Commercial & Contracts Lead

About the role

This role places you at the center of Proxima Fusion's commercial strategy for the Alpha program, defining how the initial fusion demonstrator is structured and governed. You will own the full commercial and contractual lifecycle for this critical demonstrator initiative, establishing the foundational architecture that supports a multi-hundred-million-euro facility. In this capacity, you directly influence both the project's velocity and its ability to manage escalating complexity as the program matures. Your responsibilities will require you to act as the primary architect of contract strategy, ensuring alignment between commercial objectives and technical execution. You will build the governance models that protect the company while enabling ambitious progress. This position demands a high degree of ownership over risk identification and mitigation across all commercial relationships. You will translate complex technical requirements into precise contractual language that safeguards the project's interests. Ultimately, your work will determine the robustness of the commercial foundation upon which the entire fusion demonstrator is built.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead the end-to-end development and negotiation of contracts for the Alpha program, covering early-stage engagements, owner's engineer appointments, comprehensive construction agreements, plant agreements, and specialized consultant arrangements.
• Establish and maintain a rigorous commercial management framework that incorporates sophisticated change control processes, proactive claims prevention strategies, robust payment governance, and precise commitment tracking systems.
• Interpret and convert intricate technical requirements articulated by engineering leads into precise contract language and commercially viable terms that accurately reflect the intended scope.
• Serve as the central commercial hub for the procurement team, ensuring unified governance standards are applied consistently across infrastructure, plant, and manufacturing workstreams.
• Function as the principal liaison with external legal counsel regarding all contracting matters, facilitating efficient communication and rapid resolution of legal queries.
• Provide active support to the PMO in managing cost controls and financial reporting, including the diligent management of the commitment register and thorough evaluation of the commercial impacts arising from design modifications.
• Continuously monitor contract performance with all partners and suppliers, systematically identifying potential commercial risks and escalating issues promptly to prevent escalation.
• Architect a flexible commercial framework capable of accommodating future program expansion into complex equipment supply chains and evolving manufacturing interfaces.
• Develop and implement standardized contractual documentation templates that enhance efficiency and consistency across all procurement activities.
• Collaborate closely with technical teams to conduct detailed contract reviews during the procurement phase, ensuring all technical specifications are accurately reflected in commercial documents.
• Establish clear communication protocols with suppliers to ensure mutual understanding of contractual obligations and performance expectations.
• Drive the implementation of best practices in contract lifecycle management, utilizing systematic approaches to documentation, version control, and archival.
• Prepare comprehensive commercial reports and analyses for senior leadership, providing actionable insights into contract performance and risk exposure.
• Identify opportunities for commercial optimization and value engineering without compromising technical requirements or project integrity.
• Ensure all commercial activities comply with relevant regulatory requirements and corporate governance standards throughout the project lifecycle.

Requirements

• Possess substantial experience in commercial and contracts management for large-scale capital projects, with a background in industrial, energy, or infrastructure sectors being essential.
• Demonstrate familiarity with standard international contract frameworks such as FIDIC or NEC/IPA, or possess equivalent knowledge of comparable contractual standards.
• Exhibit a proven ability to operate effectively at the intersection of engineering, legal, and procurement disciplines, successfully translating complex technical specifications into precise commercial language.
• Show strong aptitude for identifying potential contractual gaps, ambiguities, or inconsistencies that could create significant commercial or operational risk.
• Have documented experience coordinating commercial matters across multiple concurrent project workstreams, managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Maintain fluency in both written and spoken German and English, ensuring effective communication with all stakeholders.
• Bring an entrepreneurial mindset to the role, capable of establishing governance structures and commercial processes in environments where formal systems are initially underdeveloped.
• Demonstrate comfort with AI tools and modern digital working methods, adapting quickly to a lean, autonomous operational environment.
• Hold a recognized degree in law, business administration, engineering, or a related technical field that provides a strong foundation for understanding complex technical contracts.
• Have a track record of managing stakeholder expectations and building productive relationships with external partners and suppliers.
• Show commitment to continuous learning and professional development in the fields of contract law and commercial management.
• Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable commercial insights.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills, enabling the clear articulation of complex contractual arrangements to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrate strong project management capabilities, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage multiple deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.
• Be willing to adhere to the company's code of conduct and support efforts to build a high-performing, diverse, and inclusive team.

Nice to have

• Bring experience in early-stage program development, including work on Basis of Design documentation or pre-FEED phase activities, which provides valuable context for commercial structuring at the front end of complex projects.

Skills & tools

• FIDIC
• NEC/IPA
• AI tools

Practical notes

• This is an on-site role.
• The company is building a high-performing, diverse team.
• The interview process includes a recruiter interview, technical screening, technical panel, and a CEO call.