Director, Contracts & Commercial

The Director, Contracts & Commercial, Coast Guard Programs is responsible for leading the contractual and commercial management functions on major Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) vessel design, construction and in-service support programs. This role provides strategic oversight of contractual and commercial activities associated with Government of Canada contracts, ensuring compliance with federal procurement requirements while protecting the organization's commercial interests.
Reporting to the Vice President, Contracts & Commercial, the Director leads negotiations and administration of prime contracts with the Canadian Coast Guard, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), and other federal departments. As a senior member of the management team, the Director serves as a key commercial advisor to program leadership, executive management, and functional stakeholders, supporting successful delivery of strategically assets to the Canadian Coast Guard.

Note: This position qualifies for an optional hybrid work schedule after 90 days of onsite work and onboarding. Employee will be subject to the terms of the Flexible Work Policy Agreement. What you’ll do

Prime Contract Negotiation & Administration

• Lead the negotiation, review, and administration of major Government of Canada contracts.
• Provide strategic interpretation of contractual obligations, specifications, amendments, and government procurement requirements.
• Establish and maintain governance processes to ensure contractual compliance.
• Develop negotiation strategies that balance commercial objectives, customer relationships, and long-term business considerations.
• Oversee administration of contract modifications, amendments, deliverables, warranties, and performance obligations.

Claims, Change Orders & Equitable Adjustments

• Support the identification, development, pricing, negotiation, and prosecution of change orders, contract amendments, and requests for equitable adjustment.
• Oversee preparation of contractual notices and maintenance of entitlement records.
• Collaborate with engineering, planning, procurement, production, finance, and program teams to quantify cost and schedule impacts.
• Develop and execute commercial recovery strategies for additional costs, delays, disruptions, acceleration, and scope growth.
• Support resolution of disputes, negotiations, mediation, arbitration, and litigation matters as required.

Subcontract Governance

• Assist the Supply Change Management team with the commercial review and approval of major subcontracts, teaming agreements, strategic supplier agreements, and long-lead procurement packages.
• Ensure appropriate flow-down of prime contract requirements to subcontractors.
• Support procurement teams in negotiations with key marine equipment suppliers, system integrators, and strategic subcontractors.
• Advise on risk allocation throughout the supply chain.

Risk Management

• Support risk management activities through the identification, assessment and mitigation of contractual, financial, regulatory, schedule, and execution risks.
• Support program risk reviews, bid reviews, and management decision-making processes.

Insurance

• Ensure compliance with insurance contractual requirements.
• Coordination with internal stakeholders and brokers.
• Recommend risk transfer strategies that support corporate objectives and contract requirements.

Export Control & Trade Compliance

• Coordination with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with applicable Canadian and international export control regulations.
• Support licensing requirements, technology transfer reviews, and international supplier engagements.

Intellectual Property Management

• Coordination of review of intellectual property provisions within customer, supplier, and partner agreements.
• Ensure appropriate ownership, licensing, and usage rights are established for project deliverables and technical.
• Support negotiation of intellectual property arrangements with government customers and strategic suppliers.
• Collaborate with legal counsel regarding intellectual property protection and dispute resolution.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing contracts and commercial management team.
• Establish standards, policies, procedures, and best practices for contract and commercial management.
• Promote commercial awareness across program, engineering, procurement, and operations functions.
• Serve as a key advisor to executives, program directors, and business development leaders.
• Develop reporting and performance metrics to measure commercial effectiveness and risk exposure.

What you’ll bring

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Commerce, Law, Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline. MBA, Master's degree, or legal education considered an asset.
• Professional certifications such as CPCM, CFCM, PMP, CCM, SCMP, RICS, or equivalent are desirable.
• 15+ years of leadership experience in contracts, commercial management, procurement, or program management.
• Significant experience negotiating and administering major Government of Canada contracts.
• Experience supporting shipbuilding, marine, defense, aerospace, infrastructure, or complex capital projects.
• Demonstrated success managing claims, change orders, requests for equitable adjustment, and dispute resolution.
• Experience with federal procurement frameworks and government contracting practices.
• Working knowledge of export control regulations, controlled goods requirements, insurance programs, and intellectual property management.
• Experience leading teams within large, complex project environments.
• Strong understanding of major project delivery environments, contract law, commercial management, risk allocation, and negotiations.
• Strong financial, analytical, and strategic thinking capabilities.
• Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to influence outcomes with customers, suppliers, government representatives, and senior executives.
• Ability to operate effectively in highly regulated and politically sensitive environments.

Why you’ll love working here

• This is a full-time, permanent position. With multiple operations and long-term projects, Seaspan employees enjoy job stability as we look ahead to build ships for decades to come.
• In addition to an annual bonus and pension plan matching, this role provides you with a very competitive salary in line with the successful candidate’s experience.
• We also provide the best-in-class health and wellness benefits package for this position, including things such as extended health care (i.e. paramedical services for massage therapy, speech therapy, mental health coverage, physiotherapy, and more), dental care, vision care, life insurance, medical leave coverage, parental leave coverage, childcare benefit partnership, $500 personal spending account, and an Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
• Free on-site gym.
• Parking is included and to assist those that are using transit, we operate a complimentary shuttle bus Monday through Friday with various pick up and drop off points around North Vancouver.

The estimated salary for this position is $180,000 - $220,000. In determining final salary, Seaspan considers many factors including the successful Candidate’s skills and experience as well as position location and internal equity. The final base salary offer will be at the Company’s sole discretion and presented as part of a competitive total compensation package.

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