Contracts Manager

SSA Marine; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid sick and vacation time

401(k) plan

Job summary

SSA Marine is seeking a Contracts Manager in Seattle, WA to handle commercial agreements for equipment and services throughout project lifecycles. Responsibilities include drafting and administering contracts, performing risk management, and negotiating terms.

The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in procurement and contract law, with at least 5–10 years of experience in large-scale projects. Benefits include comprehensive insurance, paid time off, and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in contract administration and procurement.
• Experience with contracts exceeding USD 100M.
• Proficiency in developing contract and risk registers.

Responsibilities

• Draft and manage purchase orders and contracts.
• Lead negotiations and manage change orders and claims.
• Monitor contractor and vendor performance.

Skills

Contract management

Risk management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Legal compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in law, Business Administration, Engineering, or related

Advanced degree or certifications (LL.M., MBA, PMP, Certified Contract Manager)

Job description

Essential Job Responsibilities

The Contracts Manager manages commercial agreements for equipment, materials and contracts throughout the project lifecycle in cooperation with SSA Procurement function.

The role ensures the company’s interests are protected in contract execution, change management, and risk mitigation during development, construction, and commissioning.

Reporting directly to the Procurement Category Manager, the Contract Manager must be a team player who partners effectively with Corporate, Support Functions, and Operations to achieve project goals.

• Draft, review, and administer all purchase orders issued directly by the Owner team, from consultancy and technical services through EPC, commissioning, and handover, ensuring alignment with Company’s policies and risk appetite.
• Administer EPCM contract. Administer Owner consultants' contracts. Interface with SSA Corporate Procurement for direct SSA Project responsibilities.
• Interface with our Procurement team and EPCM/PMC Procurement Manager for project Procurement (Equipment, Materials and Contracts).
• Monitor the use of good practices by the EPC(M) for the purchase orders and contracts under its direct responsibility.
• Support the negotiation of permits, EPC, and other major contracts in close coordination with Legal and Procurement teams.
• Maintain a comprehensive contract register with key dates, obligations, and deliverables to ensure proactive management.
• Lead the evaluation, negotiation, and resolution of change orders, claims, and disputes with contractors, vendors, and consultants.
• Lead the payment review and approval process of contractor/consultant invoices related to the project.
• Establish and oversee management protocols to ensure timely review and approval of contractual changes.
• Escalate high-impact commercial or legal issues to SSA Procurement and our Company executives with recommended courses of action.
• Liaise with SSA’s Legal, Insurance, and Compliance teams to ensure adequate coverage and compliance with regulatory, contractual, and corporate requirements.
• Maintain a live risk register, identifying potential exposures and recommending mitigation measures to protect the Company’s interests.
• Monitor contractor and vendor performance against contractual obligations, KPIs, and milestones; escalate deviations and recommend corrective actions.
• Support SSA in preparing regular reports on contract & procurement status, and claims for executives, governance forums, and Board reviews.
• Oversee the orderly closeout of contracts during commissioning and handover, ensuring all obligations, warranties, and guarantees are properly recorded and transferred to SSA Operations.
• Capture lessons learned from contract activities to improve SSA’s project delivery framework on future projects.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in law, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Advanced degree or certifications (LL.M., MBA, PMP, Certified Contract Manager, or equivalent).
• Minimum 5–10 years of progressive experience in contract administration, procurement, and risk management for large-scale infrastructure, port/marine terminal, or heavy industrial projects, with recent years on Owner Team.
• Proven track record managing complex agreements exceeding USD 100M.
• Demonstrated success in administering contracts and purchase orders through all stages of project lifecycle to include feasibility and permitting through EPC execution, commissioning, and handover.
• Significant experience with change orders, claims management, dispute resolution, and contractor and supplier performance monitoring.
• Familiarity with environmental, social, and regulatory permitting processes and how these intersect with contracts.
• Strong knowledge of contract law, risk allocation, and insurance requirements.
• Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate legal, financial, and commercial risks in complex projects.
• Proficiency in developing and maintaining contract registers, risk registers, and performance dashboards.
• Excellent negotiation, analytical, and problem‑solving skills to resolve contractor and supplier claims and execution risks.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to interface with executives, legal counsel, insurers, contractors, and regulators.
• Strong understanding of QEHS standards and how contractual obligations support safety and environmental compliance.

Base Pay Range: $125,000 - 145,000 per year

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

Benefits

Eligible employees (and their families) may qualify for medical, dental, and vision insurance, basic life and accidental death insurance, paid disability insurance, and paid parental leave if eligible, as well as an Employee Assistance Program. Employees will receive paid sick and vacation time, company holidays, bereavement leave, and jury duty. Eligible employees can enroll in the company’s 401(k) plan and a retirement plan, and may receive discretionary and/or metric‑based bonuses dependent on the position.