Senior Manager Strategic Contracting

IREN•Fort Worth, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

IREN is a vertically integrated AI Cloud provider, delivering large-scale data centers and GPU clusters for AI training and inference. IREN’s platform is underpinned by its expansive portfolio of grid-connected land and power in renewable-rich regions across North America, Europe and APAC. The Senior Manager, Strategic Contracting is responsible for leading the development and execution of contractor engagement and contracting strategies that enable IREN to scale construction delivery across a growing portfolio of projects and markets. The role owns three levers central to that scale: deepening existing contractor relationships to lock in capacity and performance, exploring and qualifying new contractors in target and emerging markets, and shaping the contracting models and frameworks under which work is awarded. This role is critical to mitigating construction risks, enabling the construction team to deliver to budget and schedule, and securing access to skilled labor through strategic contracting and partnerships. Operating in a fast-paced and evolving environment, the Senior Manager will establish contracting and partnership frameworks, build market intelligence on contractor capacity, and drive early engagement to support long-term growth. With 100% renewable energy, we build, own and operate our data centers and take pride in being at the forefront of sustainable solutions for the ever-evolving applications of high-performance compute. We believe that human progress is invaluable, but it should be done in the right way – responsibly, sustainably and having a positive impact on the communities we operate in.

Requirements

10–15+ years in strategic sourcing, contracting or commercial roles within the construction industry.
Proven experience sourcing contractors and/or project-based services in complex environments.
Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated success leading negotiations and contract development.
Experience operating in fast-paced, high-growth, or low-structure environments.
Track record of building contractor networks and contracting strategies in new or underserved markets.

Nice To Haves

Experience in construction, infrastructure, energy, or mission-critical/data center environments.
Experience supporting capital projects or multi-site expansions.
Familiarity with ERP/procurement systems and building processes from the ground up.

Responsibilities

Develop and own the construction contracting strategy for the project portfolio, aligned to organizational objectives and risk appetite.
Evaluate and recommend appropriate contracting models (e.g. lump sum, GMP, cost-plus, alliance, EPC/D&C) based on project scope, contractor capabilities, risk profile and market conditions.
Establish contracting frameworks, standard terms and conditions, and procurement pathways in collaboration with legal, project managers and procurement teams.
Lead market assessments to understand contractor capacity, capability and competitive landscape.
Maintain and continuously improve contracting policies, templates and governance standards across the PMO.
Develop long-term contractor partnerships to ensure continuity and scalability.
Lead market assessments to understand contractor capacity, capability, pricing benchmarks, and competitive dynamics across target and emerging geographies.
Build and expand IREN’s contractor network in new and capacity-constrained markets, including identification, prequalification, and early engagement of tier-1 and specialty trade contractors.
Proactively engage contractors ahead of project demand to secure capacity, validate appetite, and inform pipeline planning.
Maintain market intelligence on contractor consolidation, labor availability, and cost trends to support build/buy and self-perform decisions.
Act as the primary commercial interface with internal stakeholders including project directors, finance, legal, and executive leadership.
Lead all commercial negotiations with construction contractors, including head contract terms, pricing structures, scope of works, and performance regimes.
Drive value outcomes through competitive procurement processes, direct negotiations and relationship-based contracting where appropriate.
Assist in the negotiation of variations, claims and dispute resolution outcomes, balancing commercial rigor with relationship management.
Develop negotiation strategies and commercial modelling to support decision-making.
Build and maintain productive relationships with contractor leadership teams to support collaborative and outcomes-focused delivery.
Provide expert commercial advice and guidance to project teams across the portfolio.
Own end-to-end contractor identification, prequalification, and onboarding workflows (due diligence, safety/insurance, compliance, master data, and onboarding documentation) in partnership with Legal, HSE, Finance, and Operations.
Develop and maintain a preferred contractor program, including prequalification criteria, tiering, and refresh cadences across trades and geographies.
Establish contractor relationship management routines for strategic partners — scorecards, QBRs, performance reviews, and corrective action plans — to drive delivery, quality, safety, and cost outcomes.
Provide commercial oversight of contractor performance, including KPI monitoring, payment certification and incentive/abatement regimes.
Define operational governance with contractors, including KPIs/SLAs, escalation paths, change-order controls, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
Ensure contracts are operationalized through clear scopes of work, rate structures, and performance expectations that enable predictable execution for project teams.
Identify and mitigate risks related to contractor and labor availability and costs.
Provide forward-looking insights on market conditions, capacity constraints, and contracting risks.
Partner with project and operations teams to anticipate and address contracting challenges early.
Identify, assess and manage commercial risks and opportunities across the contract portfolio.
Ensure timely and accurate reporting of commercial positions, commitments, and exposure to project leadership and stakeholders.
Collaborate with Procurement, Construction, Operations, and Technical teams to align contracting strategies with demand forecasts.
Act as a key interface between construction and project delivery teams to ensure contracting supports execution timelines.
Establish and standardize contracting processes, tools, and contractor frameworks.
Contribute to building a scalable construction contracting capability as the business grows.
Drive continuous improvement across contracting practices and contractor management.

Benefits

Base salary
Annual performance incentives
Equity programs
100% company paid health insurance premiums (medical, dental, and vision) for employees
75% company paid coverage for dependents
Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
Voluntary life, critical illness, and accident coverage available
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) – when combined with the High Deductible Health Plan
Employee Assistance Program and wellness resources
401(k) retirement plan with company match
Access to financial planning and legal services
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Paid holidays
Internal skills training and advancement pathways
Professional development to support certifications, continuing education, or role related training
Company events and team-building activities