Head - Contracts & Commercial (Data Centres)

My client, a leading data centre organisation in India, is building and scaling mission-critical infrastructure. They’re looking for a senior contracts and commercial leader to own the full contract lifecycle across their hyperscale construction programme.

This is a confidential search. Client details will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

The role

You’ll be the commercial backbone of large, high-value data centre projects, from tender to close-out. Your work will directly protect project margins, timelines and risk exposure.

What you’ll do

- Draft, review, negotiate and finalise EPC, design & build, construction, consultancy, PMC, subcontract, vendor and service agreements
- Scrutinise scope, payment terms, performance guarantees, LDs, indemnities, warranties and termination clauses
- Manage the full contract lifecycle, from pre-award through execution, amendments and closure
- Lead variations, change orders, EOT, delay and cost claims, and support dispute resolution and arbitration with Legal
- Identify commercial risks, monitor contractual exposure and recommend mitigation
- Support tendering, bid evaluation, award recommendations and commercial negotiations
- Partner with Projects, Procurement, Finance, Legal, Design and Engineering
- Build contract governance:



templates, review processes, approval matrices and a central contract repository
- Report regularly on contract status, risks, variations, claims and commercial exposure

What you’ll bring:
- Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management or a related field
- A postgraduate qualification in Construction Contracts or Commercial Management, or an LLM, is a plus
- 15+ years in contracts and commercial management across data centres, large infrastructure, industrial construction, EPC or real estate development
- Strong working knowledge of FIDIC, EPC contracts, subcontracting, claims and dispute resolution
- A track record managing high-value contracts, variations, EOT claims and contractor negotiations
- Sharp negotiation, analytical and risk-assessment skills, and the ability to turn complex clauses into explicit project actions

Strongly preferred
- Hyperscale data centre, mission-critical or large-scale MEP project experience
- Familiarity with contracts covering civil, electrical, HVAC, IBMS/BMS, fire protection, power infrastructure and commissioning
- Experience with EPC contractors, PMCs, consultants and international vendors

📌 Construction Contracts Manager (Hyderabad)
🏢 Aurora Talent
📍 Hyderabad