Senior Contracts Engineer

Job Purpose

The Contracts Lead is accountable for the post-order commercial and contractual coordination of customer orders to ensure that contractual obligations, delivery milestones, documentation, and internal handovers are managed effectively from order acceptance through to completion. 

The role ensures that customer contracts are executed in line with agreed commercial terms, delivery commitments, and internal governance requirements, acting as the central coordination point between Sales, Operations, Procurement, Finance, Warehousing, and Service. The role does not own tendering, pricing, or commercial negotiation, which remain with Sales, nor does it own operational execution, which remains with Operations delivery teams. Its focus is disciplined contract execution, visibility, and control.

Job Context

The Contracts Lead operates within the Operations function and reports to the Operations Manager. The role bridges the gap between Sales handover and operational execution, ensuring that contracts are correctly interpreted, planned, monitored, and closed out.

The role works closely with the Tendering Manager during handover, with the Technical Purchaser and Planning teams on material readiness, with Warehousing and Logistics on delivery coordination, with Finance on invoicing readiness, and with Service on service-related contract obligations.

The role has a short- to medium-term operational horizon, focused on delivery discipline, stakeholder coordination, and contractual risk management.

Job Dimensions

Number of Staff Supervised

• Direct Reports: 0
• Total Employees: 0

Financial Dimensions

• Strong influence on revenue realisation, margin protection, cash flow timing, and avoidance of contractual penalties through effective contract execution and coordination.
• Payment & Other Authorisations as per approved Delegation of Authority.

Key Accountabilities

Contract Handover & Control

• Receive and review formal contract handovers from Sales and Tendering, ensuring scope, milestones, documentation, and obligations are clearly understood.
• Establish and maintain contract execution plans, including key milestones, delivery dates, documentation requirements, and dependencies.
• Maintain contract files with complete, accurate, and controlled documentation.

Coordination of Contract Execution

• Coordinate cross-functional activities required to fulfil contract obligations, including procurement, production, warehousing, logistics, testing, service, and documentation.
• Monitor progress against contractual milestones and escalate risks, delays, or deviations to the Operations Manager.
• Ensure timely availability of materials, documentation, and approvals required for delivery.

Customer & Internal Communication

• Act as the primary operational point of contact for customers on contract execution matters (excluding sales and commercial negotiation).
• Provide regular status updates to customers and internal stakeholders on order progress and delivery readiness.
• Manage customer expectations in line with contractual commitments and approved changes.

Financial & Commercial Coordination

• Coordinate with Finance to ensure readiness for invoicing, including confirmation of delivery milestones, documentation, and acceptance requirements.
• Support monitoring of cost versus quoted assumptions and escalate potential margin risks.
• Support management of variations, claims, or contractual changes in coordination with Sales and the Operations Manager.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate contract status reports and dashboards.
• Provide regular reporting on contract progress, risks, and outcomes to the Operations Manager.
• Identify recurring contract execution issues and contribute to improvements in handover, planning, and execution processes.

Qualifications, Experience & Skills

Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge

• Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma in Engineering, Project Management, Commerce, or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of contract execution, project coordination, and order fulfilment in an engineered or project-based environment.

Minimum Experience

• 5–8 years’ experience in contracts coordination, project delivery, or order management roles.
• Demonstrated experience working cross-functionally across Sales, Operations, Procurement, and Finance.

Job Specific Skills

• Contract and project coordination capability.
• Strong planning, tracking, and reporting skills.
• Commercial awareness and basic financial acumen.
• Ability to manage multiple contracts and competing priorities.
• Clear and professional communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioral Competencies

• Structured, disciplined, and detail oriented.
• Calm and solution-focused under pressure.
• Confident in coordinating across functions without formal authority.
• Customer-aware while protecting internal governance.
• Reliable and accountable for follow-through.

Responsibilities:
1) Process Design Engineering: Carry out a range of activities under the guidance of more senior colleagues to support the analysis of information and the specification of the methods and process steps, as well as the plant, machinery, and equipment, required to design and continuously improve manufacturing or materials processes and process systems.
2) Engineering Solutions Design: Implement feasibility testing of proposed engineering solutions, under supervision, to provide feedback and contribute to validation of the design.
3) Engineering Standards Specification: Carry out a range of activities under the guidance of more senior colleagues to support the drafting of engineering standards and specifications and the evaluation of the effectiveness of those standards.
4) Engineering Inspections: Provide technical support to inspections of the quality of engineering works and/or the integrity of existing installations or structures, and the remedial works needed in accordance with organizational standards and regulatory requirements.
5) Testing: Develop testing standards and procedures under the direction of professional colleagues.
6) Data Collection and Analysis: Produce accurate reports for others by collecting data from a variety of standard sources and inputting it into standard formats.
7) Improvement/Innovation: Identify shortcomings in existing processes, systems, and procedures, and use established change management programs to address them.
8) Recommendations: Provide information and clarification on existing procedures, processes, and precedents.
9) Project Management: Support others by carrying out a range of project management activities.
10) Personal Capability Building: Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching. Develop and maintain an understanding of relevant technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.

Educational Requirements: Post-Secondary Non-Tertiary Education
General Experience Requirement: Experienced practitioner able to work unsupervised (13 months to 3 years)
Managerial Experience Requirement: Basic experience of coordinating the work of others (4 to 6 months)