Principal, Contracts Management

About the role

Fleet Data Centers designs, builds and operates mega-scale data center campuses. Fleet provides its customers with flexibility and predictability to meet their upside demand forecasts, addressing a key need in the market as traditional leased models struggle to keep pace with the demand for new Cloud and AI infrastructure. As the Contracts Management Principal, you will drive the contract management process for General Contractors and operational services to support our large-scale data center programs. You will handle the Request-For-Information / Quotation / Proposal (RFx) process, prepare, review, negotiate, and execute contracts with general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and consultants, ensure compliance with contractual obligations, and manage contract-related issues, claims, and disputes.

Responsibilities

• Create and issue RFxs for services required for projects and evaluate and compare bids received from suppliers.
• Develop and deliver on contract execution plans, including contract formation, execution, and post-execution management/administration.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and execute contracts with clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and consultants for large-scale data center construction and post-build operational services.
• Manage contract renewals, extensions, amendments, and terminations, maintaining accurate records of all contracts and related documents.
• Collaborate with legal, finance, construction, engineering, and procurement teams to align contract terms with technical and financial objectives.
• Identify and mitigate potential risks and liabilities associated with contracts and resolve any contract-related issues or disputes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Construction Management, Legal Studies, Contract Law, Business Law, or Supply Chain.
• 5-7 years of commercial/transactional contracts management experience, including drafting, negotiation, execution, and management, with applied understanding of commercial language, construction practices, risk management, or supply chain.
• 3+ years of strategic sourcing/procurement experience.
• 1+ year working for a hyperscaler and/or data center developer/operator.
• Experience working in fast-paced, large-scale infrastructure or data center projects.
• Proficiency in contract lifecycle management (CLM) software.
• Strong knowledge of supply chain management tools, data analytics, and BI tools.
• Knowledge of sustainability and social responsibility in supply chain.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, Construction Management, Legal Studies, Contract Law, Business Law, or Supply Chain.
• Experience with typical construction/services contracting approaches and fee structures (e.g., Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), Not-to-Exceed, Cost Plus Fee, Time & Materials, Hourly Rate, Design-Build (DB), Design-Build-Assist (DBA)).
• Experience managing construction claims.
• Proven track record in implementing process improvement initiatives and driving operational excellence.

Skills

• Integrity and Ethical Standards: Build trust, ensure fairness, and foster long-term, transparent relationships with suppliers.
• Effective Communication: Clearly convey expectations and requirements to suppliers and negotiation parties while understanding their needs and concerns. Comfortable delivering written and verbal presentations to internal leadership teams.
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Ability to understand emotions, cultural nuances, and motivations of others, while managing one's own emotions during high-pressure negotiations.
• Strategic Thinking: Recognize how supplier relationships and negotiations align with broader organizational goals, aiming for mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Critical Thinking Skills: Find innovative solutions and remain flexible in addressing unexpected challenges.
• Analytical Ability: Make data-driven decisions, assess cost structures, and identify potential risks for informed and strategic outcomes.
• Influence and Persuasion: Effectively advocate for positions, build consensus, and secure favorable agreements without compromising relationships.
• Operational Paranoia: Anticipate risks, identify vulnerabilities, and proactively implement mechanisms to prevent disruptions and safeguard safety, security, availability, and scale.
• Relationship Management: Cultivate trust, collaboration, and long-term partnerships while building a broad network for benchmarking, industry insights, and alternative sourcing options.

Location and Travel

Work location is flexible to Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, Austin, TX, or Alexandria, VA. Hybrid schedule with 3 days in office. Regular travel as needed to Fleet offices and vendor meetings.

Pay

Expected salary range: $180,000 to $200,000 base plus discretionary bonus.

Benefits

• 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401K program.
• Standard paid holidays.
• Unlimited PTO.