Senior Marine Contracts Manager

Darwin Recruitment; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 85,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking a Contract Manager in Houston to oversee the lifecycle of marine and commercial contracts across vessel operations, dredging, and offshore activities. You will draft, review, negotiate, and administer a range of customer, subcontractor and supplier agreements, ensuring risk is managed and terms reflect project scope.

The role requires 3+ years in contract management within marine or related industries, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to work with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in a related discipline.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience with marine/offshore contracts and commercial documentation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full lifecycle of marine and commercial contracts from scope to termination.
• Draft, review, red-line and negotiate customer and subcontractor agreements.
• Administer vessel charter agreements including time, voyage and bareboat charters.
• Coordinate with operations and risk teams to reflect vessel capabilities and project scope.
• Support changes, delays, claims and disputes; maintain contract records.

Skills

Contract management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Risk awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Law, Maritime Studies, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Contract Management

Job description

The Contract Manager will oversee the full lifecycle of commercial and marine contracts across vessel operations, marine construction, dredging, chartering, subcontracting and related offshore activities. The role will be responsible for drafting, reviewing, negotiating and administering a range of customer, subcontractor, supplier and vessel charter agreements, including manned and bareboat charters. Working closely with commercial, project, operations, finance, risk and vessel management teams, the Contract Manager will provide practical contractual guidance, identify and mitigate marine and commercial risks, support claims and change management, and ensure contractual obligations are effectively managed throughout the life of each project or agreement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the full lifecycle of marine and commercial contracts, from initial scope, pricing, programme and commercial review through negotiation, execution, administration, renewal, amendment and termination.
• Draft, review, red-line and negotiate customer contracts, marine construction agreements, dredging contracts, subcontracts, supplier agreements, master service agreements and other project-related commercial documentation.
• Prepare, review and administer vessel charter agreements, including time charters, voyage charters, bareboat charters and manned vessel arrangements, ensuring appropriate allocation of operational, commercial and legal risks.
• Work closely with marine operations, vessel management and project teams to ensure contractual terms accurately reflect vessel capabilities, mobilisation requirements, project scope, schedules, rates, performance obligations and operational constraints.
• Provide proactive contract management support throughout marine projects, including advising on variations, change orders, delays, extensions of time, additional work, claims and potential disputes.
• Review subcontractor and third-party agreements for marine services, including vessel suppliers, marine plant, equipment providers, offshore contractors, diving services, surveyors, port services and other specialist marine suppliers.
• Work with the Risk Management and insurance teams to ensure appropriate marine insurance, indemnities, liabilities, warranties and risk-allocation provisions are incorporated into customer, charter, supplier and subcontractor agreements.
• Analyse complex and non-standard maritime contract terms, charter-party provisions, project requirements, special conditions and contractual obligations to identify commercial, operational and compliance risks.
• Support the resolution of contractual disputes and claims arising from marine operations, including matters relating to vessel performance, delays, weather, mobilisation, demobilisation, off-hire, downtime, damage, third-party claims and changes in scope.
• Maintain comprehensive contract records, correspondence, notices, amendments and supporting documentation, ensuring contractual obligations, key dates, renewals, claims, variations and compliance requirements are accurately tracked and communicated.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Law, Maritime Studies, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Contract Management or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in contract management within the marine, maritime, dredging, offshore, marine construction or related industries.
• Strong practical understanding of marine contracting and vessel chartering, with experience of manned and/or bareboat charter arrangements highly desirable.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in commercial contract negotiation, contract administration or a related commercial role preferred.
• Experience working with marine construction, dredging, offshore, port, vessel operations or other project-based maritime contracts.
• Strong understanding of contractual risk allocation, indemnities, liabilities, insurance requirements, warranties, claims and change management within a marine environment.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to understand vessel operating costs, project economics, rates, margins and the financial implications of contractual decisions.
• Strong knowledge of maritime terminology and an understanding of the operational realities and commercial risks associated with vessel and marine project operations.
• Excellent negotiation, communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to work effectively with vessel operators, project managers, commercial teams, customers, owners, charterers, subcontractors and suppliers.
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced marine environment, manage multiple contracts and competing priorities, and provide practical, commercially focused advice while maintaining strong attention to contractual detail.