ABOUT TRANSGRID
At Transgrid, we play a crucial role in delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable energy to millions of Australians. Operating over 13,000 km of high-voltage transmission lines and 128 substations across NSW and the ACT, we connect electricity generators to the distribution network powering homes, businesses, and communities. As Australia accelerates its energy transition, the work we do has never been more significant.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Transgrid is looking for a Senior Contract Manager with a quantity surveying foundation and a track record on major infrastructure programs to take commercial leadership across a portfolio of connection line and substation projects.
Based in Ultimo and reporting to the Commercial Manager, you will lead post-contract administration across your projects, manage downstream and subcontractor contracts under the head contract framework, lead procurement and delivery strategy development, and provide monthly reporting to the Project Director, Commercial Director and Executive and SteerCo meetings. You will also lead a team of 2 to 3 direct reports developing their capability and setting the commercial standard across the team.
This is a senior role with real accountability. We are looking for someone who has delivered outstanding commercial outcomes on projects at $500M or above in infrastructure, mining or resources sectors. Building and commercial construction experience alone will not be considered. If you have come through a quantity surveying pathway, progressed into senior contract management on complex infrastructure programs and want to lead the commercial function on connection line and substation projects that directly support Australia's energy transition, this is the role.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
The work spans the full post-contract lifecycle across connection line and substation projects. Here is how it generally looks.
- Post-Contract Administration:Leading and managing all post-contract administration across your projects variations, claims, extensions of time, progress payments and final accounts. You apply quantity surveying discipline to the assessment and determination of contractor entitlements and you manage the process through to resolution, including dispute resolution via negotiation, expert determination or adjudication where required.
- Downstream and Subcontractor Management: Managing downstream and subcontractor contracts under the head contract framework. You make sure subcontractor and supplier performance is tracked against contractual obligations and project delivery requirements and you act quickly when it is not.
- Procurement and Delivery Strategy: Leading the development of project procurement and delivery strategies working closely with the procurement team on contract development, negotiation and implementation. You help select the right delivery model and build the commercial management mechanisms that keep projects accountable.
- Project Controls and Reporting: Working alongside the project controls team to set up monitoring and reporting systems, prepare monthly project status reports and present financial and program dashboarding to the Project Director, Commercial Director and Executive and SteerCo meetings. You keep governance processes documented and communicated.
- Team Leadership: Leading, mentoring and developing a team of 2 to 3 direct reports a Contract Manager and Contract Administrators. You set the standard, build capability, implement commercial training programs as part of succession planning and foster a high-performance culture across the team.
- Stakeholder and Legal Management: Building and maintaining trusted relationships with delivery partners, suppliers, regulators and internal teams. You oversee project legal functions to make sure agreements are commercially and legally aligned and you work with the legal team on project matters as they arise.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
Connection line and substation projects are the physical infrastructure that links new generation to the grid. Getting the commercial management right on these projects — post-contract administration that protects Transgrid's position, downstream contracts that hold subcontractors to their obligations, procurement strategies that select the right delivery model — directly influences whether projects deliver value and whether the network gets the infrastructure it needs on time.
The Senior Contract Manager is the commercial authority on the project. The decisions you make and the standards you set shape outcomes that reach well beyond the contract register.
ABOUT YOU — ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
Your career started in quantity surveying and has progressed into senior contract management on major infrastructure programs. You know how to run post-contract administration properly, you have managed downstream contracts under head contract frameworks and you have delivered outstanding commercial outcomes on projects at $500M+ capex.
- Tertiary qualifications at degree level in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering or Business.
- Career foundation in quantity surveying with demonstrated progression into senior contract management.
- Proven post-contract administration experience including management of variations, claims, extensions of time, progress payments, final accounts and dispute resolution on complex projects.
- Demonstrated experience managing downstream and subcontractor contracts under a head contract framework.
- Sector experience in infrastructure — roads, rail, water, energy or transmission — or mining and resources projects. Building and commercial construction experience alone will not be considered.
- Proven track record delivering outstanding commercial outcomes on infrastructure projects or programs with estimated capex of $500M or more.
- Experience managing a small commercial team of 2 to 3 direct reports.
- Strong knowledge of standard-form contracts used in Australian infrastructure such as AS 4000, AS 2124, NEC and FIDIC.
- Excellent influencing and negotiation skills with the proven ability to build effective stakeholder relationships and make commercial decisions that preserve value against defined corporate objectives.
- Superior written and verbal communication with the ability to translate complex commercial positions into clear, effective messages for senior leadership.
- Willingness to travel occasionally to project sites across regional NSW.
Good to have:
- MRICS, MAIQS or equivalent professional body membership.
- Experience working on the principal or asset-owner side in addition to contractor-side experience.
- Exposure to regulated environments — energy, water or transport — with understanding of regulatory reporting obligations.
- Experience with procurement strategy development and delivery model selection — traditional, D&C, EPC or alliance.
- Experience on energy transmission, connection line or substation infrastructure projects specifically.
- PMP or PRINCE2 certification.
- Experience managing KPI and incentive-based contract mechanisms.
OUR LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES AND VALUES
Courage, Care, Clarity and Connection. These are the principles we lead by at Transgrid. Courage is doing the right thing even when it is not easy. Care is genuinely looking out for the people around you. Clarity means your team knows what good looks like and why it matters. Connection links people to the bigger picture and to each other.
Our Values — Safety, Achievement, Integrity and Service — shape how we show up every day for the customers and communities that depend on us.
BENEFITS AND PERKS
At Transgrid, we empower our people with a well-rounded benefits package designed to support their personal, professional and social wellbeing, helping them deliver their best work every day. Employees have access to a range of corporate discounts across retail, utilities, travel, health and wellbeing, as well as novated leasing options, workplace flexibility, 20 weeks paid parental leave and more.
Beyond benefits, we believe in real development and progression. Here, you will have access to regular and ongoing training, tertiary education support, and career mentoring, enabling you to build a career that evolves with you.
Applications close at 11:29pm on Monday, August 31, 2026 . Please note, our vacancy close dates may be subject to change, and we will assess applications as they are received.
