Contract Manager

Universal Plant Services (UPS) is seeking a highly experienced and results-driven Contract Manager to lead the review, negotiation, administration, and governance of customer and supplier contracts across the organization. This role serves as a strategic business partner to executive leadership, operations, finance, procurement, legal counsel, and commercial teams to ensure contracts support profi
...
table growth while protecting the company's financial, operational, and legal interests.
The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in commercial contracting within the oil & gas, refining, petrochemical, power generation, industrial maintenance, and construction services sectors. This individual will bring strong negotiation skills, sound business judgment, financial acumen, and the ability to effectively manage contractual risk in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
The Contract Manager will be responsible for improving contract governance, supporting strategic growth initiatives, strengthening commercial processes, and leading a disciplined contracts function that delivers value across the business.
Key Responsibilities:
Commercial Judgement & Contract Leadership
• Lead the review, negotiation, execution, renewal, and administration of customer contracts, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), supplier agreements, subcontractor agreements, purchase agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other commercial documents.
• Structure and negotiate contract terms that support customer needs while protecting UPS's profitability, cash flow, operational flexibility, and risk position.
• Evaluate contractual obligations and commercial opportunities to ensure alignment with organizational goals and acceptable risk thresholds.
• Ensure contracts accurately reflect operational capabilities, service commitments, and project scope requirements.
Negotiation Discipline & Relationship Management
• Negotiate directly with customers, suppliers, subcontractors, and strategic partners, including major oil & gas, refining, petrochemical, power generation, and industrial owner-operators.
• Build and maintain strong business relationships while securing commercially favorable terms.
• Lead resolution of contract disputes, scope changes, commercial issues, and contract interpretation matters.
• Effectively communicate and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization and customer organizations.
Risk Management & Governance
• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate contractual, financial, operational, legal, labor, insurance, safety, environmental, and compliance risks.
• Review and negotiate provisions related to indemnification, limitation of liability, insurance requirements, warranties, change management, payment terms, performance obligations, dispute resolution, and termination rights.
• Provide executive leadership with clear analysis of risks, alternatives, and recommended negotiating positions.
• Collaborate with legal counsel and executive leadership to establish contract governance standards and escalation procedures.
Financial Acumen & Profitability Optimization
• Analyze contract terms for impacts on revenue, gross margin, working capital, cash flow, and long-term profitability.
• Support strategic proposals, bids, contract renewals, pricing reviews, and commercial initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through payment terms, escalation clauses, scope clarification, supplier negotiations, and disciplined change order management.
• Partner with finance and operations teams to ensure financial assumptions align with contractual obligations.
Operational Partnership & Field Execution Support
• Work closely with operations leaders, site managers, project managers, field personnel, business development teams, and account managers to ensure contract requirements can be executed effectively.
• Ensure contract terms appropriately address safety requirements, labor obligations, customer site standards, compliance require

View the full posting and apply