ABOUT THE POSITION

We’re seeking a Contracts Manager to support major heavy-civil infrastructure programs, including highways, roads, and passenger transit projects. You’ll manage large design-build contracts, support agreements, and purchase orders covering various components (e.g., civil, track, systems construction, etc.). The role centers on safeguarding the owner’s commercial interests, leading negotiations, resolving claims, and ensuring compliance so projects stay on budget and on schedule.
This is a long-term, full-time, on-site position located in the greater Los Angeles metro area.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop and implement contract and/or commercial strategies across project delivery models, including design-build.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, amendments, change orders, service agreements, and statements of work under FAR, FIDIC, and state frameworks.
• Lead or support the change-management and claims process, from entitlement review through negotiation, settlement, mediation, arbitration, or litigation.
• Establish and maintain consistent change order and claims procedures across multiple contracts and delivery partners.
• Coordinate with project controls, schedulers, estimators, and legal counsel to quantify impacts and maintain a comprehensive change/claims log.
• Monitor contract compliance, identifying and documenting deviations to support claims or potential claims.
• Ensure all contracts meet safety, Buy America, third-party stakeholder, and environmental compliance requirements.
• Track and manage Certificates of Insurance, lien releases, and other contractual instruments.
• Partner with Procurement and Legal to address ongoing contract and PO needs throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee contract documentation with Document Control, ensuring all correspondence, reports, and invoices are complete, sequenced, and auditable.
• Provide executive briefings and risk exposure analyses connecting commercial issues to contingency, float, and program KPIs.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders to support collaborative negotiations and timely settlements.
• Coach project teams on contract compliance and claims-avoidance best practices, embedding lessons learned into future procurement documents.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, business, finance, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of hands-on contracts, change order, and construction claims experience on heavy-civil infrastructure programs that include highways/roads or rail/bus passenger transit projects.
• Experience with alternative delivery methods (e.g., DB) and associated risk-allocation mechanisms.
• Demonstrated success administering and negotiating complex civil works contracts as an owner’s representative or in a role protecting client interests.
• Ability to interpret design documents, schedules, cost reports, and commercial terms to build clear entitlement narratives and quantum analyses.
• Proficiency with industry standard project management software (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project, etc.).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite/Office 365 (e.g., Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree (e.g., JD, LLM, or MBA) with construction law emphasis.
• Active professional certifications such as CCM (CMAA), MRICS/FRICS (RICS), PMP (PMI), or CCA (AACE).
• Experience with Microsoft Power BI, Oracle Cloud Analytics, or other dashboard KPI reporting software.

JUST LOOK AT THE BENEFITS WE OFFER!

• Unlimited flexible time off
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (healthcare and dependent or elder care)
• Long-term disability insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment
• 401(k) plan with guaranteed employer contribution
• Formal career planning and development program
• $2,500 annually toward professional development
• Wellness program with monthly wellness stipend
• Company cell phone or cell phone plan reimbursement
• Free personalized meal planning and nutrition support with a registered dietitian
• Free personal financial planning services
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discounts
• Employee referral bonus
  Specific plan details and coverage for each benefit noted above will be provided upon offer. #IN-LNJS
  Luster is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to criminal history, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. This employer participates in E-Verify. The employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee’s I-9 to confirm work authorization.
  All positions may be subject to a background check and drug test once a conditional offer of employment is made for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities, in accordance with all applicable local, state, and/or federal regulations.
  This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.
  Luster does not accept unsolicited resumes. In the absence of a signed agreement, Luster will not consider or agree to payment of any kind. Any unsolicited resumes presented to Luster personnel, including those submitted to Luster hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Luster.
  Please email hiring@luster.com for accommodations necessary to complete the application process

• Develop and implement contract and/or commercial strategies across project delivery models, including design-build.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, amendments, change orders, service agreements, and statements of work under FAR, FIDIC, and state frameworks.
• Lead or support the change-management and claims process, from entitlement review through negotiation, settlement, mediation, arbitration, or litigation.
• Establish and maintain consistent change order and claims procedures across multiple contracts and delivery partners.
• Coordinate with project controls, schedulers, estimators, and legal counsel to quantify impacts and maintain a comprehensive change/claims log.
• Monitor contract compliance, identifying and documenting deviations to support claims or potential claims.
• Ensure all contracts meet safety, Buy America, third-party stakeholder, and environmental compliance requirements.
• Track and manage Certificates of Insurance, lien releases, and other contractual instruments.
• Partner with Procurement and Legal to address ongoing contract and PO needs throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee contract documentation with Document Control, ensuring all correspondence, reports, and invoices are complete, sequenced, and auditable.
• Provide executive briefings and risk exposure analyses connecting commercial issues to contingency, float, and program KPIs.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders to support collaborative negotiations and timely settlements.
• Coach project teams on contract compliance and claims-avoidance best practices, embedding lessons learned into future procurement documents