Contract Specialist

Job Description:

POSITION SUMMARY

The Contract Specialist is responsible for the substantive review and negotiation of commercial construction contracts and plays a critical role in managing and facilitating contracts between Veit and its clients, subcontractors, and suppliers. This role requires a proactive, strategic approach to identifying and mitigating risk while cultivating opportunities to strengthen and expand relationships with internal and external customers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Review, analyze, and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts, including client agreements, subcontracts, purchase orders, service agreements, vendor agreements, and confidentiality agreements, to ensure compliance with Company financial, operational, legal, and risk-management guidelines.
• Conduct contract negotiations directly with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and other third parties on proposed contract terms and conditions.
• Exercise independent judgment and discretion to revise contract language and negotiate terms within delegated authority and established Company risk-tolerance guidelines.
• Analyze and interpret contract provisions, identify legal, financial, operational, and commercial risks, draft alternative language, and propose redline revisions that appropriately balance business objectives and risk mitigation.
• Demonstrate a strong sense of urgency in reviewing, negotiating, and resolving contract issues to support project schedules, operational needs, and business objectives while maintaining appropriate risk controls.
• Recognize and understand the relationship among parties in a multi-tier contract structure and flow-down requirements to ensure contractual obligations are properly addressed and managed.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders, including Operations, Project Management, Estimating, Finance, Safety, Human Resources, and Legal, to communicate contractual requirements and ensure compliance with applicable obligations, including prevailing wage requirements, labor compliance, EEO provisions, insurance requirements, bonding obligations, and union-related provisions.
• Provide contract guidance and support to Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and operational leadership.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with clients, contractors, suppliers, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders to ensure timely resolution of issues and contract execution a.
• Maintain contract records and assist with tracking contract status, approvals, amendments, notices, and other key contractual obligations.
• Keep the Contracts Manager and General Counsel informed of significant contract issues, disputes, unusual risks, or matters that may have financial, operational, or legal implications for the Company.
• Escalate contractual, legal, or compliance issues that fall outside established authority levels or Company risk tolerance guidelines for review and approval.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across contract processes, templates, training, and risk-management practices.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Degree in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, or Contract Management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and a minimum of five (5) years of experience reviewing, negotiating, and administering commercial contracts, preferably in the construction, engineering, or other project-based industries.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, email, and related business systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate information, direction, and contract-related guidance to all levels of management, employees, clients, suppliers, vendors, and other business associates.
• Strong negotiation skills and a solid understanding of contractual language, contract documents, and the contracting process.
• Ability to quickly comprehend, analyze, interpret, and apply contract provisions and related documentation in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment where prompt review and response are critical to supporting project schedules and business needs.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work independently with minimal supervision, meet deadlines, and respond with urgency while maintaining accuracy, professionalism, and a positive attitude under pressure.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group settings with customers, clients, and employees.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve issues effectively and efficiently.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Comfortable working in a legal setting.
• Ability to apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Experience working in the construction industry.

OTHER:

• This position is scheduled to work eight (8) hours per day, Monday through Friday. Additional hours may be required based on business needs, project deadlines, and operational priorities.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check in compliance with applicable law.
• This position is based on-site in Rogers, Minnesota. After successful completion of onboarding and training, a hybrid work schedule with one (1) to two (2) remote workdays per week may be available, subject to business needs, position requirements, and manager approval. Hybrid work arrangements are not guaranteed and may be modified or discontinued at any time.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee frequently communicates with employees, clients, vendors, and business partners and must exchange accurate information. The employee is regularly required to remain in a stationary position while working at a computer for extended periods, operate standard office equipment, and move throughout the office to attend meetings and collaborate with others.

The employee may occasionally lift and carry items weighing up to 20 pounds and travel between office locations or project sites as required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position.

This position is primarily performed in a professional office environment. Occasional travel to Company offices, customer locations, project sites, or industry events may be required. Employees may occasionally be exposed to active construction environments where personal protective equipment (PPE) is required, and Company and customer safety policies must be followed.

Additional Job Description:

Who Are We?
Veit is one of the country's leading specialty contractors, with nearly a century of experience and the best people in the industry. We specialize in foundations, earthwork, utilities, marine services, industrial cleaning, curedinplace pipelining, and waste disposal. We pride ourselves on our relentless pursuit to push the construction industry forward and deliver for our customers. Our modern fleet of iron, diverse expertise, and unmatched determination allow us to successfully tackle some of the largest and most complex projects across every sector while also living out our values every day. Our company culture is one where everyone pitches in to get the job done, regardless of job title or seniority. We do everything we can to maintain an atmosphere where family comes first. We want every one of our employees to look forward to each day at work and make it home safe and happy at the end of the day.

Our Core Values

• Deliberately Safe We believe all safety incidents are avoidable when everyone operates with a deliberate mindset. We are deliberately proactive and thorough in training and job planning. We are deliberately safe in our everyday operations and decision-making.

• Build with Intention We build with intention. Whether in the office or the field, we work with grit and determination toward a better future for everyone involved. We leave things better than we found them, and never leave a job until we're proud to put the Veit name on it.

• Leaders Dig First Egos have no place at Veit. We expect everyone on our team to dig in with a leadership mentality. That means being willing to jump in, take ownership, and get mud on our boots - especially when times get challenging.

• Real Relationships Like our work, we approach relationships authentically, with a long-term mindset. Whether you're a client partner, vendor, or team member, we make an effort to build a more meaningful connection with you by communicating with respect and honesty.

• Integrity in Everything As part of the Veit family, everything we do and say reflects on this entire company. We act with integrity, which means treating others just as we want to be treated, doing the right thing, and holding ourselves accountable.

VEIT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER, INCLUDING VET/DISABILITY