Contracts & Tender Manager - PEB / EPC Construction

Location: Chennai HQ | Department: Contracts / Commercial | Experience: 6+ Years

Role Overview

We are looking for a sharp, commercially astute Contracts & Tender Manager to own the full contracts lifecycle from pre-tender risk assessment and bid preparation through to contract finalisation, post-contract administration, and dispute resolution. You will be the contractual backbone of our PEB and EPC project delivery, ensuring every agreement with clients, subcontractors, and vendors is legally sound, commercially aligned, and operationally executable. This role demands deep knowledge of construction contract frameworks, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to protect company interests while enabling smooth project execution.

Role in the Team

Report to the Head - Contracts / Commercial Head / Director - Projects and work as a key commercial partner to the design, estimation, procurement, legal, finance, and site execution teams.

Serve as the single point of accountability for all contractual matters from NDA and MoU drafting at the bid stage through to change order management and close-out on live projects.

Act as the primary contractual interface with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and consultants managing correspondence, approvals, and dispute notices with precision and timeliness.

Partner with the estimation and sales teams during pre-tender to align contract terms with company deliverables, risk appetite, and project margins.

Build and maintain a structured subcontractor and vendor contract database covering fabrication, steel erection, interior, and manufacturing contractors across India.

Work with legal counsel on arbitration, litigation, or out-of-court settlement proceedings when contractual disputes escalate.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Contract & Tendering

Review tender documents, BOQs, client specifications, and scope definitions identifying commercial risks and advising management before bid submission.

Participate in bid clarifications, techno-commercial discussions, and contract negotiations with clients and consultants.

Draft and vet NDAs, MoUs, work orders, and agreements at the pre-tender stage, ensuring legal robustness and commercial clarity.

Collaborate with estimation, design, and sales teams to ensure contract terms accurately reflect the company's technical and commercial deliverables.

Contract Finalisation & Documentation

Draft, review, and negotiate main contract agreements, subcontracts, purchase orders, and vendor MoUs for EPC, turnkey, item-rate, and design-build projects.

Ensure all legal clauses liabilities, indemnities, penalties, retention, and performance guarantees are addressed appropriately before project commencement.

Manage all client and subcontractor correspondence with proper document control, version tracking, and approval records.

Ensure full compliance with labour statutory requirements and applicable legal obligations embedded within contracts.

Post-Contract Administration & Claims

Monitor contract compliance throughout the project lifecycle tracking milestones, payment terms, and deliverable obligations.

Handle variations, change orders, and claims ensuring accurate documentation, timely approvals, and commercial recovery for scope changes.

Maintain structured records of correspondences, delays, extensions of time (EoT), and claims across all active projects.

Support site and project execution teams in interpreting contract clauses and resolving day-to-day contractual queries.

Dispute Resolution & Subcontractor Management

Lead preparation of dispute notices, claims, and responses; coordinate with legal counsel for arbitration or settlement proceedings as required.

Proactively identify and mitigate contractual risks before they impact project delivery or profitability.

Onboard and manage subcontractors interior, fabrication, steel erection, and manufacturing across multiple states in line with commercial policies.

Required Qualifications

Education

B.E. / B.Tech in Civil or Mechanical Engineering (full-time, mandatory).

Additional qualifications in Contract Management, Construction Law, or Commercial Management are an advantage.

Technical Skills & Experience

6+ years of experience in contracts management within EPC, PEB, or industrial construction covering pre-tender, contract finalisation, and post-contract administration.

Strong knowledge of construction contract frameworks FIDIC, CPWD, GCC, and PEB-specific contracts for industrial sheds, warehouses, and infrastructure projects.

Proven expertise in drafting and vetting NDAs, MoUs, work orders, subcontracts, and vendor agreements across project types.

Hands-on experience sourcing and onboarding subcontractors (fabrication, erection, interior, manufacturing) across different states in India.

Strong understanding of Indian contract law, labour statutory compliance, and construction dispute resolution mechanisms.

Proficiency in MS Office, contract management tools, and ERP systems for document control and reporting.

Mindset & Soft Skills

Excellent negotiation skills able to secure commercially favourable terms while maintaining strong client and vendor relationships.

Sharp analytical mindset with keen attention to contractual detail, risk flags, and commercial implications.

Strong written and verbal communication skills for drafting precise legal and commercial correspondence.

Willingness to travel across India as required for project coordination, negotiations, and subcontractor management.

High accountability, ownership mindset, and ability to manage multiple contracts and stakeholders simultaneously under deadline pressure.

Contracts & Tender Manager PEB / EPC Construction