Contracts Lead, UpstreamDepartment: Administration
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: US TX Houston - Corporate Office
Job DescriptionPosition Summary:The Upstream Contracts Lead will play a critical role in supporting business objectives by independently managing upstream contracts throughout their full lifecycle, from strategy development, sourcing, commercial design, execution, supplier management, tactical procurement, payables, and closeout. This role requires strong commercial judgment, a proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation, and the ability to communicate contractual positions, risks, and recommendations to internal stakeholders and external contractors.
The successful candidate will work closely with Operations, Drilling, Completions, Engineering, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, and HSE teams to ensure commercial alignment with business objectives while maintaining compliance with company policies and industry best practices.
Key Accountabilities: - Independently develop category strategies, Requests for Proposal (RFPs), bid packages, commercial evaluations, and contract documentation for assigned scopes of work.
- Lead or facilitate strategic sourcing, commercial model development, and negotiations for drilling, completions, production, facilities, inspection, logistics, maintenance, and other upstream service agreements.
- Prepare and review redlines, issue logs, commercial analyses, and risk assessments; negotiate commercial terms within delegated authority and escalate key issues as required.
- Manage assigned contracts and supply chain from award through execution, ensuring compliance with contractual, commercial, operational, and pricing obligations.
- Review, negotiate, and administer Master Service Agreements (MSAs), in collaboration with legal. Manage work orders, purchase orders, purchase agreements, equipment rentals, service contracts, and amendments.
- Facilitate and support vendor performance discussions.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities, commercial efficiencies, and contract risks while recommending practical solutions that support operational objectives.
- Partner with operations and field teams to resolve commercial and contractual issues during execution.
- Proactively identify issues, unclear direction, or gaps in information and determine next steps independently.
- Adapt quickly to changing priorities, operational requirements, and business needs in a fast-paced environment.
- Translate strategic business objectives into executable contracting and commercial actions without step-by-step direction.
- Collaborate closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, Engineering, and HSE teams to support effective and timely contract execution.
- Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable contract and supply chain managed records and documentation.
- Support contract-related reporting and provide timely status updates to management.
- Demonstrate a hands-on, ownership-driven mindset with strong accountability for assigned work.
- Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.
- May be required to travel domestically to field offices, operational sites, vendor facilities, and contractor meetings.
- Maintain a high regard for personal safety, the safety of company assets and employees, and the public.
QualificationsEducation, Certificates, and Licenses:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or a related field
Experience:- 10+ years of contract management, commercial, supply chain, or procurement experience within the oil and gas industry.
- Upstream E&P experience strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:- Extensive experience developing category strategies, sourcing, and commercial model development. Negotiating, drafting, and administering complex commercial agreements within the upstream oil and gas sector.
- Strong understanding of industry-standard upstream contracting structures, including MSAs, service orders, purchase orders, rate schedules, equipment rentals, drilling agreements, and project-based contracts.
- Demonstrated experience supporting drilling, completions, production, facilities, maintenance, logistics, and related operational activities.
- Strong knowledge of commercial risk allocation, indemnity provisions, insurance requirements, limitation of liability clauses, and regulatory considerations common to upstream operations.
- Proven ability to analyze contractual, commercial, and operational issues and develop practical business-focused solutions.
- Demonstrated commercial judgment and problem-solving capability in high-value, time-sensitive, and operationally critical situations.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and engage confidently with contractors, suppliers, and service providers.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate contractual positions, risks, and recommendations to audiences ranging from field personnel to executive leadership.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strategic and analytical mindset with a focus on continuous improvement, operational support, and proactive risk management.
- Ability to adapt quickly to changing operational priorities while maintaining accountability for results.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, for commercial analysis, documentation, and reporting.
