Lead Cost Manager

National Grid; Waltham (MA); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 166,000; Full time

Job summary

National Grid is seeking a Lead Construction Contract Manager in Waltham, MA for the New England Electric Contracts and Commercial department. This hybrid role requires travel to New England sites and builds on a track record of managing complex contracts for outsourced electric construction work.

The role emphasizes risk management, cost control, and resolving disputes, with broad collaboration across Engineering, Procurement, and Project Management teams.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of contract management, construction or project management in electric/technical industries.
• Post-award construction contract management experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• 3-5 years pricing analysis/validation in construction preferred.
• 2-3 years of contract dispute resolution/negotiation.
• 2-3 years of estimating background preferred.
• EPC experience highly desirable.
• Advanced Procore experience highly desirable.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Power BI, Teams, SharePoint, PowerPoint, Excel, Word required.
• Valid driver’s license with a safe driving history.

Responsibilities

• Manage EPC, lump sum, sole source and unit-rate construction contracts across the NE Electric project portfolio, including inspection, study, cost validation, change orders and dispute resolution.
• Advise internal stakeholders on contract and delivery strategy during project development.
• Identify and communicate contract risk throughout project life cycle, procurement and post award; implement risk mitigation.
• Lead project-level escalation and dispute resolution process with stakeholders.
• Ensure the annual electric capital construction workplan delivered with cost control and contract compliance.
• Foster relationships with external contractors and internal teams (Construction, Project/Program Management, Procurement, Engineering, Safety).
• Ensure alignment of contracts with customer needs and regulatory/legal requirements.
• Leverage contracts to complete projects on time and within budget.
• Support New England Emergency Planning during weather events.
• Administer/manage systems and databases to support data creation and contract KPIs.

Skills

Contract management

Construction management

Project management

Pricing analysis

Dispute resolution

Negotiation

Estimating

Procore

Microsoft Office

Power BI

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Procore

Power BI

SharePoint

Excel

MS Teams

Job description

About Us

National Grid is hiring a Lead Construction Contract Manager for our New England Electric Contracts and Commercial department in Waltham, MA. This is a hybrid positio n with travel to New England sites required. Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

Job Purpose

The New England Electric Construction Contract Manager manages, supports and monitors lump sum bid, sole source and unit rate-based contracts and contractual relationships for outsourced complex and non-complex electric construction work for National Grid.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage EPC, lump sum bid, sole source and unit rate-based construction contracts across the NE Electric project portfolio including inspection, study, review, cost validation, investigation, assessment, change order reconciliation, negotiation and dispute resolution.
• Work within the internal stakeholders to advise on contract and delivery strategy during project development.
• Work with the project to identify and communicate contract risk during project development, procurement and throughout project life cycle post award. Identify and implement contract risk mitigation strategies.
• Take lead on initiatives within the Contracts and Commercial business unit.
• Lead the project level escalation and dispute resolution process to include research, compiling and communicating project documentation, working with internal stakeholders and stakeholder meetings.
• Ensure the annual electric capital construction workplan assigned to contracted resources is effectively delivered including cost control and technical contract compliance.
• Foster relationships with external contractors along with internal stakeholders including but not limited to Construction, Project/Program Management, Procurement, Engineering, Safety and Emergency Planning.
• Ensure alignment of construction contracts with customer needs and business, regulatory and legal requirements.
• Leverage contracts to support the completion of projects within scope, on time and within budget.
• Respond to and comply with audit and second line assurance requests.
• Identify contractual and cost risk through project development, RFP, award, execution and closeout for bid electric construction projects.
• Administer, manage systems and databases as it pertains to the role to support data creation and contract KPIs.
• Support the New England Emergency Planning during weather events

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in contract management, construction management, project management or engineering within the electric utility or other technical industry required.
• Post award construction contract management experience required.
• A bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• 3-5 years of quantitative and qualitative pricing analysis and validation in construction is preferred.
• 2-3 years of contract dispute resolution and/or contract negotiation.
• 2-3 years of estimating background is preferred.
• EPC experience is highly desirable.
• Advanced Procore experience is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office including Power BI, MS Teams, SharePoint, Power Point, Excel and Word required.
• Valid driver’s license with a safe driving history that meets National Grid’s Safe Driver policy required.

More Information

Salary

$142,000 - $166,000 a year

National Grid will not be providing visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future. You must have the ability to work without a need for current or future visa sponsorship.

National Grid utilizes an assessment that evaluates the job qualifications/characteristics using AI or statistically based scoring. For more information, please view NYC Local Law 144.

This position has a career path which provides for advancement opportunities within and across bands as you develop and evolve in the position; gaining experience, expertise and acquiring and applying technical skills. Candidates will be assessed and provided offers against the minimum qualifications of this role and their individual experience.

National Grid is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment regardless of protected class. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. National Grid maintains affirmative action programs for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.

Our employment practices are designed to ensure that all individuals are treated fair and with respect throughout the hiring process and during employment. National Grid complies with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and we encourage a culture of respect for all.