Contracts Engineer

Role overview

This position supports the full contract lifecycle, covering both pre-award and post-award work. The role involves interpreting requirements, identifying qualified suppliers, preparing tender documents, inviting bids, handling technical and commercial discussions, and ensuring execution stays aligned with procurement and contracting standards.

Role details

Job role: Buyer

Job role variant: Contracts Engineer

Manager position: Contracts Manager

Value stream: Money, Materials & Compliance

Job family: Procurement & Contracts

Sub-job family: Procurement & Contracts

Key responsibilities

• Support the Category or Contract Manager in sourcing important contracts by shortlisting and evaluating vendors, identifying target suppliers from the package brief, planning assigned items to meet timelines, and building a contracting plan that follows agreed terms and conditions.
• Help with vendor pre-qualification by defining sourcing events and carrying out technical checks with support from internal stakeholders.
• Prepare internal cost estimates using the prescribed process and procedures.
• Release RFQs through digital RFX platforms and coordinate clarification meetings when needed.
• Review vendor proposals and create comparison statements to support supplier selection and better commercial outcomes.
• Take part in commercial negotiations and close pricing based on the defined scope.
• Escalate major commercial or contractual risks to the relevant authority and work toward practical solutions within contract procedures and standards.
• Use tools such as e-auction and reverse auction to improve transparency and efficiency.
• Ensure purchase orders are generated in line with approved processes.
• Use SAP effectively to support efficiency and cost control.
• Arrange kick-off meetings with internal teams and vendors after award.
• Track mobilisation progress, ensure timely expediting against contract needs, and attend periodic review meetings.
• Join vendor site visits to verify compliance with contractual commitments.
• Collect feedback from contractors, expediting teams, and suppliers, then help implement improvement actions.
• Apply change management procedures correctly, including requests for extension of time and changes in quantity.
• Coordinate with project engineers, plant engineers, FC&A, and other internal teams to resolve issues such as performance security payments and GST-related queries.
• Examine claims and submit them to the Engineer In Charge, while arranging meetings and documentation to support timely settlement.
• Identify likely disputes between vendors and contractors and take preventive action in accordance with established procedures.
• Maintain regular engagement with vendors to communicate business needs and address identified constraints.
• Collect input from the Engineer In Charge and suppliers, consolidate the findings, and share reports with the Project Category Manager and Contracts Lead to support continuous improvement.
• Monitor vendor performance against end-user expectations, identify improvement opportunities, and recommend actions to the Contract Manager.
• Support the Contract Manager in developing procurement strategy and executing the overall contracts plan.
• Carry out day-to-day contract activities while following all relevant policies, SOPs, and instructions to keep work controlled and consistent.
• Stay current on best practices, market trends, and supplier developments, and contribute to ongoing improvement of procurement systems and processes.

Success measures

• Contracts are placed within the planned timeline and approved budget.
• Change management is completed within the required time limits.
• Claims are handled effectively.
• For O&M teams, major ordering through ARC (Annual Rate Contracts) is also a key measure.

Operating network

Internal interfaces: P&C, Construction Managers, Project Management Team, FC&A, HR & IR, Engineering Teams, Legal

External interfaces: Vendors, Consultants

Education and experience

A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Technology is required. A Master’s degree in Business Administration is preferred. The role calls for 4 to 6 years of experience in construction, operations, maintenance, exploration sites, or a related field.

Competencies

Functional strengths needed: techno-commercial judgment, cost estimation, market intelligence, working knowledge of SAP or a similar platform, and understanding of contract law and commercial terms.

Behavioral competencies: not specified.

Career movement

Feeder role: Graduate Engineer Trainee

Next possible role: Senior Contracts Engineer