Title:  Senior Contracts Specialist

Introduction

We are looking for a Senior Contracts Specialist to join our team at our East Campus office in Westhill, Aberdeenshire on a full-time staff basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of a collaborative, forward-thinking team, where your expertise will directly contribute to the success of complex offshore operations and strategic initiatives.

What will you be doing?

The Senior Contracts Specialist will sit within the Supply Chain Management (SCM), Contracts and Chartering department of our Offshore Delivery function.

The Offshore Delivery function is responsible for providing, and ensuring the operational capability of, the vessels, equipment, crew and onshore support facilities that power our projects and offshore operations worldwide.

The Senior Contracts Specialist will report directly to the Senior Commercial Manager – Offshore Delivery and will, as part of a centralised department support organisation, delivering specialist procurement, contractual, commercial and legal expertise to colleagues in the Offshore Delivery SCM, Contracts and Chartering department who provide functional procurement, SCM and Contract Management support for the following internal service lines:

•    Offshore Resources (vessel fleet, equipment and crewing).
•    Offshore Operations (specifically survey, inspection & data processing).
•    Pipeline Group.
•    Major capital expenditure & new build vessel projects.

Role responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Contracts & Commercial Support:
•    Draft, review, qualify and negotiate a wide range of contractual documents, including frame agreements, novation agreements, amendments, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements and letters of intent.
•    Provide advice on non-standard terms and conditions, bank guarantees, parent company guarantees and seagoing vessel / end user declarations.
•    Provide advice and guidance on warranty claims, loss / damage claims, and other complex contractual issues.
•    Provide contractual support for long-term strategic vessel charters (whether time charter or bareboat charter).
•    Support the renewal and establishment of frame agreements.

Strategic procurement:
•    Contribute to the development of supplier account / category management strategies and procurement frameworks.
•    Support the management of supplier performance.

Project oversight & Risk management:
•    Oversee major capital expenditure projects related to vessel mission equipment, upgrades and modifications.
•    Manage complex vessel transactions, including sale, purchase, recycling, flag transfer, and change of ownership.
•    Ensure HR, finance, tax, legal and compliance implications are considered in collaboration with relevant corporate functions.

Process Governance & Improvement:
•    Apply expert knowledge of procurement and contracting procedures, including deviation and approval processes.
•    Promote and uphold Subsea7’s competitive bidding, supplier qualification, and due diligence principles.
•    Identify process gaps and contribute to the continuous improvement of departmental tools, templates, and workflows.
•    Demonstrate a strong understanding of the Financial Management Authority Level Matrix and regional / service provider variations.

Training, mentoring & stakeholder engagement:
•    Support the development and delivery of training materials on systems, processes and best practices.
•    Mentor and support the development of the wider team.
•    Build and maintain strong working relationships within internal stakeholders across the Offshore Delivery service lines and support functions. 

What qualifications and experience would we like you to have?

Please note, if you don’t tick all the boxes below but feel you have some of the relevant skills and experience we’re looking for, please do consider applying. We would encourage you to apply with a CV that highlights your transferable skills and experience. 

•    Education – a degree in Law, Business Management, or a related discipline is essential. A postgraduate qualification or professional legal certification is highly desirable.
•    Industry experience – significant experience (typically, 5 or more years) in a contracts or legal role, ideally within the marine, subsea, offshore, energy, or engineering sectors. 
•    Contractual expertise – in-depth knowledge of contract law and international contracting standards, with proven experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
•    Commercial acumen – strong understanding of commercial risk, pricing models, and business drivers, with the ability to align contractual and commercial terms with strategic objectives.

What core skills would we like you to have?

•    Professionalism – maintains a high standard of conduct, appearance, and credibility in the workplace.
•    Effective communication – communicates clearly and confidently, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across commercial, technical and operational teams.
•    Proactive mindset – anticipates needs, takes initiative and acts independently.
•    Attention to detail – delivers work that is thorough, accurate, and consistently meets quality standards.
•    Report writing & presenting – produces well structured, insightful reports and presents information in a clear and engaging manner.
•    Planning & organisation – prioritises tasks effectively, manages time well, and delivers results within deadlines.
•    Commitment to personal development – actively seeks feedback and opportunities to learn, grow, and improve professionally.
•    Technical proficiency - strong computer literacy, including experience with business enterprise systems and contract lifecycle management systems such as SAP ECC6 / SAP S/4Hana and SAP Ariba.

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