Senior Contract Administrator

JOB TITLE: Senior Contract Administrator or Contract Manager

LOCATION: Carlsbad, CA (Hybrid)

SALARY RANGE: $100,000 - $150,000/year based on experience + performance bonus

BENEFITS: Generous PTO, 401k, Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision

OUR COMPANY

WE ARE GENUINE BUILDERS OF PEOPLE AND PLACES.

We’re a San Diego based company who builds differently by blending large company experience with the personal approach of a boutique team. With millions of square feet of commercial improvements in our history our work stands in time, long after we have left the buildings we construct; allowing those who live and work in them to become storytellers of their own lives. We promise quality and value anchored to the simple truths that people deserve to be respected for their ideas and contribution to making something world class. We’re enthusiastic about who we work with, we have a good time working, and we strive to build inspiring spaces.

OUR CORE VALUES

“TC3G”

• Team Player – It takes all of us to achieve success. Own your role and help lift your team.
• Competitive – We love to win and hate to lose. Show up every day to win.
• Genuine – Be authentic and genuine.
• GSD! – Be productive and disciplined. Get it done!
• Grit – Lean in every day. Embrace the grit.

OUR SEARCH

Dempsey Construction is seeking a driven and committed Senior Contract Administrator who is passionate about building a long-term career within our organization and contributing meaningfully to our team’s continued success.

Join a collaborative team of dedicated professionals and contribute to a diverse portfolio of projects in the years ahead. At Dempsey Construction, we foster a culture rooted in purpose, open communication, and service to others. We take pride in promoting from within and are deeply committed to supporting the growth and development of every team member.

FEATURED BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) with company contribution equal to 3% of compensation
• Generous paid time off and paid holidays
• Employee Assistance Program

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Contract Administrator leads the review, analysis, and administration of owner contracts and subcontractor agreements across the organization. This role works within Dempsey’s established contract review program, including AIA-based master templates and contract review checklists, and serves as an internal resource to project teams, leadership, and finance. The Senior Contract Administrator ensures contract terms are clearly understood, risks are flagged early, and business terms are negotiated effectively before execution. Legal-heavy provisions, including indemnification and dispute resolution, are coordinated with outside counsel; this role focuses on the commercial, operational, and business terms of each contract.

This is an individual contributor position with internal clients spanning project management, operations, finance, and business development, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Includes the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Review owner contracts prior to execution and/or as part of a project pursuit, identifying business, financial, and operational risk points
• Summarize key contract terms for project teams and leadership in a clear, digestible format, including payment terms, retainage, insurance and bonding requirements, schedule and liquidated damages provisions, change order procedures, and notice requirements
• Negotiate business terms with owners and clients, within established authority levels, to improve Dempsey’s position as applicable
• Identify provisions requiring outside counsel review, including indemnification, dispute resolution, limitation of liability, and similar legal-heavy sections, and coordinate that review efficiently
• Track contract status, key dates, and obligations throughout the contract lifecycle, including notice deadlines, insurance renewals, and retainage release conditions
• Maintain organized, accessible contract files and a master contract log or tracker
• Partner with Project Managers to ensure contract terms are understood and followed during project execution
• Flag recurring problematic clauses or patterns to leadership and support development of standard contract language and playbooks
• Maintain and continuously refine a library of approved contract templates and standard clause language in coordination with the CFO and outside counsel
• Prepare a variance report for each contract under review by comparing it against the applicable approved template and flagging additions, deletions, and modified language for CFO review prior to negotiation or execution
• Support the CFO and Senior Leadership Team with contract-related reporting, risk summaries, and special projects as needed
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding contract terms, negotiations, and business-sensitive information
• Review other contractual agreements, including subcontractor agreements, NDAs, service agreements, and purchase orders, as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of experience reviewing, negotiating, or administering commercial contracts; construction industry experience strongly preferred
• Construction industry background, including general contracting, owner-side, or subcontractor experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of standard construction contract structures and terminology; familiarity with AIA, DBIA, or similar agreements preferred
• Prior experience working directly with a CFO, legal team, or executive leadership team preferred
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to identify inconsistencies, ambiguities, or missing terms
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple contracts and deadlines simultaneously
• Ability to perform detailed clause-by-clause comparisons between contracts and reference templates and clearly document variances
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact comfortably with owners, attorneys, and internal stakeholders at all levels
• Sound judgment regarding when to escalate issues to outside counsel or leadership
• Proficiency with standard office and document software, including Microsoft Word, PDF markup tools, and AI tools; comfort with contract management or document tracking systems is a plus

SUCCESS MEASURES (FIRST 6–12 MONTHS)

• Consistent, timely turnaround on contract reviews without becoming a bottleneck to project starts
• Clear, reliable summaries that project teams and leadership can act on without re-reading the full contract
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate favorable business terms independently
• A strong working relationship with outside counsel, including sound judgment about what requires legal review
• An organized, up-to-date contract tracking system and living contract template library that leadership can rely on