Senior Contracts Specialist

Abouts Us

At Baffinland, we work and live beyond the Arctic Circle, mining iron ore at our Mary River Property, located in the Qikiqtani Region of Nunavut on Baffin Island; one of the world's most captivating and seldom seen destinations. We are a unique company with a strong management who have amassed specialty experience on northern mining projects through all phases of Inuit consultation, permitting, construction and operation. Our workforce brings together the modern practice of safe, sustainable mining and the enduring value of a traditional culture, which is rapidly advancing. The result is a work and community experience you won't find anywhere else. We are looking for people ready to share, build, and grow with our company.

Reporting to the Contracts Manager, the Senior Contracts Specialist is responsible for leading the formation, administration, and close-out of major construction contracts and service agreements, including: pre-qualification of bidders, drafting Requests for Proposals (RFPs), negotiating contractual terms and conditions, and managing claims and disputes. The Senior Contracts Specialist will also be responsible for ensuring that all contracting activities are carried out in compliance with Baffinland's stakeholder expectations and HSE (health, safety, and environmental) commitments, including the Mary River Inuit Impacts and Benefits Agreement.

Main Accountabilities

• Consults with key stakeholders from Operations and other Baffinland departments to develop contracting strategies, which address the specific needs of end-user departments while maintaining an advantageous commercial position.
• Identifies and pre-qualifies potential contractors, including Inuit-owned firms as required by the Mary River Impact and Benefit Agreement, to develop a pool of sophisticated, qualified, and competent contractors, which Baffinland can draw from for its operational needs.
• Develops Request for Proposals (RFP) documents and leads the contract formation process, including the negotiation of contractual terms and conditions to achieve contracts which can be managed effectively and efficiently.
• Establishes key performance indicators (KPIs) and other performance measurement metrics for contractors to enable regular reporting and progress monitoring. Provides such reports to Baffinland management and end-user departments on a regular basis; flags deviations or instances of non-compliance and implements corrective action, including enforcing contractual provisions where necessary.
• Consults with end-user departments and legal counsel to manage claims and disputes as they arise during the course of each contract, negotiating favourable outcomes within key stakeholder expectations.
• Ensures all contractors are compliant with Baffinland health, safety, and environmental (HSE) requirements, including full compliance with applicable site policies and procedures. Ensures contractual terms and conditions are aligned with Baffinland's insurance program.
• Ensures all contractual commitments are properly documented and recorded, including in Baffinland's ERP system (SAP). Manage changes to the scope of services and/or contractual terms and conditions with key stakeholders with a view to minimize commercial risk.
• Reviews contractor invoices for payment on a regular basis. Support the Cost Control team in forecasting and analysis.
• Mentors junior contract administrators and provides training in the contract formation and administration process, as well as in the use of Baffinland's procurement systems and tools.
• Visits the Project site in Nunavut from time-to-time to liaise with end-user departments in Operations and troubleshoot contractual problems of a critical, time-sensitive nature.
• Identifies opportunities to improve contracting practices, including improvements to contracting processes and continuous development of standardized contract documents, templates, and terms and conditions.
• This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Other duties may be required

Main Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Commerce, Business Administration, or Supply Chain Management
• Minimum seven (7) years of experience in contracts management and administration, including contract formation and claims management/dispute resolution, preferably in industrial setting based in remote locations.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook)
• Proficient with ERP systems, preferably SAP
• Strong negotiating skills
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)