About the position
Start your career as a Contracts Manager at Vopak and contribute to social themes such as energy security and energy transition. We offer you a working environment that is safe and pleasant and where equality, diversity and satisfaction are of paramount importance. Ready to develop yourself and make a positive impact? Improve the world and start as a Contracts Manager at Vopak. The Projects Contracts Manager is responsible for ensuring that all contracting and procurement activities within Growth Projects align with the Vopak Project Management (VPM) methodology, corporate governance standards, and global best practices. This role provides strategic oversight of the entire project contracting and contracts process, ensuring transparency, compliance, and efficiency in Tender Board (TB) reviews, contract governance, and decision-making oversight. Additionally, the Contracts Manager plays a key role in assisting with contracting strategy development, overseeing the RFx process, and negotiating the various forms of engineering, procurement, and construction contracts that will be executed and owned by the Project Owner. However, day-to-day contract administration post-execution is the sole responsibility of the project team. The Contracts Manager will work closely with Project Managers, Procurement teams, Tender Boards, Legal, Finance, and Executive Leadership to ensure all contractual and procurement activities are well-documented, compliant, and strategically aligned with Vopak's investment and growth objectives.
Responsibilities
- Ensure that all Growth Projects contracting and procurement activities adhere to the VPM methodology, corporate governance frameworks, and global procurement standards.
- Assist in setting up contracting strategies that align with project objectives, risk profiles, and market conditions.
- Develop and implement contracting governance strategies, ensuring standardization and continuous improvement.
- Oversee TB reviews, ensuring that decisions align with project governance, investment thresholds, and compliance requirements.
- Establish and maintain the governance roadmap for project contracting and contract management across US & Canada.
- Collaborate with Legal, Finance, and Procurement teams to ensure contractual compliance, regulatory adherence, and risk mitigation.
- Ensure compliance with anti-bribery, data privacy, and ethical procurement regulations.
- Oversee contracting strategy reviews, ensuring alignment with Procurement and VPM policies.
- Develop and maintain contract templates, standard operating procedures, and best practices for contracting governance.
- Review and approve waivers, verifying alignment with Vopak policies and procedures before endorsement.
- Organize, facilitate, and document all Tender Board (TB) meetings for Growth Projects.
- Maintain minutes of meetings (MOM) and ensure proper documentation and follow-up on TB decisions.
- Implement tracking mechanisms for TB decisions, contract awards, and waiver justifications.
- Ensure RFx process aligns with best practices to prevent bid shopping & ensure transparency.
- Monitor compliance with TB endorsements, ensuring that project teams adhere to decisions made by the TB.
- Ensure proper record-keeping and auditing of all procurement and contracting approvals.
- Oversee RFx (RFI, RFQ, RFP) processes, ensuring adherence to procurement governance, bid fairness, and compliance.
- Negotiate various forms of engineering, procurement and construction contracts that will be executed and owned by the Project Owner.
- Ensure evaluation transparency in procurement and contractor selection, preventing bid shopping and unethical practices.
- Develop and implement strategic contracting frameworks, ensuring efficiency, risk mitigation, and cost optimization.
- Establish contract risk assessment protocols, ensuring robust contract variation tracking, cost controls, and governance enforcement.
- Provide guidance and mentorship to Growth Projects Procurement personnel to enhance contract governance competency.
- Develop and implement contractor performance tracking frameworks, ensuring predictable project execution and delivery.
- Participate in VPM Stage-Gate process reviews, ensuring that Growth Projects follow governance checkpoints at Identification, Selection, Definition, Execution, and Commissioning stages.
- Ensure that contracting and procurement governance aligns with project investment thresholds, Tender Board structures, and Executive approvals.
- Act as a key liaison for project governance reviews, including peer reviews, readiness reviews, execution reviews, and post-implementation reviews (PIRs).
- Collaborate with Project Owners, Procurement, Finance, and Legal teams to ensure all contract governance decisions align with strategic business objectives.
- Maintain real-time tracking and reporting of TB decisions, contract awards, and procurement compliance.
- Develop and present governance status reports to Project Directors, Executive Leadership, and Global Procurement teams.
- Lead engagement with key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and regulatory compliance.
- Develop and implement contracting and procurement training programs to enhance governance capabilities across business units.
- Organize workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, and training to standardize contract governance best practices.
- Ensure succession planning and skills development within the Procurement teams.
Requirements
- Must possess or be able to obtain a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) as required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act.
- 15+ years of experience in contract governance, procurement oversight, or project contracting in large-scale infrastructure, energy, or industrial projects.
- Strong understanding of VPM methodology, investment decision-making, and project governance frameworks.
- Proven experience managing tender boards, contract compliance, and procurement risk assessments.
- Familiarity with RFx processes (RFI, RFQ, RFP), contract negotiations, and supplier management.
- Knowledge of legal, financial, and compliance aspects of procurement and contract governance.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership skills with experience working with senior executives.
- Excellent documentation, reporting, and auditing skills for contract governance tracking.
- Proficiency in project governance tools (OSC, MyDocs, or equivalent procurement/governance platforms).
- Strong communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience in oil & gas, energy, terminal operations, or industrial construction.
- Background in contract law, supply chain management, or finance.
- Experience working in a multinational organization with a structured governance model.
Benefits
- Various flexible and hybrid work schedules.
- Competitive, market-based compensation package depending on your experience and knowledge.
- Career development and growth opportunities.
- Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance.
- Flexible Spending Account Options.
- Short Term/Long Term Disability Insurance.
- Basic and Supplemental Life/AD&D Insurance.
- 401(k) Incentive Savings Plan.
- Paid Holidays (Fixed and floating).
- Paid Time Off and Sick Days.
- Tuition Reimbursement.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Accident Insurance.
- Legal Plan.
- Critical Illness Insurance.
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance.
- ID Theft Insurance.
- Universal Life.
