Contract Manager

Zachry Group•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

The Contract Manager works within the Project Controls Function through the Project Management Team (PMT), taking a lead role in managing and influencing commercial, contractual, and risk matters on challenging engineering, procurement, construction, construction management, or EPC projects. The role focuses on managing commercial risk, protecting and optimizing project profitability, and advising the PMT on contractual, commercial, and risk issues. As a key member of the Project Leadership Team, the Contract Manager is the primary interface with the Owner for contract and commercial matters and serves as the contract advisor and custodian for assigned projects. The position requires limited but active supervision. The Contract Manager leads commercial execution planning, change management, contract administration, claims and dispute resolution, and risk mitigation. The role coordinates with project leadership, clients, joint venture partners, legal, procurement, subcontract, and other support functions; provides contractual interpretation and commercial analysis; and communicates project performance, risks, and margin opportunities to management. International and domestic travel and extended assignment to a project site may be required. The employee may work in an office, trailer, or building on or off site. Work sites may have moderate to high noise levels and include equipment, vehicles, materials, communication equipment, tools, and people working and moving around the site.

Requirements

At least 4 years of relevant commercial, contract, or project management experience is preferred.
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline is required; fields listed include finance, accounting, business, economics, public policy, environmental studies, engineering, and construction management.
Effective written and verbal communication skills in an international, multicultural team environment.
Knowledge of document management, scheduling, and cost management techniques for major projects.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, SharePoint, Teams, Power BI, Riskonnect, and other commercial management, collaboration, and reporting platforms.
Experience in contract management, change management, and administration.
Proven negotiation skills.
Experience with impact identification and calculation techniques for major EPC projects.
Forward-looking, proactive, and self-motivated approach to work.
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
Willingness to accept an extended assignment to a project site as part of the PMT.
Citizenship permitting unencumbered entry into and exit from countries where partners, suppliers, or customers may be domiciled.

Nice To Haves

Advanced business, management, or law degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Understand the project scope, agreed terms, contractual deliverables, commercial model, as-sold margin basis, bid strategy, and risks accepted during bidding.
Participate in developing commercial execution plans and advocate for compliance, including appropriate approvals for deviations.
Collaborate with support functions to ensure conformance with Zachry’s Deal Architecture.
Understand contract mechanisms such as key performance incentives, limitations of liability, liquidated damages, bonus opportunities, and rate escalations, and develop strategies to mitigate risks or capture opportunities.
Develop and implement commercial execution processes for escalated changes, third-party flow-downs, risk mitigation, and dispute management.
Prepare and follow up on formal contractual notices.
Manage claims and disputes involving Zachry, Owners, and sub-tier contractors, and negotiate solutions that protect Zachry’s interests.
Support and negotiate settlement agreements, document proceedings, and implement outcomes.
Coordinate escalated client change-order activities, including correspondence, identification, and narratives, in collaboration with the Change Management team.
Interface with joint venture partners and client counterparts on administration of JV agreements and EPC contracts.
Coordinate client and JV communications on commercial matters with project management.
Participate in Owner and PMT progress meetings.
Collaborate with Zachry managers and support functions, including Legal/Risk, Accounting, JV Administration, Estimating, and Change Management.
Support procurement and subcontract managers with vendor back-charge recovery, commercial management and changes for major vendors and subcontractors, claims and risk mitigation, and contractual flow-downs and approvals.
Work with the home office on commercial requirements related to insurance programs, bank guarantees, and other project matters.
Provide regular updates to the Project Manager, Steering and Sponsor Committees, and Home Office Executive Management.
Lead dispute activities with the Legal Team, Project Manager, and Executive Leadership.
Serve as Contract Executive and first escalation point for significant changes, claims, litigation, and disputes.
Serve as the primary liaison between the project and Zachry Legal on contractual and dispute matters.
Use contract provisions and business circumstances to improve execution, support margin enhancement, and streamline contract administration.
Serve as the contract and commercial subject matter expert for assigned projects, including contract terms, conditions, intent, and associated risks.
Support project risk management through contractual analysis and commercial governance.
Provide contract awareness and training to project personnel on agreed terms, initial risks, scope obligations, and commercial processes.
Provide written commercial insights on project performance, margin opportunities, contractual risks, and recommended corrective actions.
Provide contractual interpretation and commercial analysis concerning project performance, compliance, opportunities, and margin impacts.
Capture and communicate lessons learned from project commercial and contractual experiences.