Senior Construction Contracts Specialist

Position:

Senior Construction Contracts Specialist

Summary of Primary Functions

As a Senior Construction Contracts Specialist, you will be responsible for driving the end-to-end RFP process and leading contract formation activities—from sourcing strategy through proposal, commercial evaluation, negotiation, and award. You will provide comprehensive expertise in contract management throughout the project lifecycle. This includes tasks such as contract formation, negotiation, administration, performance monitoring, and close-out, all aimed at ensuring contractual compliance and effective risk management.

Role Purpose

Reporting into the Procurement Manager, the role is responsible for driving the consistent application of contracting standards and commercial controls across engineering, procurement, construction, and operations. This alignment is crucial for safeguarding project interests while optimizing value, and it must adhere to the project's schedule, scope, cost, quality, risk, and compliance requirements.

The Senior Construction Contracts Specialist works closely with our construction teams across engineering, procurement, construction, finance, and legal, as well as external contractors and suppliers. The objective is to ensure that all contracts are well-structured, properly administered, and enforced throughout the project's duration, ultimately supporting successful commercial outcomes for the project.

Specific Responsibilities/Essential Functions

Health & Safety

·      Embody and promote the ‘Zero Harm’ values of the company.

·      Be a role model that promotes the company's business culture that contributes positively to the program goals by implementation of the right balance for our teams, stakeholders, and community.

·      Provides planning & scheduling leadership to 2 project planners, responsible for their respective projects.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Development & Negotiation

·      Support the development of contracting strategies and processes, to improve process flow and visibility.

·      Work with the Leadership team to define and implement contracting and procurement strategies aligned with project goals (cost, schedule, risk allocation)

·      Package RFP, including contribution to the Scope of Work, commercial terms, evaluation criteria, and bidder instructions.

·      With your knowledge of the market, identify and prequalify contractors to ensure a competitive and capable bidder pool

·      Manage the full bidding cycle, including bidder communications, clarifications, and addenda

·      Drive Bid Evaluation & Contractor Selection

·      Coordinate technical and lead commercial bid evaluations in collaboration with engineering, construction, and project controls teams

·      Establish and manage evaluation frameworks to ensure transparency, consistency, and defensibility

·      Facilitate alignment among stakeholders on contractor selection and commercial recommendations

·      Support project leadership in award decisions and approvals

·      With the support of the procurement and legal teams, lead the drafting, structuring, and negotiation of construction contracts (lump sum, unit rate, reimbursable, interfaces, etc.)

·      Ensure appropriate risk allocation, pricing structures, and performance mechanisms are incorporated into agreements

·      Negotiate key commercial terms including scope, schedule, payment terms, securities, and liabilities

·      Collaborate with legal and project stakeholders to finalize robust, enforceable agreements

·      Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, amendments, and change orders for construction, services, and supply agreements.

·      Coordinate with legal counsel to ensure contracts are compliant and enforceable.

·      Works closely with Procurement and Project Control to ensure deliverables and milestones are captured on Purchase Orders and Project Controls, for performance management and cost controls, on commercial package agreements. 

Contract Administration

·      Support the project managers to administer contracts from award through close-out in accordance with project procedures.

·      Maintain contract records, correspondence, and change registers.

·      Ensure compliance with contract terms, including scope, schedule, and commercial provisions.

·      Support contractor kick-off meetings and ongoing performance reviews.

·      Review and validate contractor invoices and progress claims for contractual entitlement.

Commercial Risk & Claims Management

·      Identify and assess contractual and commercial risks.

·      Support evaluation and response to contractor claims and variations.

·      Prepare commercial analyses and negotiation strategies for management review.

·      Assist with dispute resolution in coordination with legal and project controls teams.

·      Ensure contractual notices and entitlements are managed in accordance with contract requirements.

Reporting & Controls

·      Prepare regular contract status and risk reports for project leadership.

·      Provide commercial input into forecasting, change management, and risk management processes.

·      Track contract commitments and variations to support cost control and reporting.

·      Filing of contracts and agreements, with supporting documents, into Document Management System, for visibility, reference, and controlled management of critical exchanges and decisions into the contract folders

Governance & Continuous Improvement

·      Ensure contracting activities comply with company policies, project governance, and regulatory requirements.

·      Contribute to the improvement of contract templates, procedures, and commercial controls.

·      Provide guidance to co-workers as required.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

·      Bachelor degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related discipline such as Legal training considered an asset.

·      Minimum 10 years of experience in contracts, commercial, or procurement roles within mining, underground construction, or heavy industrial projects.

·      Experience with complex construction and services contracts.

·      Knowledge of contract law fundamentals and commercial risk management.

·      Experience in managing contractor claims and understanding of construction risks.

·      Experience with contract management systems and MS Office applications.

·      Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.

·      Ability to work effectively in a project-based and site-oriented environment.

·      Detail oriented, with solid task and time management efficiency, for process and document controls.

·      Organized ability to prioritize with task and time management.