Contract Management Manager

Vertiv is seeking to recruit an ambitious and motivated Contract Management Specialist to join its Commercial Department. This is a hands-on, execution-focused role centred on the identification, preparation, and recovery of Change Orders across a portfolio of live projects, as well as the management of customer-side disputes and claims. The successful candidate will assist project delivery teams, providing day-to-day commercial and contractual support to Project Managers throughout the execution phase. Ideally with experience in the Electrical and/or Mechanical construction sector, the Contract Management Specialist will report to the Commercial Manager and Commercial Director. The successful candidate will hold a degree in a relevant subject, demonstrate strong contractual awareness, possess excellent oral and written communication skills and will eventually be responsible to build a local team of contract management specialists to support the function. Responsibilities Change Order Management • Early identification of change events, scope variations, and deviations from the contracted scope of works across assigned projects • Assisting with the preparation and substantiation of Change Order submissions including full commercial, and quantum justification • Ensuring timely notification of all change events in accordance with contractual notice requirements — protecting entitlement at all times • Maintaining accurate Change Order registers and trackers, providing regular status updates to project teams and senior management • Following Change Orders through to agreement and recovery, including negotiation with clients and resolution of any valuation disagreements • Supporting Project Managers with the commercial assessment of client instructions, drawing revisions, and scope changes to determine Change Order entitlement • Preparing and submitting extension of time applications where programme impact arises from change events Project Team Support • Acting as the primary commercial point of contact for Project Managers on all Change Order and claims-related matters during project execution • Providing day-to-day guidance to project teams on contractual notification requirements, entitlement positions, and commercial risk exposure • Assisting Project Managers in understanding key contractual obligations, timelines, and mechanisms relevant to variations and claims • Working closely with planning teams to establish programme impact and cause-and-effect narratives to support time-related claims • Supporting monthly valuation and payment application preparation, ensuring all approved Change Orders are properly captured and valued • Contributing to project commercial reviews and providing clear reporting on Change Order status, values, and recovery rates Customer Disputes & Claims • Managing and responding to customer-side disputes, back-charges, and contra-charges with detailed technical and commercial analysis • Preparing robust written responses to client claims, clearly setting out the company's contractual position • Defending against unjust charges by building comprehensive evidence packages including contemporaneous records, correspondence, and programme data • Liaising directly with clients to negotiate resolution of disputed matters in a professional and collaborative manner • Supporting the preparation and prosecution of formal claims where amicable resolution cannot be achieved • Maintaining detailed records and audit trails to support the company's position in any disputed matters Requirements: The successful candidate will be expected to possess the following: • Minimum 3–5 years' experience in a commercial, contract management, or quantity surveying role within a Construction/Engineering business, preferably with Mechanical and/or Electrical project experience • Degree-level education in Quantity Surveying, Construction Law, Engineering, Commercial Management, or a related discipline • Demonstrable experience in the preparation and recovery of Change Orders / variations on construction or engineering projects • Experience in handling customer disputes, back-charges, or claims • Strong understanding of contractual notification requirements and their practical application • Self-motivated with an ability to work independently and build strong working relationships across multidisciplinary project teams • Excellent negotiation and influencing skills • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail • Excellent oral and written communication skills — capable of preparing clear, well-structured contractual correspondence • Functional working knowledge of ERP systems and document management tools • Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite #LI-MN1