Commercial Contracts Manager

Become part of our global network of skilled engineers, scientists, auditors, planners and environmental specialists, all working together to leave this world better than we found it.

Who are we looking for?   

We are seeking a Commercial Contracts Manager, to work out of any of our offices in the Greater Toronto Area. This individual will functionally report to our Commercial Director Major Projects. The Project Commercial Manager provides commercial and contract management leadership to support GHD's performance and outcomes on major Design and Construction (D&C) contracts.

Our Hybrid Work Model: 

Be part of the dynamic culture Our workplace thrives on a hybrid model, combining in-office collaboration and flexibility. Join us in the office 3-days a week to contribute, connect and excel in our vibrant environment.

Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you involved in:

• Commercial Leadership & Direction: Provide timely, consistent commercial and contract leadership to support project teams and operations, with a focus on complex and major projects with elevated risk profiles (e.g. DB, PDB). Lead commercial strategy and decision‑making across the full project lifecycle, from bid preparation through delivery and close‑out, ensuring alignment with GHD's objectives, risk appetite, and governance requirements.
• Contract Review, Drafting & Negotiation: Advise on the commercial and legal implications of contract terms, particularly onerous or non‑standard provisions. Support drafting, reviewing, and interpreting contracts, subconsultant and teaming agreements, and related documentation, in collaboration with other in-house counsel. Act as a core member of negotiation teams to improve commercial outcomes and liaise with Levels of Authority (LoA) approvers.
• Project Review & Assurance: Undertake formal and ad‑hoc project reviews to assess the effectiveness of commercial, contractual, and risk management practices. Identify emerging risks and improvement opportunities and support corrective actions. Provide independent reporting to the relevant Business EGM and EGM – Risk on the commercial, contractual, legal, and risk position of large and major projects.
• Pre‑Bid / Teaming Support: Support early positioning for major opportunities by assisting with partner selection, teaming strategies, and commercial structuring. Attend meetings with prospective partners and clients, identify and mitigate key commercial, contractual, legal, and regulatory risks, and support negotiations to achieve acceptable outcomes. Contribute to TRG and EGM briefings, approvals, and governance processes.
• Contract & Claims Support: Guide effective contract administration, risk controls, and compliance with management systems. Take lead roles in the preparation and negotiation of significant variation and extension‑of‑time claims, ensuring positions are commercially robust and legally defensible. Support other in-house counsel with managing claims against GHD, including dispute avoidance and resolution, and manage prompt payment disputes where required.
• Regulatory, Compliance & Legal Research: Provide support on regulatory and compliance matters relevant to project delivery and commercial arrangements. Undertake legal research to interpret contractual, statutory, and regulatory obligations and translate findings into practical commercial positioning, risk mitigation strategies, and support of project teams and leadership.
• Training & Knowledge Sharing: Partner with other in-house counsel to develop and deliver training on contracts, commercial risk, regulatory compliance, and professional indemnity (PI) claims. Support operational leadership and the Quality team in the continuous improvement of commercial, legal, and risk frameworks, systems, and procedures.

*This is not a legal position and will not provide legal advice.  Any such legal advice will be provided with the support and at the direction of legal counsel.

What you'll bring to the team:

• Degree in business, law, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Additional weighting provided to those with a JD or LLM from a US or Canadian institution. 
• Minimum of 10 years' experience with complex linear infrastructure commercial and contract management, preferably on DB projects with heightened risk profiles.
• Demonstrated track record in contract negotiation, claims management, risk control, and project governance.
• Experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary project teams and providing leadership through all project lifecycle phases.

As a diverse and inclusive organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. Upon request, GHD will provide reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process.

#LI-TP1