SURF / SPS Contracts Lead- Zama

Since its creation in 2014, Harbour has grown to become one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse independent oil and gas companies.  Today, Harbour is producing between 475,000 and 485,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day with significant production in Norway, the UK, Germany, Argentina and North Africa. Harbour benefits from competitive operating costs and resilient margins, and a broad set of growth options including near-infrastructure opportunities in Norway, unconventional scalable opportunities in Argentina and conventional offshore projects in Mexico and Indonesia. With low GHG emissions intensity and a leading CO2 storage position in Europe, Harbour remains committed to producing oil and gas safely and responsibly to help meet the world’s energy needs. Harbour is headquartered in London with approximately 5,000 staff and contractors across its operations and offices. 

Ours is an inclusive workplace where individuals can bring their whole selves to their job and feel recognised for the value they add. We are committed to creating a genuinely inclusive and supportive working environment to ensure everyone has a positive experience at work.

At Harbour Energy, we aim to recruit, retain and promote our people based on their unique skills, regardless of race, gender or background. We need excellent people to help shape and develop the future of our company. Could this be you?

If so, we want to hear from you.

Purpose of Role:

• The SURF / SPS Contracts Lead – ZAMA is accountable for leading the commercial, contractual, and supply chain management of the high-value and high-risk SURF and SPS contract packages required for the ZAMA development. Acting as the IOC’s commercial guardian for subsea development contracts, this role safeguards capital expenditure, mitigates contractual and execution risks, and ensures that contract strategies, tendering, negotiations, award, administration, and close-out activities are aligned with the overall project execution strategy.
• The role manages complex EPCI-related contracting scopes covering Subsea Production Systems, including subsea trees, manifolds, controls, and associated equipment, as well as Subsea Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines, including engineering, procurement, fabrication, transportation, installation, pre-commissioning, and offshore execution interfaces.
• This position protects the company’s commercial position by developing robust contracting strategies, leading RFX processes, managing negotiations, administering contractual obligations, controlling changes and claims, and ensuring appropriate allocation of risk between the company and contractors. The role requires strong interface management with Engineering, Projects, Legal, Finance, HSES, Wells, Operations, Logistics, and senior leadership, as well as external engagement with EPCI contractors, subsea suppliers, marine installation contractors, and other key service providers.

Critical Responsibilities (MAE/MATTE/HSES*):

• Ensure all activities are carried out in a safe manner complying with all regulatory requirements, legislation and Harbour Energy HSES Procedures.

Ethics and Compliance Responsibilities:

• Ensure that all activities and behaviours are carried out in accordance with Harbour Energy’s Ethics and Compliance Policies and Procedures and to complete any compulsory compliance training as required.

Areas of Accountability, Responsibility and Competence:

Contract Management

• Manage contracts associated with the engineering, procurement, fabrication, manufacturing, testing, transportation, installation, and offshore execution of SURF and SPS systems required for the ZAMA development.
• Administer contractual obligations related to subsea trees, manifolds, subsea controls, umbilical’s, risers, flowlines, connection systems, installation engineering, offshore vessels, pre-commissioning, and related subsea infrastructure.
• Ensure that contract deliverables are aligned with project milestones, engineering requirements, manufacturing schedules, logistics windows, vessel availability, offshore campaign sequencing, and commissioning readiness.
• Maintain effective control over contractual correspondence, deliverables, approvals, variations, claims, notices, bonds, guarantees, insurance requirements, milestone payments, and commercial records.
• Support the development of cost estimates, pricing models, commercial evaluations, bid comparisons, benchmarking, market analysis, and total cost assessments for major subsea and offshore installation contract packages.

Risk Management

• Develop and maintain contract risk registers, mitigation plans, negotiation positions, and commercial strategies to reduce exposure to cost overruns, delays, claims, disputes, contractor underperformance, and interface misalignment.
• Ensure early identification and proactive management of potential claims, variations, scope gaps, contractual ambiguities, delay events, force majeure matters, and supplier performance issues.
• Lead or support the resolution of commercial disputes, contractor claims, change orders, and renegotiations, ensuring that the company’s contractual rights are preserved and that outcomes are aligned with project and business objectives

Regulatory Compliance

• Maintain complete, accurate, and auditable contract files, including tender records, negotiation history, approvals, commercial evaluations, correspondence, change records, claims documentation, and close-out reports.
• Support assurance reviews, internal audits, partner reviews, and governance submissions related to major contract awards and contract management decisions.

Critical Skills*, Qualifications, Experience, etc.:

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of contract law, commercial negotiations, and major capital project contracting within the oil and gas industry.
• Deep understanding of EPCI contracting models, subsea contracting strategies, and commercial risk allocation for offshore and deepwater developments.
• Strong familiarity with SURF and SPS scopes, including subsea production systems, umbilical’s, risers, flowlines, manifolds, subsea trees, controls, offshore installation, vessel-based execution, fabrication, and pre-commissioning activities.
• Experience in cost analysis, benchmarking, commercial modelling, pricing evaluation, cost forecasting, and CAPEX protection for major project contracts.
• Knowledge of supplier markets, contractor capabilities, vessel constraints, fabrication yard dynamics, and execution risks relevant to deepwater subsea projects.

Non-Technical Skills

• Strong analytical capability and attention to detail, particularly in reviewing contractual terms, commercial models, claims, and risk exposure.
• Ability to manage ambiguity, complexity, and competing priorities across multidisciplinary project teams.
• Excellent interface management mindset, with the ability to align engineering, supply chain, project controls, legal, finance, HSES, operations, and contractor stakeholders.

Professional Experience

• 15+ years of experience in subsea, offshore development, SURF, SPS, marine installation, or major offshore infrastructure projects is strongly preferred.
• Significant experience managing high-value and high-risk contracts for major capital projects, preferably within an IOC or international operator environment.
• Proven experience with EPCI contractors, subsea equipment suppliers, offshore installation contractors, and complex project contracting models.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in relevant field.

Language

• English: Proficient (written and spoken).
• Spanish: Native Speaker.

Harbour Principles and Values

• Strong alignment with Harbour Energy’s core values, behaviours, and commitment to operational excellence and integrity.

Inclusive recruitment is a vital part of our diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. Whatever your background, if you feel you need an adjustment during our selection process to suit your needs, please let us know, and we will be happy to help.

For further information or support on any of these points, please reach out to us at careers@harbourenergy.com