Director – Commercial & Contracts

Airswift; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 260,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Airswift is seeking a Director – Commercial & Contracts to lead the commercial and contracts function across the Company’s Blue Ammonia projects in the United States. The role requires leadership from Pre-FEED through FEED, EPC, construction, commissioning, start-up and handover.

The role will develop and execute commercial and contracting strategies, negotiate major project agreements, and manage risks to protect the Company’s financial interests.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field; postgraduate work preferred.
• Significant experience leading commercial and contracts on large capital projects.
• Experience negotiating and administering high-value EPC/EPCM contracts.
• Strong understanding of international contracting practices and risk allocation.
• Proven ability to operate at strategic and detail levels in fast-paced projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement commercial and contracting strategies aligned with project objectives, economics and risk appetite.
• Lead major project contracts including EPC, EPCM, construction, equipment supply and technology agreements.
• Oversee contract administration from award through close-out and ensure compliance with terms.
• Provide commercial leadership to project teams on contractual issues and risk management.
• Monitor and manage claims, variations, change orders and disputes to minimize exposure.
• Establish governance, procedures and templates for contracts and reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Contract negotiation

Risk management

Project controls

Stakeholder management

Commercial strategy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Law or related

Postgraduate qualification in Commercial Management, Contracts, Law or related field

Tools

Contract management systems

Job description

The Director – Commercial & Contracts will lead the commercial and contracts function across the Company’s Blue Ammonia projects, providing strategic and hands-on leadership throughout the project lifecycle, from Pre-FEED and FEED through EPC, construction, commissioning, start-up and handover.

The role will be responsible for developing and executing commercial and contracting strategies, negotiating and administering major project agreements, managing contractual and commercial risks, and protecting the Company’s financial and contractual interests.

The individual will work closely with Project Development, Engineering, Procurement, Project Controls, Construction, Finance, Legal and senior leadership to ensure projects are commercially robust and executed within approved cost, schedule, risk and contractual parameters.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement commercial and contracting strategies aligned with project objectives, economics and risk appetite.
• Establish appropriate contracting models, commercial structures and risk allocation for major project packages.
• Lead commercial evaluations and provide recommendations to senior management on key commercial decisions.
• Provide commercial input across Pre-FEED, FEED, project development and execution planning, including cost assumptions, execution models and contracting strategies.
• Support the development of commercially robust and bankable project structures.

2. Contracts & Commercial Management

• Lead the development, negotiation, award and administration of major project contracts, including EPC, EPCM, construction, engineering, equipment supply, technology, O&M and other strategic agreements.
• Establish and negotiate key commercial terms including pricing, payment mechanisms, milestones, incentives, warranties, guarantees, liquidated damages and performance obligations.
• Ensure appropriate allocation of technical, commercial, schedule and performance risks.
• Oversee contract administration from award through completion and close-out.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, notices, deliverables, milestones and payment provisions.
• Represent the Company in senior-level commercial negotiations with contractors, suppliers, technology providers, partners and other stakeholders.
• Establish and lead the project claims, variations and change management framework.
• Review and manage contractor and supplier claims, variations, extensions of time, compensation events and other commercial matters.
• Assess contractual entitlement and the cost and schedule impact of claims and changes.
• Lead negotiations to resolve commercial issues and minimize financial and schedule exposure.
• Work closely with Legal and Project teams on dispute avoidance, resolution and, where required, formal dispute proceedings.
• Maintain appropriate contractual records and documentation to protect the Company’s position.

4. Project Execution & Commercial Performance

• Provide commercial oversight of EPC and major construction contracts throughout project execution.
• Partner with Project Controls and Finance to monitor contractual commitments, forecast costs, cash flow and commercial exposures.
• Monitor contractor performance against contractual obligations, milestones and commercial KPIs.
• Ensure commercial implications of project changes are assessed before commitments are made.
• Identify emerging commercial risks and support project leadership in developing mitigation and cost/schedule recovery strategies.
• Partner with Procurement to develop sourcing and contracting strategies for major equipment, services and project packages.
• Lead commercial negotiations for strategic and high-value procurement packages.
• Review commercial bids and support contractor and supplier selection.
• Ensure appropriate commercial terms are incorporated into purchase orders, subcontracts and supplier agreements.
• Monitor supplier commercial performance, payment terms, warranties, guarantees and contractual compliance.
• Establish and maintain the commercial and contractual risk framework for projects.
• Identify contractual, cost, schedule, counterparty and liability exposures and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Establish commercial governance, approval processes, contracting procedures and delegated authorities.
• Develop standardized contract templates, commercial procedures and reporting mechanisms.
• Provide senior management with clear visibility of contracts, commitments, claims, variations, risks, disputes and potential liabilities.
• Ensure timely escalation of material commercial matters requiring management intervention.

7. Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Build and lead a high-performing Commercial & Contracts function capable of supporting the Company’s growing project portfolio.
• Establish clear accountability, processes and performance expectations across the team.
• Mentor and develop commercial and contracts professionals.
• Partner effectively with Engineering, Procurement, Project Management, Project Controls, Construction, Finance and Legal.
• Provide commercial leadership and guidance to project teams on contractual and commercial matters.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Law or a related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification in Commercial Management, Contracts, Business Administration, Law or a related field is preferred.
• 15+ years of relevant experience, including significant commercial and contracts leadership on large-scale capital projects.
• Proven experience in EPC/EPCM contracting and project execution.
• Experience across the project lifecycle, preferably including Pre-FEED, FEED, EPC, construction, commissioning and start-up.
• Strong experience negotiating and administering high-value, complex EPC, construction and equipment supply contracts.
• Demonstrated experience managing claims, variations, change orders, extensions of time and commercial disputes.
• Experience in energy, chemicals, petrochemicals, hydrogen, ammonia, LNG, refining, power or other complex industrial projects strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of international contracting practices, commercial risk allocation and project economics.
• Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and detailed commercial levels in a fast-paced project environment.