Senior Manager - Subcontracts

Senior Manager, Subcontracts

Play an integral role in delivering successful project outcomes by leading subcontract strategy, contract administration, contractor performance, and commercial risk management across major capital projects. As a Senior Manager, Subcontracts, you will serve as a critical commercial leader responsible for developing contracting strategies, negotiating complex agreements, managing post-award contract performance, and protecting both Worley’s and our clients’ commercial interests throughout the life of a project.

This is a highly visible leadership role that operates at the intersection of project delivery, construction execution, procurement, legal, commercial, and contractor management. Your ability to develop effective contracting strategies, manage complex contractual relationships, and resolve commercial challenges will directly influence project performance, risk mitigation, cost certainty, schedule achievement, and customer satisfaction.

Working closely with project leadership, construction teams, procurement organizations, clients, contractors, and legal counsel, you will ensure subcontracted work is executed safely, commercially, and in accordance with project requirements.

Purpose of the role

The Senior Manager, Subcontracts is responsible for leading all phases of subcontract formation, administration, performance management, and closeout activities for major projects and programs. You will oversee the development and execution of subcontracting strategies, negotiate complex agreements, manage contract changes, and administer post-award contractor relationships to ensure successful project delivery.

This role requires deep expertise in commercial contracting, contractor management, claims avoidance, dispute resolution, and contract administration. You will support project teams in managing contractor performance while ensuring contractual obligations, liabilities, rights, and remedies are protected and effectively enforced.

In situations where Worley manages contracts on behalf of clients, you will work closely with client representatives to ensure contract administration activities support project objectives while maintaining alignment with contractual obligations, business objectives, and risk management strategies.

You will be responsible for

Subcontract Strategy & Contract Formation

• Leading subcontract strategy development in support of project execution requirements and business objectives.
• Identifying, evaluating, soliciting, and selecting qualified contractors, consultants, specialty service providers, and construction subcontractors.
• Developing sourcing and contracting strategies that align with project schedules, execution plans, and commercial objectives.
• Leading subcontract negotiations involving scope, pricing, schedules, commercial terms, risk allocation, and performance obligations.
• Preparing, reviewing, negotiating, and finalizing subcontract agreements and contractual documentation.
• Supporting project teams with contract planning, subcontract packaging, bid evaluations, and contract award recommendations.
• Collaborating with Legal, Procurement, Construction, and Project Management teams to ensure contractual alignment and compliance.

Contract Administration & Contractor Management

• Managing complex subcontract agreements throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Monitoring contractor performance to ensure compliance with contractual requirements, schedules, quality standards, and project objectives.
• Administering contract changes, amendments, variations, and commercial adjustments throughout execution.
• Reviewing and responding to contractor correspondence while protecting contractual rights and remedies.
• Managing contractor performance issues and implementing resolution strategies that minimize project disruption.
• Coordinating with project teams to ensure contractors meet project obligations and performance expectations.
• Supporting payment approvals and verifying appropriate documentation supporting contractor invoices and compensation requests.
• Maintaining comprehensive subcontract documentation, records, correspondence, approvals, and change management files.

Claims, Commercial Risk & Dispute Resolution

• Leading post-award contract administration activities, including management of change, claims, notices, and disputes.
• Developing contract administration strategies that preserve contractual rights and minimize project exposure.
• Analyzing contractor claims and preparing commercial responses that protect client and project interests.
• Developing claims defense strategies and engaging legal counsel when necessary.
• Providing commercial guidance regarding contractual obligations, liabilities, and entitlement positions.
• Managing contractual risk throughout project execution and supporting proactive mitigation strategies.
• Supporting dispute avoidance efforts through effective contract administration and contractor engagement.
• Advising project leadership regarding contractual risk exposure, commercial opportunities, and dispute resolution approaches.

Project & Stakeholder Leadership

• Serving as the senior subcontract management leader on assigned projects or program portfolios.
• Providing leadership, coaching, mentoring, and development for subcontract professionals and contract administrators.
• Supporting project managers, construction managers, and project controls teams on subcontract administration matters.
• Collaborating with clients when managing contracts on their behalf and providing regular updates regarding contractor performance and contractual matters.
• Participating in project reviews, commercial evaluations, risk assessments, and executive leadership discussions.
• Influencing project decisions through commercial insight, contractual expertise, and risk-based recommendations.
• Promoting collaboration between Procurement, Legal, Construction, Project Controls, Finance, HSE, Quality, and Operations teams.

Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Supporting the development and implementation of subcontract management policies, procedures, tools, and governance practices.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives related to subcontracting processes, contractor management, and contract administration.
• Identifying lessons learned and opportunities to improve commercial performance across future projects.
• Supporting development of contract management training and organizational capability programs.
• Ensuring compliance with company policies, ethical standards, client requirements, and applicable regulatory obligations.

About us 

Worley is a global company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia. We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value across the life of their assets. We specialize in consulting, engineering, procurement and construction across the project lifecycle, with services extending through to operations and decommissioning. Leveraging extensive experience and AI-enabled delivery, we support customers in navigating complexity as they meet today's needs and transition to more sustainable solutions. 

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