Lead, Contracts - Downstream

Caturus Management Services•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Downstream Contracts Lead supports business objectives by independently managing LNG contracts throughout their full lifecycle, including strategy development, sourcing, commercial design, execution, supplier management, tactical procurement, payables, and closeout. The role requires strong commercial judgment, proactive risk identification and mitigation, and the ability to communicate contractual positions, risks, and recommendations to internal stakeholders and external contractors. The successful candidate works closely with Project, Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, and HSE teams to align commercial activity with business objectives while maintaining compliance with company policies and industry best practices. This position serves as the primary SCM/Procurement contact and trusted business partner to the LNG organization, and leads development and maintenance of the annual LNG contracting plan. Domestic travel to field offices, operational sites, vendor facilities, and contractor meetings may be required. A high regard for personal safety and the safety of company assets, employees, and the public is expected.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field.
10+ years of contract management, commercial, supply chain, or procurement experience within the oil and gas industry.
Extensive experience developing category strategies, conducting sourcing, and developing commercial models.
Experience negotiating, drafting, and administering complex commercial agreements in the oil and gas sector.
Strong understanding of industry-standard contracting structures, including MSAs, service orders, purchase orders, rate schedules, equipment rentals, turnaround and maintenance agreements, and project-based contracts.
Knowledge of commercial risk allocation, indemnity provisions, insurance requirements, limitation of liability clauses, and regulatory considerations common to LNG operations.
Ability to analyze contractual, commercial, and operational issues and develop practical, business-focused solutions.
Commercial judgment and problem-solving capability in high-value, time-sensitive, and operationally critical situations.
Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to work across multidisciplinary teams and engage confidently with contractors, suppliers, and service providers.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to articulate contractual positions, risks, and recommendations to field personnel and executive leadership.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
Strategic and analytical mindset focused on continuous improvement, operational support, and proactive risk management.
Ability to adapt quickly to changing operational priorities while maintaining accountability for results.
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint for commercial analysis, documentation, and reporting.
Maintain a high regard for personal safety and the safety of company assets, employees, and the public.

Nice To Haves

LNG experience is strongly preferred.
EPC experience is strongly preferred.
Experience supporting EPC, maintenance, facilities, logistics, and related LNG operational activities.

Responsibilities

Develop category strategies, requests for proposal, bid packages, commercial evaluations, and contract documentation for assigned scopes of work.
Lead or facilitate strategic sourcing, commercial model development, and negotiations for operations, maintenance, turnaround, inspection, logistics, utilities, environmental, facilities, and other LNG service agreements.
Prepare and review redlines, issue logs, commercial analyses, and risk assessments; negotiate commercial terms within delegated authority and escalate key issues as required.
Manage assigned contracts and supply chain from award through execution, ensuring compliance with contractual, commercial, operational, and pricing obligations.
Review, negotiate, and administer Master Service Agreements in collaboration with Legal.
Manage work orders, purchase orders, purchase agreements, equipment rentals, service contracts, and amendments.
Facilitate and support vendor performance discussions.
Identify cost-saving opportunities, commercial efficiencies, and contract risks, and recommend practical solutions that support operational objectives.
Partner with operations and field teams to resolve commercial and contractual issues during execution.
Identify issues, unclear direction, and information gaps proactively, and determine next steps independently.
Adapt to changing priorities, operational requirements, and business needs in a fast-paced environment.
Translate strategic business objectives into executable contracting and commercial actions without step-by-step direction.
Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, Engineering, and HSE teams to support effective and timely contract execution.
Serve as the primary SCM/Procurement contact and trusted business partner to the LNG organization for contracting, procurement, and supply chain matters.
Lead development, alignment, and maintenance of the annual LNG contracting plan, consolidating business demand, planned sourcing events, contract renewals, turnaround and maintenance requirements, priorities, schedules, and resource needs.
Engage regularly with LNG stakeholders to capture emerging needs, communicate SCM/Procurement strategies and requirements, resolve service issues, and report progress, risks, decisions, and value delivery against the annual contracting plan.
Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable contract and supply chain records and documentation.
Support contract-related reporting and provide timely status updates to management.
Demonstrate a hands-on, ownership-driven mindset and accountability for assigned work.
Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.
Travel domestically to field offices, operational sites, vendor facilities, and contractor meetings as required.
Maintain a high regard for personal safety and the safety of company assets, employees, and the public.