EPC Contract Lead

Blue Energy; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Energy seeks an experienced EPC Contracts Lead to manage the full lifecycle of contracts across major capital projects. You will negotiate during pre-award stage gates, supervise post-award administration, and protect the company’s commercial position through disciplined change orders and claims handling.

This senior role reports to the Director of Contracts and partners with the project delivery team to optimize programme, cost, and scope while mentoring a Contracts Administrator and

Qualifications

• 10+ years in construction contracts management on major capital projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing various EPC commercial models.
• Strong claims, delay and disruption, prolongation costs, and final account negotiation capability.
• Deep knowledge of construction contract mechanisms on major power, LNG, oil and gas, or industrial projects.
• Strong quantitative skills with independent cost assessments.

Responsibilities

• Manage EPC contracts from cradle to grave and protect the company’s contractual position.
• Lead pre-award stage gate negotiations including cost book audit and risk treatment.
• Oversee post-award contract administration through execution and change orders.
• Own change order assessment, negotiation, and register management within timeframes.
• Manage claims and disputes; lead milestone assessments and reporting to lenders and executives.
• Maintain commercial reporting suite for internal, lender, and executive audiences.

Skills

EPC contracts

Cost management

Change orders

Claims management

Negotiation

Budget tracking

Compliance

Team leadership

Reporting

Cost analysis

Education

Degree in law/engineering/commerce/QS

Job description

Company Overview

Blue Energy is transforming how nuclear power gets built. Instead of constructing each plant on-site from scratch - a process that takes 10-15 years and is too expensive and unpredictable to finance - we build our plants like ships: in a factory, on an assembly line, then transport and assemble them at the site. This cuts costs by over 60% and brings plants online in just three years. We also pair natural gas with nuclear at our sites, so customers can start receiving power from gas turbines right away and then switch over to clean nuclear power once it comes online - getting energy to the grid faster while nuclear is being built. Our mission is to make nuclear energy abundant, affordable, and repeatable at global scale. We use proven, already-approved reactor designs and work with existing nuclear and industrial sites, giving us a faster path to regulatory approval. By manufacturing this way, we put nuclear power on the same cost-reduction curve that has made wind, solar, and batteries cheaper every year.

Role Summary

The EPC Contracts Lead is Blue Energy's primary commercial manager for its EPC contracts, accountable across the full contract lifecycle from pre-award strategy and stage gate negotiations through execution, claims management, and final close-out. The role reports to the Director of Contracts and works closely with the broader project delivery team on programme, cost, and scope matters.

This is a senior, hands‑on role for an experienced EPC contracts professional who can operate independently across a complex, fast-moving project environment — managing contractors with confidence, protecting Blue Energy's commercial position, and developing the Contracts Administrator beneath them.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage Blue Energy’s EPC contracts from cradle to grave - challenge costs and assumptions, enforce design freeze milestones, and protect the company’s contractual position.

• Lead various pre-award stage gate negotiations, including cost book audit, risk and contingency treatment.

• Manage post-award contract administration activities through execution - assess change orders, maintain the notice register, track exposure against budget and contingency.

• Own change order assessment, negotiation, and register management within contractual timeframes.

• Manage claims.

• Manage commercial matters, including milestone assessments, incentive calculations, and disputes.

• Maintain notice management discipline and elevate compliance risks promptly.

• Lead final account negotiation and close out all contractual obligations.

• Supervise and develop the Contracts Administrator.

• Maintain the commercial reporting suite for internal, lender, and executive audiences.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in construction contracts management on major capital projects, with full contract lifecycle experience.

• Demonstrated experience managing various EPC commercial models.

• Strong claims, delay and disruption, prolongation costs, and final account negotiation capability.

• Deep knowledge of construction contract mechanisms on major power, LNG, oil and gas, or industrial projects.

• Strong quantitative skills - able to value complex variations and develop independent cost assessments robust to contractor scrutiny and expert determination.

• Degree in law, engineering, commerce, and or quantity surveying,

Preferred Qualifications

• Senior-level experience on an Owner’s team with preferably EPC experience.

• Experience on major power generation or energy infrastructure projects.

• Exposure to project finance lender requirements, including independent engineer review and change order approval conditions.

• Experience managing interface claims from scope boundary gaps between the EPC and adjacent direct contracts.

• Experience in a pre-IPO or high-growth energy company under time pressure and a self-starter.

Blue Energy is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.