Introduction
A leading heavy equipment rental company has been part of this country’s infrastructure story for over a century. Over that time, the business has grown and reinvented itself at every major inflection point in the industry, from the machines it operates to the way it runs the business.
Today, the company operates one of the largest bare rental fleets of rough terrain and lattice crawler cranes in the world, with thousands of machines working across the United States and continued fleet expansion planned.
Summary / Objective
The Director of Contracts leads the companies construction contracts function, overseeing a team of attorneys, Contract Managers, and contract administrators within the Legal, Contracts, and Risk Management organization.
This role is responsible for driving contract strategy, managing risk allocation, and ensuring efficient, scalable contract operations across the business.
This position is based in Houston, Texas.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the construction contracts team, including Contract Managers, contract administrators, and legal support staff, with responsibility for day-to-day contract operations, workload allocation, and team development.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders and external customers on complex construction contract matters, including risk allocation, indemnity, and insurance provisions.
- Review, analyze, negotiate, and approve a wide range of agreements, including construction contracts, equipment rental and sales agreements, and consulting arrangements.
- Own the end-to-end contracting lifecycle, including validation of scope, schedule, pricing, and payment status in coordination with Sales and Accounting.
- Design, implement, and continuously improve contract management processes and systems to enhance efficiency, consistency, and risk control.
- Partner cross-functionally to provide training and increase contract fluency across departments.
- Collaborate directly with executive leadership, including the CFO, President, and Owner, to align contract strategy with business objectives and risk tolerance.
- Oversee contract implementation workflows, ensuring coordination across Contract Managers, contract administrators, and operational teams.
- Conduct periodic contract performance and compliance reviews with project and logistics teams.
- Support additional initiatives and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required. JD strongly preferred; candidates without a JD must have 8+ years of progressive experience in construction contract management.
- Minimum 5+ years of experience in construction contract management within construction or a closely related field (e.g., heavy civil, industrial services, EPC, equipment services/rental, or oil and gas).
- Strong working knowledge of contract law fundamentals, including indemnification and insurance structures.
- Litigation experience is a plus, particularly in construction-related disputes or claims.
- License to practice law in Texas is preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams, including Contract Managers, within a contract management or legal support environment.
- High attention to detail with the ability to manage priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accurate, audit-ready documentation.
- Proven ability to optimize workflows and improve operational efficiency within a contracts function.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership.
- Effective problem-solving skills, with sound judgment and persistence in complex situations.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook); experience with Adobe, DocuSign, and Salesforce is a plus.
Benefits
- Competitive pay and a matching 401(k) plan
- Vacation, Company Holidays, and Sick Days
- Flexible spending accounts/Health Savings Account
