Project Claims & Commercial Controls Manager

Location: United States Position Summary The Project Claims & Commercial Controls Manager is a strategic commercial leader responsible for protecting project profitability through proactive contract administration, change order management, claims strategy, commercial risk management, and financial oversight across the project portfolio. Reporting to the CFO, this role serves as an independent partner between Finance and Operations, ensuring contractual entitlements, customer change orders, commercial risks, supplier exposure, and project financial assumptions are identified, documented, challenged, and resolved before they impact project margins. The successful candidate combines project management experience with strong commercial, contractual, and financial expertise to improve commercial discipline, maximize customer recovery, minimize risk, and strengthen project financial performance. This position works closely with Project Managers, Project Engineers, Program Directors, Finance, Operations, Executive Leadership, customers, and subcontractors. While Project Managers retain ownership of project execution and customer relationships, this role provides independent commercial oversight, governance, and strategic support. Key Responsibilities Partner with project teams to identify scope changes, schedule impacts, engineering changes, and other events requiring commercial action. Monitor and oversee the change order process to ensure timely submission of supporting documentation, proactive project manager follow-up, and adherence to commercial deadlines. Monitor aging commercial issues, drive accountability, and escalate unresolved risks. Support the timely development and submission of Extension of Time (EOT) requests, equitable adjustment proposals, cost recovery claims, and settlement proposals to ensure successful commercial outcomes. Perform schedule delay, disruption, and cost impact analyses in collaboration with the project Operations and Engineering leads to support claims, negotiations, and dispute resolution. Review and evaluate project documentation and deliverables to develop and support commercial strategies for successful change order pursuits Proactively identify commercial, contractual, financial, and operational risks impacting project performance. Support Cost-to-Complete (CTC) reviews with respect to change order impacts / assessed likelihood of outcome Provide Finance and Executive Leadership with visibility into commercial exposure, margin risk, recovery opportunities, and expected financial impacts. Negotiation & Leadership Lead or support negotiations involving change orders, claims, and contract disputes. Partner with Project Management, Operations, Finance, and Legal to develop commercial strategies and mitigate risk. Establish commercial controls, governance processes, and documentation standards. Coach project teams on contract compliance, commercial awareness, and change management. Escalate significant commercial risks and unresolved issues to executive leadership as appropriate. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Law, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 10+ years of experience in project-based industries with increasing responsibility in commercial management, project management, claims, contracts, or project controls. Strong background in customer change orders, claims management, contract administration, and commercial negotiations. Experience with project financial controls, budgeting, forecasting, and Cost-to-Complete (CTC) management. Working knowledge of industry-standard contracts (FIDIC, NEC, AIA, or similar). Experience in material handling, automation, systems integration, industrial construction, manufacturing, or other complex engineered project environments is strongly preferred. Ability to travel as required to project sites and customer locations. Preferred Skills Commercial contract administration Claims preparation and negotiation Change order management Delay and disruption analysis Cost impact analysis and financial forecasting Cost-to-Complete (CTC) management Commercial risk assessment and mitigation Executive communication and presentation Contract interpretation and compliance Supplier and subcontractor commercial management Project scheduling and scope management Conflict resolution and negotiation Success Profile The ideal candidate is a confident, analytical, and commercially minded leader who is comfortable challenging assumptions, driving accountability, and influencing cross-functional teams. They possess exceptional business judgment, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to balance customer relationships with disciplined commercial decision-making. This individual thrives in complex project environments, takes ownership of unresolved issues, and proactively identifies opportunities to improve commercial performance while protecting company profitability.