Contracts Manager

Job description

Who we are ...

SUEZ is a global leader in the water and waste management sectors. For more than 160 years , we have been operating across 40 countries , employing over 45,000 people — all united by a single objective: to protect our resources and improve quality of life wherever we operate.

In Australia , SUEZ provides access to drinking water for more than 14 million people and wastewater treatment services for an additional 3.5 million . Our core services include Design & Build , Operations & Maintenance , Build–Own–Operate–Transfer (BOOT) , and a variety of long-term partnership models.

What you will be doing

SUEZ is refreshing its strategy and seeking an experienced Co ntracts Manager to lead the commercial management of our Design & Construction projects. This pivotal role oversees both pre‑contract and post‑contract activities, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and in alignment with organisational objectives. You will be responsible for reviewing and negotiating contract terms, preparing agreements with partners and subcontractors, and supporting technical, commercial and legal teams across all contractual and risk‑related matters throughout the tendering phase.

Following project award, you will manage compliance obligations, maintain the obligations register and work closely with project teams to ensure contractual requirements are met. You will drive effective contract administration by preparing and responding to contractual correspondence, notices and claims, while proactively protecting project margins through early identification of risks and development of defensive strategies.

A key part of the role involves identifying commercial opportunities, leading variation and value‑engineering initiatives, and negotiating favourable settlements with clients, partners and subcontractors. You will support dispute resolution processes when needed and maintain strong, constructive relationships throughout negotiations. As projects near completion, you will oversee contract close‑out, ensuring all obligations are met, defects resolved, bonds returned and payments finalised, leading to full and timely completion of each contract.

This is a high‑impact role for a commercially astute professional who thrives in complex project environments and is confident managing the full lifecycle of major commercial contracts.

 

Who we are looking for

The ideal candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration or a related field, with professional certifications such as CIArb, PMI or RICS considered advantageous. They will bring extensive contract management experience within the water treatment or infrastructure sectors, supported by strong knowledge of contract law, procurement processes and risk management. Highly analytical and proactive, they will demonstrate the ability to anticipate contractual issues, resolve challenges through collaborative partnering and apply effective techniques to achieve constructive negotiation outcomes.

Exceptional communication and negotiation skills are essential, along with the capability to clearly convey complex contractual matters. The role requires proven experience managing medium to large contracts, strong attention to detail, the ability to juggle multiple agreements simultaneously, and well-developed interpersonal skills paired with strong commercial acumen.

 

SUEZ is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander people.

To be eligible to apply for this position you must have an appropriate Australian or New Zealand work visa.

BU: Division Eau - Eau Austalie

CATEGORY: Cadres