Sr. Specialist, Contracts

About the Company

NextDecade is committed to providing the world access to reliable, lower-carbon energy. We are focused on delivering secure and cost-effective energy through the safe and efficient development and operation of natural gas liquefaction capacity at Rio Grande LNG. Through our subsidiaries, we are developing and constructing the Rio Grande LNG natural gas liquefaction and export facility near Brownsville, Texas, with approximately 48 MTPA of potential liquefaction capacity currently under construction or in development. The site has sufficient space for up to 10 liquefaction trains and includes a potential carbon capture and storage project. NextDecade’s common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “NEXT.” The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full contract lifecycle, from initial development through execution, compliance tracking, modifications, and closeout.
• Coordinate contract planning and pre-award activities in collaboration with business owners, legal, project management, finance, tax, technical teams, and other stakeholders.
• Lead the development, review, and negotiation of a wide range of commercial contracts, including drafting, redlining, and revising contract language to reflect negotiated terms and mitigate risk across Shared Services Functions such as HR, regulatory/compliance, marketing, communications, finance, travel, HSSE, and other corporate functions.
• Identify synergies and drive execution from the Company level.
• Actively drive dialogue and collaboration across all procurement teams.
• Effectively influence and work across the company’s shared services functions and stakeholders to execute short and long-term objectives.
• Execute complex shared services RFx events to secure major agreements and material purchases while managing and mitigating supply/contractual risk, leveraging key functional areas (Legal, Insurance, Cyber, etc.) where appropriate.
• Serve as the procurement subject matter expert to shared services internal and external stakeholder groups to address business needs according to best-in-class sourcing strategies and methodologies.
• Establish effective strategic relationships with key shared services stakeholders while anticipating and responding to their business needs, objectives, and challenges.
• Work with shared services functions to mitigate uncertainties by planning and forecasting future needs or projects.
• Ensure alignment of contract terms with company objectives, requirements, and internal policies and procedures.
• Maintain version control during negotiations and oversee the integrity of contract documentation.
• Perform post-award contract administration, including tracking deliverables, obligations, and milestones to ensure compliance and performance.
• Monitor key contract milestones, deliverables, and obligations to ensure timely performance.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to address contract-related issues and support resolution of disputes or claims.
• Prepare and issue contract amendments, change orders, and notices in coordination with internal stakeholders, and manage change logs.
• Monitor contract compliance and support internal audits and reviews.
• Maintain accurate and organized contract records in the contract management system.
• Develop and implement standard contract templates and playbooks to support contracts formation and administration.
• Contribute to process improvements, templates, and tools that enhance contract management practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in contract management in the energy sector, particularly with MLA, OEM MSA, PSA, and POs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• Experience working in a matrixed organization and excelling in a dynamic team environment with matrixed objectives.
• Excellent negotiation skills and oral and written communication.
• Strong people skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively cross-functionally.
• Strategic thinking, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong understanding of contract law and procurement principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• National Contracts Management Association (NCMA) certifications: CPCM, CCCM, CCMA, or other relevant certifications.
• Supply Chain certifications such as CPSM, CSCP, MCIPS, or other relevant certifications.

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment with occasional work within or outside of a complex construction environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax machines, and filing cabinets.

• Primarily a sedentary role; however, the incumbent must be able to stand and/or sit continuously to perform all essential job functions for a full shift.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. as required to lift files, boxes, and office equipment.
• Ability to lift files, open filing cabinets, and perform bending, standing on a stool, or climbing as necessary.
• While performing the duties of this role, the incumbent may be required to talk or hear.
• The incumbent is required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to move throughout all areas of each office/site location and facilities.
• Able to wear all necessary PPE equipment to perform job functions.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with ADA-recognized disabilities to perform the essential functions for the job.