Senior Contract Engineer
Job Title: Senior Contracts Engineer
Location: Pau, France
Employment Type: Renewable Contract
Client: Operator
About You
You are a highly experienced Contract Engineer with a strong track record in complex, high-value international projects. You bring excellent organisational and negotiation skills and are comfortable operating in environments where contracts can reach several hundred million USD in value. You have substantial experience leading Call for Tenders processes and managing contracts within the Exploration and Production sector, particularly in areas such as drilling rigs and drilling well equipment and services.
You are confident working across technical, legal and commercial interfaces, with a solid understanding of legal and fiscal frameworks linked to international procurement. You are proactive in identifying risks, anticipating challenges and proposing mitigation strategies to ensure operational continuity. You are able to manage negotiations autonomously, draft robust contractual documentation and contribute strategically to award recommendations presented to senior decision boards. Prior experience with this ocmpany is essential for this role.
About the Role
As a Senior Contract Engineer within a global procurement environment, you will be responsible for leading and conducting Call for Tenders on behalf of operational business units, ensuring full compliance with company procedures and purchasing governance rules. You will collaborate closely with technical entities to define and implement effective procurement strategies, balancing cost optimisation, quality, compliance and schedule requirements.
You will manage the full contractual lifecycle, from tender preparation and negotiation through to contract drafting and award recommendation. Your role includes performing in-depth risk assessments related to contracts and suppliers, developing mitigation plans, and ensuring continuity of operations in the event of unforeseen circumstances. You will ensure effective communication with stakeholders throughout the procurement process, coordinate with category management teams, and guarantee that all contractual documentation is properly managed and archived for audit and control purposes. The initial focus of the role will be on drilling rigs and drilling well equipment and services scopes.
About the Company
You will join the Global Procurement function of a major international energy company, a central organisation providing contract and procurement services to operational branches and subsidiaries worldwide. This entity plays a key role in coordinating global procurement processes and managing strategic supplier relationships across the Group. The team you will be part of is composed of experienced Contract Engineers responsible for establishing contracts supporting core Exploration and Production activities, including seismic acquisition, geotechnical and geophysical studies, drilling equipment and services, and logistics operations.
What’s on Offer?
This is an opportunity to take on a senior-level position within a globally recognised procurement organisation, working on technically complex and commercially significant contracts in an international setting. You will operate within a team of experienced professionals, contributing directly to the competitiveness of major operational activities while integrating environmental and responsible commitments into contractual frameworks. The role offers strong exposure to high-level decision-making processes and the chance to lead strategic negotiations within a structured and globally coordinated procurement environment.