Commercial Contracts Specialist

SUMMARY

This position will be responsible for reviewing and drafting commercial and government contracts to ensure they meet legal requirements and align with Company’s policies and commercial objectives.  The Commercial Contracts Specialist will report to the Contracts Manager, who has oversight for contract preparation and negotiations throughout the Company.  The Commercial Contracts Specialist will have discretion in dealing with internal employees, including business unit management, and the Company’s clients and vendors in the drafting, review, and administration of contracts.  The Commercial Contracts Specialist will also work closely with the General Counsel and/or Assistant General Counsel.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform contract review and drafting, preparing comprehensive contracts for various business needs, subject to final approval by the Contracts Manager and/or the Assistant General Counsel.

• Ensure contract terms comply with applicable laws and regulations and Company policies and commercial objectives.

• Exercise commercially reasonable judgment and discretion in performing contract review and drafting.

• Develop and maintain standard contract templates common to the oil and gas industry, particularly oil field services, to facilitate execution while providing customary legal protections for the Company.

• Communicate with internal clients, including business unit management, and/or contracts administrators at the Company’s clients and vendors to negotiate favorable contract terms.

• Address and resolve disputes or disagreements with contract counterparties during negotiations.

• Provide advice, recommendations and interpretation of contract terms, legal obligations, and risk exposure to business unit management, with advisement from the Contracts Manager and/or Assistant General Counsel. 

• Work with business unit leaders to develop strategies for minimizing contractual risk.

• Prioritize contracts and regularly communicate with the Contracts Manager regarding status of contracts under review leading to final execution.

• Collect, catalog, and manage all contracts between the Company’s business units and their clients.

• Maintain contract management processes and tools to track status of contract review and allow for efficient retrieval of documents.

• Assist in developing and administering the Company’s contract management system (CLM tool), including maintaining accurate metadata, version control, signed-document repository, and audit trail.

• Support claims, change orders, and contract dispute resolution under the supervision of the Contracts Manager and/or Assistant General Counsel.

• Prepares contract abstracts, status reports, and key performance indicators for management on contract turnaround time, risk flags, and amendment activity.

• Responsible for other duties as may be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, humanities, engineering, or relevant sciences (or related field) required.

• Minimum three years’ relevant industry experience, preferably in oilfield services.

• NCMA Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM) or Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM), or WorldCC Certified Contract Management Professional (CCMP), preferred.

• This position is primarily office-based.  Up to 10% domestic travel may be required to support business unit meetings, client visits, or operational sites.

• A writing exercise will be part of the application and interview process.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES

• This position seeks experience in the oil and gas industry, as well as an in-depth understanding of the structure of contracts common to oil field services, including master service agreements, framework agreements, commercial tenders, leases, non-disclosure agreements, and guaranty agreements.  Must demonstrate the ability to understand the significance of contract provisions within the context of the underlying transaction.  Must be able to interact with clients to help reach a consensus on the final terms that should be approved with the Law Department having ultimate authority on legal questions. 

• Must have strong interpersonal skills, working closely with the Contracts Manager and the Assistant General Counsel, as well as internal and external clients in negotiating and finalizing contract terms.

• Must be highly organized and detail-oriented, managing multiple contract reviews and workflows and collaborating with subject-matter experts within the organization (e.g., Legal, Tax, Accounting, HSE, Credit, Treasury and Risk).

• Must demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Access, or comparable database software).

• Must demonstrate ability to analyze and interpret legal documents, financial reports, and technical documents and possess strong legal writing skills. 

• Knowledge or willingness to learn of and utilize Company-approved developing and emerging technologies in the performance of certain job functions.

• Demonstrated familiarity with oilfield-services-specific risk-allocation conventions, including mutual / knock-for-knock indemnity and customary insurance and limitation-of-liability constructs.

• Working knowledge of FCPA, UK Bribery Act, ITAR/EAR, and OFAC sanctions screening as applied to commercial contracting.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to translate legal and commercial concepts for non-legal stakeholders. 

Core Laboratories, including all of its affiliated and related entities, is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for everyone. Employment decisions are made regardless of characteristics including, but not limited to, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, religion, genetic information, protected veteran or uniformed service member status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable law.