Contract Manager

Job Title

Contract Manager

Job Description

About Vanderlande

Vanderlande is a global leader in logistics process automation, specializing in automated material handling systems for airports, warehouses, and parcel operations. Our innovative solutions help move millions of products and pieces of luggage around the world every day. With a strong focus on technology, collaboration, and continuous improvement, we are committed to delivering reliable solutions for our customers while providing meaningful career opportunities for our employees.

About the Role

The Contract Manager supports the effective administration of customer contracts and construction subcontracts for complex material-handling and automation projects. The role manages contractual risk, change, claims, compliance, and project records from award through closeout, while providing commercial, schedule, and financial guidance to project teams. The Contract Manager works closely with Project Management, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Sales, and site teams and may represent the company in customer and subcontractor discussions.

Key Responsibilities

• Administer customer contracts and construction subcontracts throughout the project lifecycle, including obligations, notices, deliverables, milestones, and closeout requirements.
• Review contract documents, amendments, purchase orders, subcontracts, and commercial correspondence and communicate requirements to project stakeholders.
• Monitor project compliance with contractual requirements and identify gaps, noncompliance, or documentation weaknesses before they affect entitlement or delivery.
• Prepare and defend clear cost, schedule, productivity, and commercial justifications in coordination with project delivery teams.
• Develop claim and claim-defense strategies for customer and subcontract matters, including entitlement, causation, impact, and supporting evidence.
• Draft timely notices, responses, and other contractually required correspondence.
• Support negotiations, and dispute resolution by coordinating with Legal.
• Identify contractual, financial, schedule, and execution risks and establish mitigation actions with accountable owners.
• Provide commercial and contract guidance to project leadership to protect delivery, margin, cash flow, and contractual entitlement.
• Partner with Project Management, Finance, Legal, Procurement, Sales, Engineering, and site teams to integrate contract requirements into project execution.
• Participate in customer and subcontractor contract reviews, risk workshops, negotiations, progress reviews, and dispute discussions.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of contract-management standards, templates, reporting, and lessons learned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in contract management, construction management, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Progressive experience in contracts, commercial management, construction management, project controls, claims, or a related project-delivery discipline.
• Working knowledge of contract formation, interpretation, administration, and enforcement principles.
• Strong understanding of construction and project-delivery processes, means and methods, schedule impacts, cost development, and subcontractor management.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex contract issues, organize supporting evidence, and communicate a clear commercial position.
• Strong written and verbal communication, presentation, negotiation, and conflict-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• This role may require domestic and international travel of 25%-50%, including travel to active project and customer sites.
• This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities may change based on business and project needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with large-scale automated material-handling, industrial construction, integration, or design-build projects.
• Experience with Primavera P6, BIM platforms, Microsoft Excel, and contract management systems.
• Experience supporting customer-facing negotiations, claims resolution, arbitration, litigation, or expert analysis.
• Professional certification or advanced education in contract management, construction law, project management, or claims is a plus.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Vanderlande is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations as required by law.