Contracts Manager
Bechtel Corporation · Calgary, AB
- On site
- Full-time
- CA$150,000 / year
- Calgary, AB
Job highlights
- Lead contract management for major projects.
- Develop subcontracting strategies and plans.
- Oversee contract compliance and risk mitigation.
- Manage claims and dispute resolution processes.
- Ensure timely contract closeout and turnover.
About the role
Contracts Manager
Bechtel Corporation is seeking an experienced Contracts Manager to lead a team in managing owner contracts and Bechtel subcontracts, while monitoring field operations and progress. This role is crucial for developing subcontracting strategies, operating procedures, staffing plans, and ensuring the contracts section of the Project Execution Plan is robust.
About Bechtel
Since 1898, Bechtel has been instrumental in completing over 25,000 projects in 160 countries, significantly contributing to global infrastructure development, job creation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. We are driven by our people and our commitment to delivering successful outcomes, aligning our capabilities with customer objectives to create lasting positive impacts across various markets including Infrastructure, Nuclear, Security & Environmental, Energy, and Mining & Metals.
Our Vision, Values, and Commitments are core to our operations, guiding how we work and what our customers can expect. Learn more about our impact and extraordinary teams in our Impact Report.
Job Summary
In this role, you will lead a team managing owner contracts and Bechtel subcontracts, while monitoring field operations and progress. You will develop the subcontracting strategy, operating procedures, staffing plan, and the contracts section of the Project Execution Plan. You will review and approve bid details, commitments, and negotiations. Your oversight will help ensure subcontract staffing and performance remain aligned with project needs and scope.
Major Responsibilities
- Contract governance & compliance leadership: Owns the contract administration framework (delegations of authority, approval gates, ethics/compliance, audit readiness) and ensures consistent application across sites, packages, and contractors and subcontractors. Manages project contracts personnel across all operations for a major project of exceptional scope.
- Participates with the project team in defining and developing the scope of contracts work, and in preparing and coordinating contracts plans, procedures, schedules, estimates, forecasts, and budgets. Drives the development of the project execution plan, Supply Chain Assignment Schedule, and division of responsibility to define project, field, and support office roles and responsibilities.
- Coordinates contracts plans with engineering and construction plans and operations to ensure these groups’ inputs enable contracts to perform timely and in accordance with project plans. Commercial interface with cost/schedule controls.
- Reviews commitment recommendations in accordance with contracts policies and procedures, makes recommendation to owner of those within delegated authority. Ensures proper support and backup for commitment recommendations which exceed delegate authority.
- Develops and implements a Subcontract Management Program for the project consistent with the Standard Work Process Procedures and the Subcontract/Contract Management Guidebook, monitoring compliance. Ensures staff performs work in accordance with project and company processes and procedures.
- Analyzes subcontract commercial terms and conditions to identify areas of risk (e.g., ambiguities, conflicts, or deviations from the scope of work) and implements mitigations. Properly and consistently administering the terms of the contracts.
- Commercial reporting & forecasting: Establishes cadence and standards for commercial status reporting (commitments vs. forecasts, change log health, claims exposure, earned/progress impacts, cash/holdbacks). Reviews with the project team the contractor progress reports, updated schedules, staffing curves, productivity reports, three-week look-ahead schedules, and quantities reports. Briefs project leadership/owner.
- Identifies issues and makes recommendations when contractor performance does not meet Bechtel’s and owners expectations and target. Monitors the project risk register. Makes recommendations to the Site Manager on risk mitigations, and closely monitors and supports remedial actions and recommends appropriate tradeoffs.
- Change management system ownership: Leads a disciplined end-to-end change process (early identification, notice compliance, pricing strategy, entitlement evaluation and positions, integrated change log with cost/schedule). Plans and conducts negotiations of contractor claims and schedule change requests within delegated authority.
- Claims avoidance & dispute resolution: Implements proactive dispute-avoidance (issue escalation pathways, executive alignment, contemporaneous records strategy) and manages formal disputes through resolution (including mediation/arbitration support if applicable). Controls contractor’s costs.
- Conducts operation of contract and project organizations to minimize commercial impacts to the contractor’s work and mitigate claims and changes to contractor’s work. Firmly and fairly evaluating entitlement, analyzing contractor’s proposals and response to changes and claims.
- Payment, closeout, and turnover management: Owns subcontract commercial closeout (punchlist/deficiency linkage, final acceptance, final account settlements, release management, warranty/defects terms, holdback release, records turnover).
- Consults and assists on contractor local/indigenous procurement & commitments execution. Consults and assists on third-party, land access, and interface agreements.
Education And Experience Requirements
Requires bachelor's or master's degree (or international equivalent) and 15+ years of relevant experience or 19+ years of relevant work experience.
Required Knowledge And Skills
- Extensive EPC Industry and Canadian Pipeline experience.
- Field Subcontracts Management experience.
- Camp based (rotation) position.
- Working understanding of partnering with Indigenous Nation businesses and Indigenous relations in British Columbia.
Total Rewards/Benefits
Bechtel offers robust benefits to ensure our people thrive, supporting career advancement, cultural enrichment, and work-life balance. Learn more at Bechtel Total Rewards.
Diverse Teams Build The Extraordinary
As a global company, Bechtel values diversity and inclusion, fostering an environment where every colleague feels they belong, is respected, and supported. Learn more about the people who power our legacy.
Bechtel is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Key skills/competency
- Contract Management
- Subcontract Management
- EPC Industry
- Canadian Pipeline
- Negotiation
- Risk Management
- Change Management
- Procurement
- Claims Management
- Project Execution
Skills & topics
- Contracts Manager
- Contract Management
- Subcontract Management
- EPC
- Canadian Pipeline
- Project Execution
- Negotiation
- Risk Management
- Change Management
- Procurement
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight extensive EPC industry and Canadian pipeline experience, along with field subcontracts management.
- Showcase relevant skills: Emphasize experience in contract governance, commercial reporting, change management, and dispute resolution.
- Address specific requirements: Clearly state your understanding of partnering with Indigenous Nation businesses and relations if applicable.
- Prepare for technical questions: Be ready to discuss your experience with contract administration, risk analysis, and negotiation strategies in a project environment.
- Highlight leadership experience: Demonstrate your ability to lead and manage project contracts personnel.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the primary focus for the Contracts Manager role at Bechtel Corporation in Calgary?
- The Contracts Manager role at Bechtel Corporation in Calgary focuses on leading a team to manage owner contracts and Bechtel subcontracts, ensuring compliance, developing strategies, and overseeing commercial aspects of major projects.
- What specific industry experience is required for the Contracts Manager position?
- The position requires extensive experience in the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) industry and specifically Canadian Pipeline projects, along with demonstrated Field Subcontracts Management experience.
- Does this Contracts Manager role involve international travel or specific work arrangements?
- The role is designated as Full-Time Office/Project in Calgary, Alberta, with relocation authorized for National/International single candidates. It is a camp-based position with rotation.
- What educational background is preferred for the Contracts Manager role?
- A bachelor's or master's degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant field is required, along with at least 15+ years of relevant experience, or 19+ years of relevant work experience.
- How does Bechtel Corporation support its employees in this Contracts Manager position?
- Bechtel Corporation offers robust benefits and rewards aimed at ensuring employees thrive, supporting career advancement, cultural enrichment, and work-life balance, as detailed in their 'Total Rewards' information.
- What does Bechtel Corporation look for in terms of Indigenous relations for this role?
- A working understanding of partnering with Indigenous Nation businesses and Indigenous relations in British Columbia is a required knowledge and skill for this Contracts Manager position.
- What are the key responsibilities related to change and dispute management for this role?
- The Contracts Manager will own the end-to-end change process, including negotiations for claims and schedule change requests, and will implement proactive dispute-avoidance strategies and manage formal disputes through resolution.
- How important is contract governance and compliance in this Contracts Manager role?
- Contract governance and compliance leadership are paramount. The role involves owning the contract administration framework and ensuring its consistent application across all project sites, packages, and contractors.