Project Contracts Manager

Join SLB New Energy & Industrial

Come join us at SLB New Energy & Industrial and be part of a global company driving energy innovation for a balanced planet.

SLB New Energy & Industrial (NEI) is a division of SLB; our portfolio includes ventures in carbon capture and sequestration, geothermal power, energy storage, sustainable battery-grade lithium, hydrogen and data center infrastructure solutions.

Our Data Center infrastructure solutions business provides innovative and cost-effective solutions that enable building faster, smarter and more resilient data centers. Our modular infrastructure solutions scale AI and cloud computing capacity while minimizing capital risk and deployment delays. From design and supply chain to commissioning and operations, by standardizing components and relocating labor to controlled offsite environments, we help reduce costs, improve lead times, and lower construction risk while ensuring quality and global repeatability.

Project Contracts Manager

SLB is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Project Contracts Manager to manage all contractual and commercial activities across Data Center projects, serving as the primary contractual liaison between the project team, client and all subcontractors. The Project Contract Manager maintains full visibility of project execution, continuously referring to actual events and decisions against contractual obligations and rights. Acting as the project's commercial and contractual advisor, this role supports the effective administration of prime contracts and subcontracts, ensures that both client and subcontractor relationships are managed in strict alignment with contractual terms, proactively protecting the company's position while enabling smooth project delivery. The role takes ownership of contract compliance, change management, and commercial risk mitigation throughout the full project lifecycle, including early works, contract formation, phased construction, commissioning, and contract close-out, and has proven experience operating under Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) and progressive GMP delivery models with open-book cost management.

This is a site-based position with daily coordination across project management, construction, and supply chain teams. Requires regular interaction with subcontractors and client representatives to review changes, manage communications, and ensure full compliance with contractual requirements. Some travel may be required between project locations or to the Houston office for reporting and coordination.

This position requires presence in the construction sites; candidates are to be open to domestic relocation based on project schedules & locations. Qualified candidates anywhere in the US will be considered. Relocation assistance is available.

Objectives:

• Maintain complete understanding of both prime contracts and the applicable subcontracts, identifying and managing gaps, inconsistencies, and flow-down requirements.
• Advise the Project Manager and team daily on contractual rights, obligations, and risks arising from project activities
• Proactively manage correspondence, notices, and contractual communications both upstream (client) and downstream (subcontractors)
• Ensure consistent and timely handling of contracts variations, claims, back charges and changes in accordance with contract terms and conditions
• Promote and lead consistent contract administration practices across assigned Data Center projects in accordance with Company procedures and direction from the Contracts Manager to maintain accuracy, and traceability across all contractual records.
• Proactively identify, assess, and manage contractual risks and opportunities, developing and executing mitigation or value-protection strategies in coordination with the Project Manager
• Ensure strong commercial governance under GMP, progressive GMP, and cost-reimbursable arrangements, including management of contingencies, allowances, shared savings mechanisms, and client audit rights

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Administer the prime contract in accordance with contractual notice, certification, and response timeframes, including tracking, assessing, and managing all changes through a disciplined change order process.
• Maintain awareness of daily project activities, linking site events and decisions to contractual requirements and obligations, ensuring proper and timely scalation when required.
• Provide timely advice to the Project Manager and functional leads regarding entitlement, risk exposure, and compliance with notice requirements.
• Lead contractual assessment of changes, variations, and potential claims, including entitlement evaluation, valuation of work performed, and tracking through resolution
• Prepare and issue formal correspondence, notifications, and claims to clients and subcontractors in line with contractual procedures
• Lead review and negotiation of subcontract terms and variations, ensuring consistency with prime contract requirements
• Coordinate with project controls to align change management, cost, and schedule impacts with contractual submissions
• Supervise and mentor Contract Administrators managing day-to-day administration of client and subcontract agreements.
• Administer contracts executed under GMP, progressive GMP, or cost-plus fee structures, including validation of allowable costs, fee application, contingency drawdown, and reconciliation processes.
• Coordinate closely with Project Controls and Cost Management teams to ensure alignment between GMP development, forecast-to-complete, and contractual entitlements
• Ensure all required contract securities, warranties, insurances, and commercial undertakings are in place and compliant with contractual requirements.
• Support establishment and operation of open-book commercial processes, including cost transparency, backup validation, and management of client audit interactions
• Assist the commercial close-out activities, including final account negotiations, contingency reconciliation, shared savings calculations, and settlement of outstanding claims or variations

Qualifications And Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Construction Management, Law, or Business Administration.
• 8 to 10 years of demonstrable experience managing large-scale construction or industrial projects including commercial risk management under compressed schedules and evolving scope.
• Strong experience managing both client and subcontractor contracts simultaneously within active project environments.
• Proven capability in understanding contract law, interpreting contract terms and translating them into actionable project guidance.
• Demonstrated success tracking, drafting and managing claims, variations, and correspondence under tight timeframes. Hands on in managing commercial exposure associated with delays, variations, and interface risks, acting as a senior escalation point for contractual conflict resolution.
• Familiarity with project controls systems and cost management principles.
• Proven experience delivering projects under GMP, progressive GMP, or cost-reimbursable/open-book models, including client audit support and contingency governance.
• Prior experience delivering large-scale data center or mission-critical facility projects is highly preferred.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Professional certification in Contract or Commercial Management (e.g., MRICS, CICES, or IACCM) is preferred.
• Experience with industry-standard contract templates used in North American data center projects, including AIA, ConsensusDocs, and bespoke owner (hyperscaler) forms, in addition to FIDIC or NEC where applicable is preferred.
• Candidates must be able to legally work and reside in the US, without sponsorship.