efficiencies and minimise risk to Wood
• Responsible for providing direction, strategy, and leadership to direct reports (if applicable)
• Maintaining key internal interfaces within supported business(es)
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) in contract law and contracts related policies
• Promote and demonstrate safety leadership behaviours
• Always act ethically and with the utmost integrity
• Champion and promote the application of the Financial Management Framework
• Champion and follow the relevant DOA and Group & BU policies

Manage, Support, And Deliver, Under Limited Supervision

• Functional activities within the assigned business(es) including drafting, review, and negotiation of:
• • Confidentiality agreements / NDA\'s in accordance with business needs
  • Client contracts (bespoke and standard forms) including project specific contracts and MSAs
  • Drafting and review of financial instruments (Bonds / Letters of Credit, PCG\'s, Collateral Warranties)
  • MOU\u2019s and exclusive arrangements all in accordance with Wood\'s group wide policies and approval processes
• Reviewing proposed contract qualifications with other functions, as required, to ensure the balance of risk is appropriate for the associated services and remuneration mode.
• Providing overviews of contract T&Cs and associated issues to senior management and execution teams, as applicable
• Provide guidance to the assigned business(es) on client contracting and negotiation strategies and terms and conditions.
• Engagement with other functions to identify strategies to avoid / mitigate risks associated with contract terms and Contracting Policy deviations.
• The provision of contractual interpretation advice, including financial instruments (Bonds / Letters of Credit, PCG\'s, Collateral Warranties) to business, as required.
• Support and deliver the timely provision of commercial deliverables (e.g., bonds, PCG\u2019s, evidence of insurance) in accordance with contract requirements and Wood Policies.
• Preparation, negotiation, establishment, and administration of Joint Venture and / or Partnering agreements
• Develop and build internal relationships with stakeholders to become a business partner and trusted advisor.
• Provide input to commercial handovers to the execution teams for successfully awarded contracts.
• Drive continuous improvement across the function and look for innovative ways of working.
• Ensures that key relevant Contracts policies are understood and correctly applied within assigned business(es)
• Develop the function\'s skills and promotion of an environment of learning and empowerment.
• Ensure the timely provision of contracts input to the TGP process, tenders, and proposals, as required.
• Develop main contract flowdown requirements for PO\’s and subcontracts, in conjunction with supply chain, as required.
• Supporting the pursuit of Wood\'s assertive claims and/or defending claims against Wood, as required.
• Responsible for the day-to-day management of the assigned Contracts team members (if any).
• Represent Wood in industry wide contracts initiatives, seminars, and workgroups

Qualifications

• JD (or international equivalent)
• Currently licensed, admitted to practice, and in good standing in the United States
• Experience and proven track record of contract review, drafting and negotiation in a service company environment.
• In addition to undergraduate degree or equivalent work experience, the individual should have work experience in the industry which would allow understanding of and exposure to key contracting principles.
• Experience in the negotiation and set up of JVs, MOUs, bidding agreements and consortium agreements.
• Experience of leading and managing a team
• Expert knowledge of contract terms, contract principles and drafting and compliance with contracting policies.
• Working knowledge of the Company Finance and HR systems.
• Awareness of all relevant corporate and project procedures.
• Excellent understanding of Client contract structures, principles, and policies.
• Contract experience should cover consulting, engineering and construction projects in at least one of the power, infrastructure, mining, environmental and/or oil and gas industries, EPC, EPCm, standard contract model forms (e.g., NEC, FIDIC, JCT and LOGIC or regional equivalents) preferably in both onshore and offshore environment.
• Relevant Client Facing Contracting Experience: 4-8+ years

Desirable

• Supervisory Experience: 0-4 years

About Us

Wood is a global leader in consulting, engineering and operations for the energy and materials sectors. With 33,000 people in around 50 countries, Wood supports clients across the full asset lifecycle, delivering safe, predictable outcomes while enabling resilient operations and a lower carbon future. Wood forms the Energy & Materials pillar of Sidara - a global partnership uniting leading multidisciplinary engineering, design, and project management companies. www.woodgroup.com

Diversity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list): race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.