Contract Management Specialist

About the Role

Due to continued, controlled growth, Vertiv is seeking to recruit an ambitious and motivated Contract Management Specialist to join its Commercial Department, focusing on OneCore projects. This is a hands-on, execution-focused role centered on the identification, preparation, and recovery of Change Orders across a portfolio of live projects, as well as the management of customer-side disputes and claims. The successful candidate will assist project delivery teams, providing day-to-day commercial and contractual support to Project Managers throughout the execution phase.

Ideally with experience in the Electrical and/or Mechanical construction sector, the Contract Management Specialist will report to the Commercial Manager. The successful candidate will hold a degree in a relevant subject, demonstrate strong contractual awareness, and possess excellent oral and written communication skills. The role is based at Vertiv’s office in Westerville, Ohio or in Pelzer, South Carolina.

Responsibilities

Change Order Management

• Early identification of change events, scope variations, and deviations from the contracted scope of works across assigned projects
• Assisting with the preparation and substantiation of Change Order submissions including full commercial, and quantum justification
• Ensuring timely notification of all change events in accordance with contractual notice requirements — protecting entitlement at all times
• Maintaining accurate Change Order registers and trackers, providing regular status updates to project teams and senior management
• Following Change Orders through to agreement and recovery, including negotiation with clients and resolution of any valuation disagreements
• Supporting Project Managers with the commercial assessment of client instructions, drawing revisions, and scope changes to determine Change Order entitlement
• Preparing and submitting extension of time applications where program impact arises from change events

Project Team Support

• Acting as the primary commercial point of contact for Project Managers on all Change Order and claims-related matters during project execution
• Providing day-to-day guidance to project teams on contractual notification requirements, entitlement positions, and commercial risk exposure
• Assisting Project Managers in understanding key contractual obligations, timelines, and mechanisms relevant to variations and claims
• Working closely with planning teams to establish program impact and cause-and-effect narratives to support time-related claims
• Supporting monthly valuation and payment application preparation, ensuring all approved Change Orders are properly captured and valued
• Contributing to project commercial reviews and providing clear reporting on Change Order status, values, and recovery rates

Customer Disputes & Claims

• Managing and responding to customer-side disputes, back-charges, and contra-charges with detailed technical and commercial analysis
• Preparing robust written responses to client claims, clearly setting out the company's contractual position
• Defending against unjust charges by building comprehensive evidence packages including contemporaneous records, correspondence, and program data
• Liaising directly with clients to negotiate resolution of disputed matters in a professional and collaborative manner
• Supporting the preparation and prosecution of formal claims where amicable resolution cannot be achieved
• Maintaining detailed records and audit trails to support the company's position in any disputed matters

Expectations

The successful candidate will be expected to possess the following:

• Minimum 3–5 years' experience in a commercial, contract management, or quantity surveying role within a Construction/Engineering business, preferably with Mechanical and/or Electrical project experience
• Degree-level education in Quantity Surveying, Construction Law, Engineering, Commercial Management, or a related discipline
• Demonstrable experience in the preparation and recovery of Change Orders / variations on construction or engineering projects
• Experience in handling customer disputes, back-charges, or claims
• Strong understanding of contractual notification requirements and their practical application
• Self-motivated with an ability to work independently and build strong working relationships across multidisciplinary project teams
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Excellent oral and written communication skills — capable of preparing clear, well-structured contractual correspondence
• Functional working knowledge of ERP systems and document management tools
• Proficient IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite