EUROGATE Group Automation (EGA) is driving the transformation of EUROGATE’s German terminals through an ambitious automation programme.
Our goal is simple: to make automation the engine of safety, reliability, and performance, turning technology and process excellence into measurable business results.
EGA brings together experts from engineering, operations, automation, and digital technologies to deliver complex automation projects that redefine how our terminals work. We are building a culture based on lean performance, continuous improvement, and practical learning focused on progress, not control.
The Role
The Project Contract Manager plays a key role in the commercial delivery of the Mini Terminal (CTW MT) automation project working alongside the Project Director and senior project leadership team to protect the project’s commercial position in a complex, multi-vendor environment.
The role has responsibility for the commercial management of multiple high-value engineering, software, automation and infrastructure contracts that form a critical part of the €85M Mini Terminal automation project. Success depends on making sure that suppliers, contractors and partners meet their contractual obligations while proactively managing commercial risk, contractual interfaces, supplier performance and change control across a highly integrated, multi-vendor delivery environment.
Working closely with Project Leadership, Engineering, Finance, Legal and Project Controls, the Project Contract Manager provides commercial leadership support and contract management expertise throughout the Project lifecycle, enabling informed decision-making, disciplined governance and successful commercial outcomes. This role also contributes commercial insights, best practices and lessons learned to support the continued development of the wider Eurogate automation portfolio.
Reports to: Project Director – Mini‑Terminal
Key interfaces: Portfolio Contract Strategy Lead, Procurement, Legal, Technical Services, Finance/Controlling, Vendors.
Location: Wilhelmshaven, a Germany-based role, with some travel possible across EUROGATE’s other locations – Bremen, Bremerhaven and Hamburg.
Language: English fluency required; German language proficiency is strongly preferred too.
In practice, the role is responsible for:
- Protecting Eurogate´s commercial position by ensuring contractual rights, obligations and risk allocations are appropriately managed throughout project delivery.
- Managing the commercial administration of project contracts including deliverables, obligations, notices, risks, and governance documentation.
- Leading commercial management throughout contract execution, ensuring suppliers, contractors, and partners meet their contractual, commercial, technical and delivery obligations.
- Managing the commercial aspects of contracted technical and operational interfaces across multiple interdependent suppliers to minimise delivery and commercial risk.
- Supporting procurement activities, including contract formation, commercial clarifications, and alignment with agreed procurement strategies.
- Monitoring supplier performance against contractual milestones, acceptance criteria, and agreed performance measures.
- Working closely with Finance, Procurement and Project Controls to reconcile budgets, committed values, accruals, forecasts and commercial exposure.
- Managing contract change control including assessment, negotiation, documentation, commercial impact evaluation and implementation in line with approved governance processes.
- Verifying that payment applications and invoices comply with contractual milestones, acceptance criteria, and approved commercial commitments.
- Leading the commercial resolution of contractual issues (early!), supplier disagreements and emerging disputes, seeking practical outcomes that protect project delivery and minimise commercial exposure.
- Providing commercial advice and contractual guidance to the Project Director and project leadership team, enabling informed commercial and project decision-making.
- Contributing to contract strategy development aligned with portfolio standards and commercial objectives.
- Contributing to EGA’s contract management forums, driving consistent standards, shared learning, and alignment across projects.
- Supporting other EGA automation projects during periods of lower delivery intensity, as required.
- Contributing to the development of business cases, contracting strategies, and procurement approaches for future automation initiatives.
Hard Skills & Experience
- At least 10 years’ relevant experience in contract, commercial or claims management within major engineering, infrastructure, construction, industrial automation or comparable capital projects.
- At least 7 years’ direct post-award responsibility for the commercial and contractual management of complex projects or major contract packages.
- At least 3 years operating as the commercial or contractual lead for a major project or portfolio, working independently and providing authoritative advice directly to project or programme leadership.
- Demonstrable experience managing a portfolio of multiple interdependent contracts and significant delivery partners—typically five or more—with an aggregate value of approximately €50 million or more. Equivalent experience managing fewer exceptionally large or complex contracts will also be considered.
- Demonstrable experience managing variations, contractual notices, delay events, extensions of time, non-performance, claims, liquidated damages and negotiated commercial settlements.
- Proven experience across multiple technical disciplines, such as civil works, infrastructure, industrial equipment, electrical systems, automation, systems integration or software.
- Strong working knowledge of German and international contract structures relevant to major projects, including BGB/VOB/B, bespoke equipment and technology supply contracts and FIDIC or comparable EPC forms.
- Relevant degree or equivalent qualification in law, commercial management, quantity surveying, engineering, construction management, business or a comparable discipline.
- Professional-level English and German sufficient to independently manage German-language contracts, correspondence and commercial negotiations.
Soft Skills & Behaviours
- Detail‑driven and disciplined.
- Strong cross‑functional communicator.
- Proactive in identifying risks and commercial deviations.
- Calm under pressure; structured in documentation.
- Collaborative and non‑adversarial approach
- Successful outcome-focused
Success Factors
Success in this role is demonstrated by:
- Strong commercial and contractual control maintained across multiple interdependent contracts, suppliers and partners.
- Independently identify emerging contractual, commercial and interface risks early, with clear positions established and timely action driven confidently.
- Variations, claims, delays and supplier non-performance managed proactively, protecting the project’s commercial position and contractual entitlements.
- Supplier performance actively managed against contractual scope, milestones, cost, acceptance and delivery obligations.
- Reliable commercial reporting and audit-ready records providing clear visibility of commitments, changes, exposure, risk and required decisions.
- Trusted, authoritative commercial advice provided to Project leadership, with effective coordination across Engineering, Procurement, Project Controls, Finance and Legal.
Join EUROGATE’s Automation Journey
If you’re motivated by complex commercial delivery and want to play a meaningful role in shaping how automation contracts are governed and executed, EUROGATE Group Automation offers the opportunity to make a genuine impact.
As a Contract Manager, you’ll sit at the heart of a major automation programme, ensuring that commercial clarity, disciplined change control, and strong supplier relationships enable successful delivery and protect the project’s commercial position.
If you bring structure, curiosity, and a proactive mindset, this is a place where your judgment will truly influence outcomes.
♀️We actively encourage women to apply.
Research shows that women often apply only when they meet 100% of the listed criteria.
At EUROGATE, we value potential, capability and mindset just as much as direct experience.
If this role excites you, and you believe you can contribute, even if you don’t tick every box, we would still like to hear from you.