Senior Project Contracts Officer
Location: Chalk River, Ontario (Hybrid – Remote with occasional site visits)
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours/week
Employment Type: Contract / Permanent (as applicable)
Rate: $85 - $110 per hour
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Contracts Officer to provide leadership and strategic oversight of supply chain, procurement, and contract management activities supporting major projects. This role will lead the planning, development, negotiation, and execution of complex contracts while ensuring alignment with organizational objectives, regulatory requirements, project needs, and industry best practices.
The Senior Project Contracts Officer will provide mentorship and guidance to Contract Administrators and Contract Managers while working closely with project teams, contractors, suppliers, legal teams, and internal stakeholders to deliver effective contracting strategies that maximize value, mitigate risk, and support successful project execution.
Experience within a highly regulated environment, including nuclear, energy, or major infrastructure projects, is considered an asset.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Procurement & Category Planning
- Lead the development and execution of procurement strategies and acquisition plans for complex projects and major contracts.
- Conduct market research and supplier analysis to identify potential contractors, market trends, and strategic opportunities.
- Establish and maintain strategic supplier relationships aligned with organizational objectives.
- Develop sourcing strategies, contracting approaches, and commercial models to optimize value and mitigate project risks.
- Apply a risk-based approach when developing procurement strategies based on project complexity, scope, and business requirements.
Acquisition & Tender Management
- Collaborate with project teams, technical specialists, legal representatives, and stakeholders to define procurement requirements and develop contracting strategies.
- Prepare commercial bid documentation, evaluation criteria, and procurement packages.
- Lead competitive procurement processes, including:
- Bidder meetings and clarification processes.
- Commercial and technical evaluation coordination.
- Proposal normalization and assessment.
- Risk and opportunity identification.
- Vendor recommendation development for senior leadership review.
- Review contractual exceptions, commercial terms, and supplier proposals in collaboration with Legal Counsel.
- Negotiate agreements and ensure contracts align with project requirements, policies, and risk management objectives.
Contract Management & Supplier Performance
- Provide post-award contract management oversight throughout project execution.
- Maintain accurate and comprehensive contract documentation, records, and procurement files.
- Monitor supplier performance, contract compliance, deliverables, milestones, and commercial obligations.
- Identify contract risks, performance issues, and opportunities for improvement.
- Develop and implement corrective action plans where required.
- Prepare contract status reports, performance metrics, and risk updates for senior management.
- Facilitate lessons-learned reviews to capture improvements for future procurement activities.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Post-secondary education in:
- Business Administration
- Supply Chain Management
- Engineering
- Law
- Construction Management
- Related discipline
- Professional designation or enrollment in a recognized supply chain program is considered an asset, including:
- Certified Supply Chain Leader (CSCL)
- Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
- Equivalent supply chain certifications
Required Experience
- 6–10+ years of experience in supply chain management, procurement, contract management, or related disciplines.
- Demonstrated experience supporting major projects, construction projects, EPC/EPCM environments, or complex industrial programs.
- Strong understanding of:
- Procurement processes and best practices.
- Contract development and administration.
- Contract law and interpretation.
- Supplier relationship management.
- Negotiation strategies and dispute resolution.
- Experience developing and managing complex contract strategies, including:
- Design Build (DB)
- Design Bid Build (DBB)
- EPC/EPCM
- Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
- Target Cost
- Time & Material (T&M)
- Fixed Price agreements
- Experience working in a regulated industry such as nuclear, energy, utilities, or infrastructure is an asset.
- Knowledge of Quality Assurance programs and financial/cost management practices is preferred.
- Nuclear Quality Assurance experience is considered an asset.
Required Skills & Competencies
- Strong contract negotiation and dispute resolution skills.
- Ability to interpret scopes of work, technical specifications, drawings, and quality requirements.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment.
- Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to influence stakeholders and lead through collaboration rather than authority.
- Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, and coaching abilities.
- Strong understanding of ethical contracting practices and supplier management principles.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including:
- Word
- Excel
- Outlook
- PowerPoint
- Experience with enterprise procurement and contract management systems is an asset, including:
- Oracle E-Business Suite
- SharePoint
- ATOM
- ISNetworld
- Electronic signature platforms
- Ability to create high-quality technical, commercial, and contractual documentation.
Leadership Responsibilities
- Provide coaching, mentoring, and technical guidance to Contract Administrators and Contract Managers.
- Support employee development, training initiatives, and process improvements.
- Promote continuous improvement and adoption of new systems, tools, and procurement practices.
- Encourage collaboration and innovation across supply chain and project teams.
Stakeholder Relationships
Internal Stakeholders
- Develop strong relationships across project management, engineering, finance, legal, procurement, and operations teams.
- Provide guidance on contractual issues, risks, procurement strategies, and commercial decisions.
- Support issue resolution and escalation management.
External Stakeholders
- Maintain professional relationships with contractors, suppliers, and external partners.
- Support negotiations, issue resolution, and supplier performance management.
- Communicate contractual expectations and requirements effectively.
Decision-Making & Problem Solving
- Provide input into procurement budgets, contract strategies, and financial risk mitigation.
- Assess contractual risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Develop solutions for complex procurement and contract challenges.
- Escalate high-risk issues requiring additional authority or executive decisions.
- Analyze contractual and commercial information to support informed decision-making.
Working Conditions
- Hybrid work environment.
- Remote work with periodic travel/site visits to Chalk River Laboratories.
- Standard Monday–Friday schedule.
- Primarily office-based work involving extended periods using computer systems.
Pay: $85.00-$110.00 per hour
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Chalk River, ON
