Contract Lead – PMC

Role Overview

The Contract Lead – PMC is responsible for end-to-end contractual and commercial governance of large, complex, and multi-stakeholder infrastructure projects. Acting as the Owner’s commercial representative, the role ensures contractual compliance, commercial protection, risk mitigation, and effective claims management throughout the project lifecycle.

The position plays a critical role in safeguarding project margins, managing contractual risks, and enabling successful delivery of power transmission (up to 765 kV), HVDC (±800 kV), and hybrid renewable energy projects (Solar, Wind, BESS at GW scale).

The role interfaces closely with Project Management, Engineering (Electrical/Civil/I&C), Procurement, QA/QC, HSE, Finance, and Legal, ensuring integrated commercial decision-making aligned with project and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Contract Administration & Governance

• Administer EPC, EPCM, PMC, Design & Build, and item-rate contracts from award through close-out.
• Ensure strict compliance with contract conditions, scope definitions, milestones, payment terms, and statutory obligations.
• Maintain comprehensive contract documentation including:
  • Contract registers
  • Correspondence logs
  • Change/variation trackers
  • Claims and dispute registers
• Provide interpretation of contract clauses and advise project teams on contractual rights, obligations, and risk exposure.
• Align contract administration practices with AECOM PMO/PMC governance frameworks and reporting systems.

2. Variations, Claims & EOT Management

• Lead preparation, evaluation, and negotiation of:
  • Variation Orders (VOs)
  • Change Orders / Change Requests
  • Claims (cost & time)
  • Extension of Time (EOT) submissions
• Perform detailed delay and disruption analysis (concurrent delays, critical path impact, entitlement validation).
• Quantify cost/time implications of scope changes and project deviations.
• Ensure robust documentation and defensible positions for claim submissions and dispute resolution.
• Drive proactive claim strategy to maximize entitlement recovery and minimize exposure.

3. Commercial & Contractual Risk Management

• Identify, evaluate, and mitigate commercial and contractual risks across project lifecycle stages.
• Support pre-award activities including:
  • Contract reviews
  • Risk allocation analysis
  • Commercial clarifications and deviations
• Ensure effective contractual flow-down of obligations to subcontractors and vendors.
• Advise Project Director/Manager on commercial strategies, risk mitigation plans, and dispute avoidance mechanisms.
• Maintain and update project risk registers in alignment with PMO governance.

4. Subcontract & Vendor Contract Management

• Support Procurement and Legal teams in drafting and negotiating:
  • Subcontracts
  • Letters of Intent (LOIs)
  • Purchase Orders (POs)
• Ensure back-to-back alignment with main contract, including:
  • Scope and technical specifications
  • Payment terms and milestones
  • Liquidated Damages (LDs)
  • Warranties, indemnities, and liabilities
  • Insurance and statutory compliance
• Manage subcontractor claims, variations, and final account settlements.
• Ensure commercial closure of all subcontract packages in line with project timelines.

5. Cost Control & Financial Coordination

• Collaborate with Project Controls, Quantity Surveying (QS), and Finance teams to:
  • Monitor budgets, forecasts, and cost performance
  • Track committed vs actual costs
  • Support margin protection initiatives
• Review and certify:
  • Client invoices and RA bills
  • Payment certificates and milestones
• Support cash flow forecasting and working capital optimization.
• Provide structured inputs for:
  • Monthly commercial reports
  • Management dashboards
  • Project review meetings

6. Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary commercial and contractual interface with:
  • Clients / Owners
  • Consultants
  • EPC Contractors and key subcontractors
• Participate in:
  • Progress review meetings
  • Commercial negotiations
  • Dispute resolution discussions
• Support senior management during escalations and arbitration/litigation processes.
• Ensure alignment of commercial actions with overall project delivery strategy.

Project Exposure

• Power Transmission & Distribution Systems up to 765 kV (AIS/GIS substations and transmission lines)
• HVDC Projects up to ±800 kV (LCC/VSC systems)
• Hybrid Renewable Energy Projects:
  • Utility-scale Solar PV
  • Wind Energy
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• Large infrastructure, industrial, and mission-critical facilities (including data centres)
• Multi-phase and long-duration CAPEX programs

Contractual & Commercial Expertise

• In-depth knowledge of:
  • FIDIC contracts (Red, Yellow, Silver Books)
  • Custom EPC / EPCM frameworks
  • CPWD / Indian contracting practices
• Strong understanding of:
  • Contract law fundamentals
  • Commercial risk allocation
  • Claims and dispute mechanisms

Project & Commercial Management

• Ability to manage multiple contracts across parallel projects
• Strong analytical and commercial evaluation capability
• Proficiency in:
  • MS Excel (costing, cash flow, analysis)
  • Contract management systems and reporting tools

Integration with Engineering & PMO

• Understanding of project interfaces across:
  • Electrical (substations, transmission, renewable integration)
  • Civil & Structural works
  • I&C / SCADA systems
• Alignment with QA/QC and HSE contractual obligations

Behavioral Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen with high attention to detail
• Proactive, solution-oriented, and risk-aware mindset
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• High level of integrity and professional ethics
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, high-value, multi-contract environments