Senior Contracts Specialist

Hughes Collective is pleased to present an exciting opportunity on behalf of our client.

Title: Senior Contracts Specialist

Location: Saskatoon, SK with flexibility to consider Regina or Moose Jaw

Reporting to: Senior Manager, Procurement

Work Environment: Hybrid, with site travel as required

Our Client

K+S Potash Canada has a century of potash experience, while its Saskatchewan story is still relatively young. Bethune was the province’s first new potash mine in four decades and has since become an important part of the company’s Canadian operations, producing potash for customers around the world.

The organization continues to invest in its Saskatchewan operations, with active capital work and close collaboration across operations, engineering, projects, procurement and corporate functions. That connection gives employees a better understanding of how work in one area affects the rest of the operation.

The Opportunity

The Senior Contracts Specialist will lead commercial strategy and contract formation for major capital work, with construction and construction services agreements valued between approximately $1 million and $50 million. Contract value is only part of the equation. A smaller agreement can carry significant commercial exposure, and this person will be expected to understand that risk, determine the right contracting approach, negotiate the terms, and remain closely involved after award through changes, claims, payment issues and closeout.

The organization is also looking further ahead at contractor requirements over the next three to five years. Rather than going back to market for each project, the Senior Contracts Specialist will help assess which contractors are equipped to support recurring work, where longer-term agreements make sense, and how upcoming capital work should influence those decisions. The role requires someone who can get into the detail of a contract while still seeing how those decisions affect future projects, contractor relationships and cost.

Key Responsibilities

As Senior Contracts Specialist, you will work collaboratively and are responsible for:

1. Contract Formation & Strategy

• Lead pre-award contract formation for major construction and construction services agreements.
• Develop contracting and vendor strategies with Project Services, Program Delivery and Procurement.
• Assess commercial and contractual risk and determine the appropriate contracting and sourcing approach for each project.
• Coordinate contract formation activity across the capital project portfolio.
• Develop contract formation procedures, KPIs and performance reporting.
• Apply strategic sourcing and category management principles to future project requirements and contractor capacity.

2. Contract Administration & Commercial Management

• Administer selected construction and service contracts following award.
• Review and interpret contract documents and advise project teams on contractual requirements.
• Manage change requests, change orders, amendments, claims, back charges and non-conforming work.
• Lead negotiations involving claims, disputed costs, invoice discrepancies and contract amendments.
• Review invoices, progress claims, payment certificates, holdbacks and final accounts against contract terms.
• Manage contract closeout, warranty requirements and contractor demobilization.

3. Risk, Contractor & Stakeholder Management

• Identify contractual and commercial risk and work with project teams to address issues early.
• Coordinate with engineering, cost control, Accounts Payable and other internal groups on contract-related requirements.
• Act as a commercial liaison between project teams and contractors when changes, disputes or contractual questions arise.
• Maintain strong contractor relationships while protecting the organization’s commercial interests.
• Participate in project kick-off meetings, steering committees and other project discussions as required.

4. Contract Practices & Team Guidance

• Provide guidance to contracts administrators on post-award activities where required.
• Establish common contract formation and administration practices across projects.
• Refine contract documentation, reporting, controls and procedures.
• Support the growth of the contracts administration area, including potential future responsibility for a small team.

Qualifications

The Essentials (Hard Skills):

• 7+ years of progressive experience in the formation and administration of large, multi-million-dollar construction or construction services contracts.
• Strong experience with both pre-award contract formation and post-award commercial administration, including change orders, claims, amendments, invoicing, progress payments and contract closeout.
• Demonstrated ability to assess contractual and commercial risk within major capital projects and determine the appropriate level of rigour based on project scope, value and risk exposure.
• Strong negotiation experience with contractors and suppliers, including commercial changes, disputed claims, invoicing discrepancies and other contractual issues.
• Experience supporting major capital projects within mining, industrial, infrastructure, engineering or construction environments. Experience gained on either the owner/client or contractor side will be considered.
• Post-secondary education in business administration, purchasing, supply chain management or a related discipline is preferred. Comparable depth of relevant contract and construction experience will also be considered.
• A CCCA, CCCM, SCMP or other relevant professional designation is considered an asset.

The Intangibles (Soft Skills):

• Brings strong commercial instincts and recognizes contractual exposure early enough to address it effectively.
• Moves confidently between detailed contractual analysis and the commercial considerations affecting a project or portfolio.
• Approaches work with initiative, high personal standards and a willingness to contribute when priorities shift across the team.
• Comfortable challenging assumptions, asking thoughtful questions and navigating direct commercial conversations with contractors and internal stakeholders.
• Shares knowledge and capacity when others on the team need support.
• Thinks beyond an individual contract and considers future project requirements, contractor capability and longer-term commercial strategy.
• Interested in improving contract practices and finding better ways to support project teams.

What Our Client Offers

• Comprehensive Total Rewards – Receive a competitive salary, annual bonus opportunity, employer-paid health and dental benefits, a defined pension plan with employer contributions beginning immediately, disability coverage, life insurance, and a flexible wellness spending account.
• Flexibility That Supports the Work – Benefit from a hybrid working environment with flexibility built into the week, balanced with the connection to project teams and site activity that helps inform strong commercial decisions.
• Major Capital Projects – Apply your expertise across high-value, high-risk capital work where contract strategy, commercial judgement and risk management have a direct bearing on project delivery.
• Strategic Contract Scope – Contribute to contract formation, strategic sourcing, contractor relationships and post-award commercial management across the project portfolio.
• A Team That Shares the Work – Work with colleagues who share knowledge and capacity, step in when priorities shift, and expect a high level of accountability from one another.

About the Collective

At Hughes Collective, we don’t just recruit, we revolutionize how talent meets opportunity. We’re not in the business of filling roles; we’re in the business of transforming careers and powering businesses with bold, game-changing hires.

For candidates, this isn’t just about your next job, it’s about uncovering your passions, amplifying your strengths, and unlocking your potential. We’re here to connect you to a career that excites, inspires, and fuels your future.

This isn’t recruitment as usual, this is Hughes Collective. Bold. Authentic. Unapologetically different. Your next move starts here.