Director, Construction Contracts & Controls

Director – Contracts & Controls, USVI

The Director – Contracts & Controls, USVI is responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving contract administration, commercial controls, risk management, and governance functions across a multi-billion-dollar USVI portfolio. This portfolio includes FEMA-funded education, healthcare, and commercial projects delivered under design-build and CMAR contract structures. The role provides enterprise-level oversight to ensure contractual, financial, operational, quality, and safety outcomes align with company standards, client expectations, and strategic objectives. The Director, Contracts & Controls partners closely with executive leadership, operations, finance, legal, and clients to drive disciplined execution, predictable outcomes, and long-term value creation. This role reports to the EVP of Project Controls.

Responsibilities

Contracts, Claims Administration, & Risk Management

• Lead contract administration, compliance, and commercial oversight across projects.
• Support contract negotiation strategy and ensure contractual obligations are clearly understood and managed.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual, financial, and operational risks.
• Assist in managing claims and dispute resolution while protecting company interests and maintaining positive client relationships.
• Set up standardized processes for change order management, entitlement development, and claims documentation.
• Support preparation and negotiation of Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REA) and other contractual claims when necessary.
• Lead development and maintenance of portfolio-level risk registers covering contractual, financial, and schedule exposure.
• Provide structured risk analysis and mitigation recommendations to regional leadership.

Planning, Controls, & Execution Oversight

• Oversee planning and project controls frameworks that support schedule management, cost control, and transparency.
• Ensure systems, processes, and reporting support project teams in achieving schedule, budget, and profitability targets.
• Partner with operations leaders to support transitions from preconstruction through project execution and closeout.
• Align contract administration practices with cost control, scheduling, and forecasting frameworks.
• Support development of program-level reporting dashboards for leadership visibility.

Financial Stewardship & Business Acumen

• Support commercial decision-making through sound financial and business judgment.
• Monitor forecasting, cost controls, and project financial performance.
• Collaborate with finance and operations teams to improve visibility into project performance and risk.
• Ensure compliance with 2 CFR 200, FEMA Public Assistance requirements, and other federal grant funding regulations across all projects.
• Oversee documentation practices supporting allowable costs, procurement standards, and audit readiness.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure contract administration and project controls processes support quality standards and policy compliance.
• Monitor compliance performance and support corrective actions when needed.

Design-Build Commercial Oversight

• Provide commercial oversight of design-build delivery, ensuring alignment between design progression, contract milestones, and payment structures.
• Monitor commercial risks associated with evolving scope, and early construction activities.

Program-Level Risk Management

• Lead development and maintenance of portfolio-level risk registers covering contractual, financial, and schedule exposure.
• Provide structured risk analysis and mitigation recommendations to regional leadership.

Procurement and Subcontract Commercial Governance

• Provide commercial oversight of subcontract procurement, bid leveling, and contract formation.
• Ensure subcontract agreements properly reflect prime contract obligations and federal compliance requirements.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong working relationships with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Communicate contractual risks, opportunities, and project performance clearly and professionally.
• Support business development efforts including pursuits, RFP responses, and contract negotiations.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and mentor contracts and controls professionals within the region.
• Promote collaboration between project teams, operations, and support functions.
• Support development of team members through coaching, training, and professional growth opportunities.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to strengthen contract administration and project controls practices.
• Promote adoption of tools, systems, and best practices that improve project transparency and performance.
• Share lessons learned and improvements across project teams.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required, CPA or advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in construction finance, accounting, or project controls.
• Proven leadership of financial operations for complex construction portfolios.
• Experience with public or federally funded programs is strongly preferred.
• Experience in island or remote construction environments (e.g., USVI/Caribbean) preferred.

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of construction accounting, project-based financial reporting, and revenue recognition.
• Strong proficiency in ERP systems and advanced Excel-based financial modeling.
• Working knowledge of federal funding compliance (e.g., Davis-Bacon, FEMA, HUD programs).
• Familiarity with USVI-specific tax and regulatory considerations.

Leadership & Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and decision-support capabilities.
• Effective communicator with executive presence and stakeholder influence.
• Proven ability to lead teams, drive accountability, and implement process improvements.
• Strong risk management mindset with the ability to operate in complex, high-stakes environments.

This candidate will sit in our St Thomas office.

Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.

EEO Statement

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law. This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.

Compensation Information

Where required by law, pay ranges can be found in Suffolk's job postings. Base Salary for this position is just one component of Suffolk's total rewards package for employees. Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education and other qualifications. Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall total rewards strategy. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly to reflect market trends.