Lonza MSP US
Contract Manager
Senior Contracts & Claims Manager
As a key member of the Global Capital Sourcing team, you will drive the commercial management of medium to large greenfield and brownfield CAPEX projects (valued at $5M+ USD). In this role, you will protect contractual rights, mitigate execution risks, manage change orders and claims, and ensure contractor compliance to deliver high-quality investment projects on time, within budget, and at the lowest Total Cost of Ownership.
This is an office‑first role and the contract duration is 6 months. Working together in person supports close, real‑time collaboration and team alignment, enabling us to deliver our best work. You will work primarily in the office, with the flexibility to work remotely for 20% of your time (one day per week).
What you will get:An agile career and dynamic working culture.
An inclusive and ethical workplace.
Competitive hourly rate.
Compensation for this role will be determined by the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and relevant knowledge.
What you will do:
Lead post-award contract execution across execution, commissioning, and evaluation phases to safeguard contractual rights, oversee change orders, and enforce warranty and performance guarantees.
Drive claim management and dispute resolution by developing defense strategies against incoming contractor claims, identifying outgoing claim opportunities, and leading negotiations, settlements, or arbitration efforts.
Collaborate with Strategic Global Engineering (SGIE) and Project Management to define contracting strategies and risk mitigation plans aligned with procurement standards.
Review new tenders, support negotiations for major capital contracts and subcontracts with strategic suppliers, and advise project leadership on key commercial risks.
Drive supplier accountability and performance management through scorecards, issue escalations, commercial audits, and strong vendor relationship management.
Engage proactively with internal stakeholders—including Legal, Finance, SGIE, and site project managers—to maintain a unified corporate approach to external suppliers.
Maintain complete contract, variation, and claim documentation within official company repositories, providing routine updates to Project and Procurement leadership.
What we are looking for:
CAPEX Contract Expertise: Proven track record in post-award commercial contract management for large-scale industrial CAPEX projects ($5M+ USD), including EPC/EPCM frameworks and complex construction agreements.
Claim & Dispute Management: Specialized experience developing claim and defense strategies, handling variations, delay management, and participating in dispute resolution processes.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong experience working closely alongside Global Engineering (SGIE), project teams, and legal counsel within a complex biotech, pharmaceutical, or chemical manufacturing environment.
Commercial Negotiation: Demonstrated capability to lead high-stakes contract and subcontract negotiations with global contractors and strategic capital equipment suppliers.
Risk & Financial Management: Solid understanding of project cost control systems, bank guarantees, cash flow monitoring, back-charges, and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles.
Stakeholder Alignment: Strong communication and governance skills to unite cross-functional priorities across global matrixed teams.
Education & Professional Background: Degree in Engineering, Law, Quantity Surveying, Business Administration, Procurement, or equivalent practical industry experience.
About Lonza
At Lonza, their people are their greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, their globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Their core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who they are and how they work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work they want you to be part of.
Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, they value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment.
As Lonza’s talent acquisition partner, please note, Randstad is responsible for the engagement and contracting of this contingent role.
Ready to play your part in shaping the future of life sciences? Apply now.