Senior Contracts Manager - MICON Group, Inc.

Improving America’s infrastructure isn’t for the weak. It takes grit, determination, and hard work to execute high impact projects. Michels Corporation engages 10,000 people and 18,000 pieces of heavy equipment in our insatiable drive to be the best. Our work improves lives. Find out how a career as a Contracts Manager can improve yours!We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Contracts Manager to lead and oversee contract management activities across multiple construction projects and Contract Managers. This role is responsible for driving consistency, rigor, and excellence in contract lifecycle management, change management practices, and risk mitigation across the portfolio.Unlike project-based roles, this position operates at a regional/organizational level, providing leadership, strategic direction, and technical expertise in contract interpretation and commercial strategy. The Senior Contracts Manager will mentor and develop Contract Managers, establish best practices, and ensure alignment with company standards while partnering with executive leadership, project teams, and legal.This role requires deep expertise in complex construction contracts, including significant experience on large-scale projects ($100M+), and the ability to influence outcomes across multiple teams and stakeholders.Key Responsibilities:Leadership & Team ManagementLead, mentor, and manage a team of Contract Managers supporting multiple projects.Establish performance expectations, provide coaching, and drive professional development and training initiatives.Create standardized processes, templates, and tools for contract and change management across the organization.Conduct regular reviews of team output to ensure consistency, quality, and contractual compliance.Build organizational capability in contract administration, documentation discipline, and claims prevention.Contract Strategy & InterpretationServe as the subject matter expert in contract interpretation, providing guidance on complex commercial and contractual issues.Review and interpret prime contracts, subcontracts, and key amendments to identify risks, obligations, and strategic opportunities.Advise project and executive leadership on contractual rights, exposures, and entitlement strategies.Provide oversight on dispute avoidance and resolution strategies, including support for claims development and defense.Process & Organizational ExcellenceEstablish and enforce best practices in document control, contract administration, and documentation defensibility to promote consistency,completeness,effectiveand efficientorganization, version control, auditability, and accessibility.Ensure project teams consistently meet contractual notice provisions and compliance requirements, including identification, documentation, and execution of changes.In conjunction with project teams and Change Management team, guide development of change order narratives, delay analyses, and claim documentation.Drive consistency in reporting, dashboards, and tracking of contractual risks and obligations.Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance contract management processes and tools.Ensure alignment of contract management practices with corporate standards and legal requirements.Risk Management & Commercial SupportProactively identify contractual and commercial risks across the project portfolio and recommend mitigation strategies.Partner with Project Controls, Legal, and Risk teams to align contract strategy with cost, schedule, and legal considerations.Support executive decision-making with insights derived from documentation trends, claims exposure, and compliance gaps.Cross-Functional LeadershipServe as a key liaison between operations, project management, legal, Change Management team, and executive leadership.Facilitate portfolio-level contract reviews, risk assessments, and lessons learned sessions.Provide training to project teams on contract awareness, documentation standards, and risk mitigation strategies.Why MICON Group, Inc.?We are consistently ranked among the top 10% of Engineering News-Record’s Top 400 ContractorsOur steady, strategic growth revolves around a commitment to qualityWe are family owned and operatedWe invest an average of $5,000 per employee on training each yearWe offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental and vision, competitive paid time off plans and much more!We reward hard work and dedication with limitless opportunitiesWe believe it is everyone’s responsibility to promote safety, regardless of job titles.Michels offers a comprehensive benefits program, including Health, Dental, Life, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account, Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance, 401(k) plan, Legal Plan, and Identity Theft and Monitoring Plan. Depending on your position and location you may participate in a different benefit plan. Why you?You are a strategic thinker with the ability to operate at both detailed and organizational levels.You have a strong leadership presence with the ability to influence without direct authority across project teams.You are highly skilled communicator with executive-level written and verbal communication abilities.You are proactive and solution-oriented, with strong judgment in managing risk and ambiguity.You have a deep understanding of the commercial and legal implications of contract execution.You are passionate about developing people, building teams, and improving organizational capability.You are disciplined, detail-oriented, and committed to documentation excellence.What it takes?Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Business, or related discipline.15+ years of experience in construction contract management, project management, or commercial leadership roles, including a proven track record of leading and developing teams.Demonstrated experience supporting large-scale projects ($100M+).Expert-level knowledge of construction contracts, change management processes, and claims practices.Strong ability to interpret complex contracts and translate requirements into actionable guidance.Experience working closely with executive leadership and cross-functional teams.Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, contract/document management systems, and scheduling software (e.g., Microsoft Project, P6). Experience with dashboards, reporting tools, or Power BI preferred.Willingness to travel approximately 25%.AA/EOE/M/W/Vet/Disability