Manager Contract Management

McDermott•Port Arthur, TX

About The Position

Reporting to the Project Director, the Contracts Manager is the focal point for contractual and commercial issues arising during execution of large-scale, complex engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) projects. The role supports protection of contractual entitlement and profitable project execution, acts as deputy to the Project Contracts Manager, and provides authoritative advice on contract interpretation, risk allocation, entitlement, negotiation strategy, claims, defenses, and commercial resolution options. The role leads major or high-risk commercial workstreams, advises senior project leadership, and exercises independent judgment on complex or material issues. It interfaces with the Client, project leadership, Legal, Finance, Supply Chain, partners, and executive governance to manage contract correspondence, changes, claims, negotiations, risk, reporting, and commercial closeout. The position also leads and coaches contract-management personnel. Mobilization to the job site may be required.

Requirements

At least 10 years of project execution experience in the energy and/or construction industries, including at least 5 years in a contracts or commercial management role.
University degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a similar field.
Leadership experience on complex contract-management, claims, or commercial workstreams on major EPC/EPCI projects.
Proven experience advising senior project leadership, leading material negotiations, and integrating cross-functional entitlement and risk positions.
Strong drafting, negotiation, analytical, and record-management skills.
Commercial awareness, sound judgment, and disciplined protection of contractual rights.
Working knowledge of contract-management systems, document-control platforms, and Microsoft 365 tools.
High standards of ethics, confidentiality, compliance, inclusion, safety leadership, and professional conduct.

Nice To Haves

Experience on major EPC projects is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Support the Project Contracts Manager in establishing or refining project contractual and commercial strategy and ensure its implementation throughout execution; act as deputy to the Project Contracts Manager.
Lead major or high-risk workstreams, integrate the overall commercial position, and advise senior project leadership.
Exercise independent judgment on complex, ambiguous, technically or commercially complex, or material issues; establish strategy and recommend courses of action, alternatives, consequences, and approval requirements.
Draft baseline contract requirements after project award and distribute them to the project team.
Provide authoritative advice on contract interpretation, risk allocation, entitlement, negotiation strategy, claims, defenses, and commercial resolution options.
Lead significant Client correspondence, negotiations, change proposals, claims, and settlement workstreams within delegated authority.
Conduct periodic contractual-awareness sessions for project team members.
Identify critical or sensitive contractual issues and act as a conduit for Legal support when required.
Conduct readiness reviews with Field Engineers before marine and hook-up operations, emphasizing contractual awareness concerning waiting-on-weather criteria and Client instructions.
Serve as the initial Client contact for contractual issues during project execution and establish an effective working relationship with the Client counterpart.
Support establishment of the project change-management process and a culture of change identification.
Lead or participate in change-management meetings to identify changes that may create entitlement to compensation or schedule relief.
Evaluate the cost and schedule impact of identified changes, individually and cumulatively, with the Project Contracts Manager.
Challenge the project team on scope growth, delay, owner-caused impacts, records, mitigation, and recovery opportunities, and ensure appropriate executive visibility.
Serve as a senior interface with the Project Director, Contracts Director, Legal, Finance, Client leadership, partners, and executive governance.
Engage continually with the Client on contractual issues, including outstanding and pending change orders; lead negotiations toward timely resolution of change orders and contract amendments.
Shape negotiation and claims strategy, lead matters within delegated authority, and escalate reserved decisions.
Coordinate resolution of contractual issues within the project where possible; brief the Project Director and McDermott management on sensitive issues and support dispute escalation when required.
Coordinate administration of contractual correspondence with the Client, including timely release of notices needed to preserve McDermott’s contractual rights.
Monitor key dates in the main contract and subcontracts and advise the Project Contracts Manager, Project Manager, and Project Director of the implications of delays.
Assist with weekly and monthly project progress reports for internal and external distribution; assure the quality of monthly commercial reporting, exposure analysis, opportunity forecasting, decision papers, and governance submissions.
Contribute to project risk and opportunity management; interface with Corporate Finance to ensure contractual requirements are understood and required insurance and guarantees are provided.
Submit and follow up on applications for Completion Certificates; coordinate main-contract commercial closeout, including bank-guarantee step-down and release of retentions.
Prepare a flow-down clause plan identifying obligations and liabilities to be passed to subcontractors and vendors; ensure back-to-back guarantees, warranties, and insurance are obtained.
Assist Supply Chain Management with administration of contractual correspondence with vendors and subcontractors.
Ensure external changes (backcharges) are pursued with vendors and subcontractors in a timely manner.
Lead contractual readiness for completion, acceptance, final account, security release, and warranty handover.
Lead and assure the work of contract-management personnel, coach the team, and allocate priorities.
Escalate matters outside delegated authority, precedent-setting positions, material departures from approved risk appetite, probable disputes, significant cash exposure, and issues requiring executive or legal-privilege oversight.
Ensure negotiation positions and concessions are documented and approved before commitment.