Contracts Manager in Aberdeen

Wood has an exciting opportunity for a Contracts Manager to join us on a permanent basis. You will be a key member of the commercial team, leading complex contract negotiations and providing strategic contractual guidance across a diverse portfolio of projects. From client agreements and framework arrangements to financial instruments and confidentiality agreements, you will help drive commercial success while effectively managing contractual risk. This position is open to remote working across the United Kingdom and we encourage applicants across the region.

The Role

As Contracts Manager, you will provide contractual and commercial leadership across a diverse portfolio of projects and business activities. You'll manage contract review workloads, advise stakeholders on contractual matters, drive best practice contract management, and support the delivery of commercial objectives while minimising risk. Working closely with the Head of Contracts, you will also lead contract professionals, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and act as a trusted advisor on contract law and commercial governance. Working across a broad range of business functions, you will partner with internal stakeholders, clients and suppliers to provide contractual leadership and support successful project delivery. You will lead contract management activities within your portfolio, influence commercial decision-making, and operate with a high degree of autonomy.

Our Clients and Projects

Wood delivers solutions across more than 60 countries with local offices covering all major energy and materials hubs globally. For more than 160 years, we have partnered with clients to deliver engineering, advisory and operational solutions to some of the world’s most complex and critical challenges in energy and materials.

What we can offer

• Meaningful and interesting projects supporting green hydrogen and fuel switching, as well as supporting local clients with energy transition.
• Flexible working arrangements that balance client, team and individual needs offering hybrid working arrangements.
• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion; we are an organisation actively committed to diversity and inclusion across our business with employee networks committed to giving all employees a voice.
• Competitive salary with regular salary reviews to ensure we are rewarding at the right level in line with the market.
• Flexible benefits package; inclusive of 33 days annual leave (including public holidays), generous contributory pension scheme, private medical cover, 4x base salary life insurance; all of these and more that can be adapted to suit your own lifestyle.
• Commitment to continued professional development; development plans that are tailored to your individual needs and interests.
• Global connections; join experts around the world who are at the leading edge of our industry, shaping the standards of our profession.

Responsibilities

• Review proposed contract qualifications with other functions, as required, to ensure the balance of risk is appropriate for the associated services and remuneration mode.
• Provide overviews of contract T&Cs and associated issues to senior management and execution teams, as applicable.
• Provide guidance to the assigned Business(es) on client contracting & negotiation strategies and terms and conditions.
• Manage the timely provision of commercial deliverables (e.g. bonds, PCGs, evidence of insurance) in accordance with contract requirements and Wood Policies.
• Manage the preparation, negotiation, establishment, and administration of Joint Venture and/or Partnering agreements.
• Develop, build, and maintain internal relationships with stakeholders and collaborate with functions to identify strategies to avoid/mitigate risks associated with contract terms and Contracting Policy deviations.
• Provide input to commercial handovers to the execution teams for successfully awarded contracts.
• Manage and deliver continuous improvement across the function and look for innovative ways of working.
• Ensure that key relevant Commercial policies are understood and correctly applied within assigned business(es).
• Provide robust client contracts governance and assurance across the assigned business(es) and recommend corrective action.
• Responsible for the day-to-day management and development of the assigned Contracts team members.
• Ensure the timely provision of contracts input to the TGP process, tenders, and proposals.
• Develop main contract flowdown requirements for POs and subcontracts, in conjunction with supply chain.
• Assist in the pursuit of Wood's assertive claims and/or defending claims against Wood.
• Represent Wood in industry-wide contracts initiatives, seminars and workgroups.

Qualifications

What makes you remarkable? At Wood, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.

• Degree required in one of: Law, Quantity Surveying, or Business Degree.
• Experience and proven track record of contract review, drafting, and negotiation in a service company environment.
• Work experience in the industry which would allow an understanding of and exposure to key contracting principles.
• Experience in the negotiation and set up of JVs, MOUs, bidding agreements, and consortium agreements.
• Expert knowledge of contract terms, contract principles, and drafting and rollout of contracting policies.
• Working knowledge of the Company Finance and HR systems.
• Awareness of all relevant corporate and project procedures.
• Excellent understanding of Client contract structures, principles, and policies.
• Contract experience in engineering and construction projects in at least one of the following: life sciences, mining, power, infrastructure, environmental and/or oil and gas industries, EPC, EPCm, standard contract model forms (including NEC, FIDIC, JCT, LOGIC or regional equivalents).
• Relevant Client-Facing Contracting Experience.
• Line management experience.

Desirable: Legally qualified.

Personal attributes:

• Acts with integrity and consistently demonstrates sound ethical judgement.
• Strong negotiation skills, with the ability to influence outcomes effectively.
• Proven leadership and people management capabilities, with the ability to motivate and develop others.
• Strategic mindset, able to contribute to and shape operational improvements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage at all levels.
• Highly organised, with strong planning and prioritisation skills.
• Builds strong relationships, with a clear client-focused approach and ability to establish trust.
• Committed to continuous improvement and driving positive change.
• Collaborative team player with a proactive, solutions-focused attitude.
• Effective mentoring and coaching skills to support team development.
• Works well under pressure, with the ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities.